MLB Player News

Romano struck out the side in a perfect ninth inning during Friday's split-squad game against the Phillies.

It's a bit odd to see a closer actually work the ninth in a meaningless Grapefruit League game, when the opposition's big-league hitters have generally already hit the showers, but Romano still carved up the minor-league batters he got to face. The right-hander has a 9:2 K:BB through 5.2 spring innings and looks more than ready for the regular season to begin. After recording 59 saves over the last two years with a 2.13 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 11.20 K/9, Romano heads into 2023 as one of the most reliable closing options available to fantasy managers.

Estevez and the Angels aren't concerned over his poor numbers this spring, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

He has walked 10 batters in 3.2 innings and has a 19.64 ERA, but the veteran righty has been experimenting with new pitches and strategies at the expense of clean innings in exhibition play. Estevez has been working more up in the zone, because the numbers say he is harder to hit up there, and he's been working on a new changeup grip while attempting to throw a harder slider. Pitching coach Matt Wise said Estevez is trending in the right direction and manager Phil Nevin said he expects Estevez to get more consistent as the start of the season nears.

White (shoulder) will throw either a bullpen session or get into a spring game in the middle of next week, Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca reports.

He threw a live bullpen Thursday and the club is still determining the next step for White. Regardless, it won't be until after Tuesday's off-day that he throws again.

Pressly is not in favor of the pitch clock that will be implemented in 2023, Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Pressly cited the fact that each pitcher is taught to work at their own pace to back his opinion, though he also didn't express concern about his ability to adjust to the new rule. He has most recently pitched in the World Baseball Classic, which does not use a pitch clock. Across three innings of Cactus League action, Pressly has allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk while striking out three across three frames.

Heasley was optioned to Triple-A Omaha by the Royals on Friday.

Heasley struggled in the majors last season to the tune of a 5.28 ERA and 1.49 WHIP across 104 frames, and his troubles have seemingly carried over into the spring (11.57 ERA, 2.29 WHIP through seven innings). He will likely need to show significant signs of improvement with Omaha before the Royals feel comfortable bringing him back onto the major-league roster.

Pilkington was optioned to Triple-A Columbus by the Guardians on Friday.

Pilkington will begin the year in the minors after failing to secure a bid on the Opening Day staff. The southpaw will likely be an up-and-down option for Cleveland during the 2023 campaign.

Cano struck out on in a perfect inning in Friday's Grapefruit League win over the Twins.

Cano has had an uneven spring, allowing four earned runs on five hits over 2.2 innings across four appearances. The Orioles still have a lot of trimming down to do with the pitching staff, and it's unclear if Cano will fit into the Opening Day plans. He had an 11.50 ERA, 2.33 WHIP and 21:16 K:BB across 18 innings between the Orioles and the Twins in 2022, which was his first taste of action in the big leagues.

Smith has pitched to a 5.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 7:3 K:BB across 4.2 innings in four Cactus League appearances.

Smith struggled out of the gate in his Athletics debut against the Diamondbacks on Feb. 25, getting tagged for three earned runs on three hits and a walk over one inning. However, the veteran right-hander has bounced back to fire 3.2 scoreless, one-hit frames. Smith has flashed some solid swing-and-miss stuff and a penchant for keeping the ball in the park throughout his minor-league career before getting his first MLB opportunity with the Rockies in 2022, during which control issues (7.5 BB/9 across 18 innings) helped lead to a bloated 7.50 ERA and 1.72 WHIP.

Yarbrough (groin) made it through a one-inning minor-league appearance without issue Thursday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

He's set up for a two-inning Cactus League appearance next in what will be his first official spring outing since late February. Yarbrough has been battling a groin strain but doesn't appear to be in any danger of missing Opening Day.

Bachman (general soreness) is slated to make a Cactus League appearance Friday, Taylor Blake Ward of The Sporting Tribune reports.

Bachman has been held out of game action since February because of general soreness, but he appears ready to roll. The 2021 first-round pick appears ticketed for the Double-A Rocket City rotation to start 2023.