MLB Player News

Honeywell (elbow), who was in the midst of a throwing program before spring training was suspended, is still unlikely to make a return at any point during a 2020 season, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander last pitched in 2017 due to multiple injuries, so he was already slated for a robust rehabilitation program before any thoughts of a 2020 return were seriously contemplated. Honeywell was on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule of bullpen sessions when spring training was suspended, and he's presumably still playing catch on his own at the moment. However, Toribio notes the Rays will need to see Honeywell prove his health at Triple-A Durham before signing off on a return, and with the possibility the minor-league season is canceled outright, that opportunity may not ever be there this year. Additionally, the limitations brought about by current conditions rob Honeywell of the chance to face live hitters at the moment, slowing down the overall pace of his recovery in the process.

Abreu averaged "about 98 mph" on his fastball in Grapefruit League play, Yankees vice president of baseball operations Tim Naehring stated in an interview with Meredith Marakovits of the YES Network on Wednesday.

In addition to the impressive fastball velocity, Abreu displayed a plus curveball and changeup, accoring to Naehring. The 24-year-old has posted solid strikeout numbers in the minors but has often struggled with his command as evidenced by a 91:53 K:BB over 96.2 innings at the Double-A level last season. Abreu will return to Trenton to begin the 2020 campaign after allowing three earned runs and posting a 4:2 K:BB over five Grapefruit League innings this spring.

Mata added a cutter to his repertoire in 2019, Ian Cundall of SoxProspects.com reports.

Mata had a couple of promising developments in 2019: adding a fourth pitch and cleaning up his mechanics. The delivery still has a lot of effort and may be something that limits his ability to command consistently. The cutter, which some call a slider, gives him a pitch with which to get left-handed hitters out. He had a rocky introduction to Double-A ball last season, but that could be attributed to going beyond previous career highs in innings pitched. His future as a starter depends on his ability to improve command. Mata will likely start at Double-A Portland with a shot to reach Triple-A Pawtucket in 2020.

Mengden (elbow), who resumed throwing March 13, will miss significantly less time, if any, thanks to the delayed start to the regular season.

The right-hander's original recovery timeline from Feb. 12 arthroscopic surgery was 6-to-10 weeks, which was set to definitely keep him out through the early portion of the season when Opening Day was still scheduled to unfold March 26. With the first regular-season game now unlikely to transpire before June 1 at the earliest, Mengden could be available from the start of the 2020 campaign. The 27-year-old will look to secure a multi-inning bullpen role with all five rotation spots likely spoken for, and Mengden should have a chance to corroborate the fitness of his elbow during whatever ramp-up period takes place leading up to the onset of the regular season.

McHugh (elbow) continues to build arm strength in advance of an eventual throwing program, Rob Bradford of WEEI.com reports.

Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush hopped on a conference call with interim manager Ron Roenicke and reporters to discuss McHugh's status. "I don't think anything has changed other than he still has to build up strength, he still has a long throwing program to go through to get ready to pitch in a big-league game," said Bush. The Red Sox weren't certain about a timeline for McHugh before they left spring training and still are unsure, although the delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic could put the right-hander in position to pitch by the time baseball eventually returns.

Graveman appeared to be fully recovered from Tommy John surgery during Cactus League play and even maxed out at 96 mph on several occasions, Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle reports.

The veteran right-hander fired four scoreless innings across two spring training starts, with his third one getting rained out March 12, the day play was paused. Even with limited opportunity, the aforementioned velocity Graveman displayed certainly seemed to corroborate the fitness of his surgically repaired elbow. However, despite the impressive stuff, Graveman confirmed this spring he remains a sinkerballer first and foremost, just as he was before pre-injury. The 29-year-old projects to slot into the No. 5 spot in the rotation whenever the 2020 season begins.

Clase (back) is progressing well in his recovery, according to manager Terry Francona, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.

He is already throwing in the Dominican Republic, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. It was reported Feb. 27 that he would be out for 2-to-3 months, so we are nearing the lower bound of that estimate. The Indians will likely proceed cautiously with Clase in his return to game action, but it's feasible that he could be available when play resumes.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Thursday that Borucki (elbow) has experienced no setbacks since resuming mound work in late March, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Borucki was sidelined for most of spring training with left elbow tightness, but the ongoing suspension of the MLB season looks like it might provide him with enough time to make a full recovery from the injury once play resumes. Despite his improved health, Borucki still seems likely to open the 2020 campaign at Triple-A Buffalo, as Trent Thornton and newcomer Shun Yamaguchi both look to be ahead of him in the pecking order for the final spot in the big-league rotation.

Swanson, who entered spring camp with a back issue, is now fully healthy according to pitching coach Pete Woodworth, Greg Johns of MLB.com reports.

Swanson was able to log three Cactus League appearances as he worked through the final stages of his back strain before spring training was suspended, generating a 3.00 ERA across three innings. The 26-year-old right-hander is looking to bounce back from a 2019 rookie campaign during which he put up a 1-5 record and 5.74 ERA across 27 appearances (eight starts). Swanson is expected to work exclusively out of the bullpen whenever the regular season begins, with the possible exception being if multiple injuries were to strike the starting rotation.

Fulmer (elbow) is throwing off a mound at the Tigers' spring training facility and could be ready to join the team when the delayed regular season is able to begin, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Fulmer underwent Tommy John surgery before the start of last season and it was expected that he'd be out until around midseason this year. However, with play suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic, the 27-year-old may actually be ready to go by the new Opening Day, depending on when it is. Tigers' manager Ron Gardenhire said that Fulmer is "doing great" and is ramping up his activity, though the righty will still need to face live batters before he is cleared to return.