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  • Eloy Jimenez DH | TB

    Rays' Eloy Jimenez: Sheds 25-to-30 pounds

    Jimenez lost 25-to-30 pounds over the offseason, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

    Jimenez had to settle for a minor-league contract with the Rays this offseason following a 2024 campaign that he referred to Sunday as a "disaster." Manager Kevin Cash said that Jimenez is "really, really motivated" and will get some reps in the outfield and even at first base in addition to competing for at-bats at designated hitter.

  • Joc Pederson DH | TEX

    Rangers' Joc Pederson: Falls ill

    Pederson will be away from Rangers camp for a few days while battling the flu, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    The 32-year-old will get a bit of a late start to spring training, but his bout with the illness shouldn't prevent him from being ready to go for Opening Day. Pederson is slated to serve as Texas' designated hitter against right-handed pitching this season, though Grant relays that the Rangers also intend to give Pederson some work at first base this spring to see if he's capable of making occasional starts at the position when Jake Burger requires a day off.

  • Bryce Harper 1B | PHI

    Phillies' Bryce Harper: Misses workout due to illness

    Harper will miss the Phillies' first full-squad workout Monday due to illness, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.

    Trea Turner is also away from the club because his wife recently gave birth. Turner is expected to join workouts Wednesday, and Harper will likely be ready by then, if not before.

  • Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Still not swinging bat

    Stanton disclosed Monday that he hasn't swung a bat in 3-to-4 weeks and is dealing with a "very high" level of pain in both elbows, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

    Stanton is dealing with tennis elbow in both arms, which is something he battled for much of last season, as well. The veteran designated hitter admitted that he's not sure that he will be ready in time for Opening Day. If Stanton requires a stint on the injured list, the Yankees could mix and match with some of their regular position players in the DH spot.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Hurls 14 pitches in bullpen session

    Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) threw 14 pitches in a bullpen session consisting of two-seam and four-seam fastballs Saturday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

    Per manager Dave Roberts, Ohtani's velocity sat in the 92-to-94 mph range during the throwing session, which pitching coach Mark Prior described as the two-way star "dipping his toe back in the water." The bullpen was Ohtani's first this spring, though he's been using his full arsenal while throwing from flat ground. Ohtani isn't expected to pitch in any Cactus League games and is unlikely to take the mound in a regular-season contest until around early May, but he should be in the Dodgers' lineup as a hitter when the team plays its opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo, Japan on March 18-19.

  • Yankees' Giancarlo Stanton: Managing elbow issues

    Manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Stanton will be moved along slowly early in spring training due to discomfort in both elbows, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

    The skipper compared the issues to tennis elbow, which Stanton also played through down the stretch last season. The veteran slugger still has nearly six weeks before Opening Day, but it could be an ominous early development for a player that has seen action in fewer than 120 regular-season games in each of the past three seasons.

  • Orioles' Heston Kjerstad: Inside track on roster spot

    Orioles GM Mike Elias noted Thursday that Kjerstad is a frontrunner for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports. "He has earned the right to get at-bats in the corner outfield and at designated hitter, especially against right-handed pitchers," Elias said.

    Even after letting Anthony Santander walk in free agency, the Orioles still have a deep stable of options in the outfield and at designated hitter, as Baltimore brought in Tyler O'Neill, Ramon Laureano and Dylan Carlson to join a group that already includes Ryan O'Hearn, Cedric Mullins and Colton Cowser. Cowser and Mullins will handle the bulk of the starts in center field, but Kjerstad looks like he'll have every opportunity to stake his claim to a strong-side platoon role in a corner spot or at DH. Elias said that the Orioles don't necessarily need Kjerstad to have a big spring to secure his roster spot, but a strong showing in the Grapefruit League could certainly help him stand out from the pack. Though his playing time at the big-league level wasn't consistent last season, Kjerstad acquitted himself well in the opportunities he received, slashing .253/.351/.394 with four home runs over 114 plate appearances.

  • Cubs' Alexander Canario: Getting reps at first

    Canario received reps at first base Tuesday as the Cubs explore their reserve options behind starter Michael Busch, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

    The 24-year-old Canario has a good chance to make the Opening Day roster since he's out of minor-league options, and adding some positional versatility might help him secure a bench job. Canario has played in just 21 big-league games, striking out 19 times in 45 plate appearances, which is consistent with his 30.4 percent strikeout rate at Triple-A Iowa last year.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: First 'pen session set for weekend

    Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) said Wednesday that he expects to throw his first bullpen session of spring training this weekend, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

    Ohtani is on the mend from November surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder as well as the September 2023 Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, but the two-way phenom took batting practice Wednesday without issue and will be ready to serve as the Dodgers' designated hitter for the team's two-game season-opening set in Tokyo versus the Cubs on March 18 and 19. Manager Dave Roberts recently suggested that the 30-year-old could make his 2025 debut as a pitcher at some point in May, as Ohtani is already throwing his full repertoire off flat ground during camp and will take another step forward by getting on a mound this weekend. However, Roberts noted earlier Wednesday that Ohtani won't be cleared to pitch in any Cactus League games, so the four-time All-Star looks as though he'll have to gradually build up his pitch count through simulated games this spring and during the early portion of the season while he continues to play regularly as a DH.

  • Shohei Ohtani DH | LAD

    Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani: Won't pitch in Cactus League games

    Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Wednesday that Ohtani (shoulder/elbow) will not pitch in Cactus League games this spring, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

    The announcement comes as little surprise, as the Dodgers don't yet have a date for Ohtani to resume throwing full bullpen sessions. While Ohtani is unlikely to join the Los Angeles rotation until May as he works his way back from right elbow surgery and left shoulder surgery, he's fully expected to serve as the team's designated hitter for its season-opening series against the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19.

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