MLB Player News

Lowther will join the Orioles for big-league camp this spring, Jon Meoli of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Lowther pitched well in his third minor-league season, making 26 starts for Double-A Bowie and recording a 2.25 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 26 percent strikeout rate. The 23-year-old southpaw will have the opportunity to work with the big-league coaching staff this spring before likely joining Triple-A Norfolk's starting rotation alongside fellow quality pitching prospects Dean Kremer, Alex Wells and Michael Baumann.

Honeywell (elbow) has resumed throwing, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Honeywell was on the cusp of the big leagues after posting a 3.64 ERA and a 29.1 percent strikeout rate in 24 starts for Triple-A Durham back in 2017. He hasn't thrown a competitive pitch since then, however, as he missed 2018 due to Tommy John surgery and missed 2019 due to nerve irritation and a fractured elbow. He was quite a highly rated prospect prior to his injuries and could certainly make a significant impact if he's able to make his big-league debut this season, but the injury problems obviously add quite a lot of risk.

Hildenberger adjusted his mechanics during the offseason, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

Hildenberger described his 2019 season as "miserable," but the Red Sox will give him a chance to help the team's bullpen in 2020. The side-arming right-hander said he never felt right mechanically last season, which diminished his velocity and negatively impacted movement and location. His groundball rate dropped to 41.3 percent, down from 60.3 percent the previous season. "I just felt off," he said. "And I think I corrected some things this offseason and I feel much, much better." Hildenberger is not a hard thrower, so movement and location are important.

Puk will be a starter for the A's this season, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

This shouldn't come as a surprise. Puk was eased back as a reliever in his first year back from Tommy John surgery, but he has a chance to be a really good starting pitcher, so Oakland will continue to develop him in that role. Manager Bob Melvin said the team might have to get creative with managing Puk and Jesus Luzardo's workloads, but there does not seem to be significant risk of either being used primarily out of the bullpen.

Mata received an invitation to the Red Sox's big-league camp Friday.

The 20-year-old will spend a few weeks with Boston's big-league coaching staff, though it might be another year before he's pushing to join the top club for good. In 11 starts at Double-A Portland last season, he posted an unimpressive 5.03 ERA, combining a strong 25.2 percent strikeout rate with a slightly high 10.3 percent walk rate.

Fulmer (elbow) is throwing from 90 feet on flat ground, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Fulmer is slowly working his way back to full strength after undergoing Tommy John surgery in late March. The right-hander is expected to increase his throwing distance to 120 feet next week before hopefully progressing to mound work thereafter. The hope is that Fulmer will be ready to return at some point this summer.

Leone has signed a minor-league contract with the Indians. The deal includes an invitation to spring training.

Leone has found a new home after being let go by the Cardinals following the 2019 season, The reliever struggled during his two years in St. Louis, posting a combined 5.15 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 72:30 K:BB in 64.2 innings. Leone will look to break camp with the Indians in a middle-relief role.

Santiago agreed Wednesday with the Tigers on a minor-league contract that includes an invitation to major-league spring training.

While he should get the token chance to compete for a spot in Detroit rotation that lacked dependable arms beyond Matthew Boyd and Spencer Turnbull in 2019, the 32-year-old is more realistically being evaluated for a spot on the Triple-A Toledo staff. Detroit added experienced starters in Ivan Nova and Zack Godley to the 40-man roster this offseason and also retained Jordan Zimmermann, Daniel Norris and Tyler Alexander, leaving Santiago on the outside looking in for the Opening Day roster. Santiago boasts experience in his own right with 139 career MLB starts, but he wasn't effective between stints with the White Sox and Mets in 2019, submitting a 6.68 ERA and 1.90 WHIP in 33.2 innings.

The Twins plan to use Graterol as a reliever in 2020, pitching coach Wes Johnson and general manager Thad Levine told MLB.com.

Twins management left open the door that Graterol could become a starter again in the future but said he may learn how to pitch at the MLB level better in the bullpen. Being used as a reliever would make it easier to manage his workload (he had Tommy John surgery in 2016). Armed with a 99-mph fastball, Graterol had a strong debut in the majors at just age 20 last year with a 4.66 ERA and 10:2 K:BB ratio in 9.2 innings. He also threw a scoreless inning in the playoffs. He'll need to win a spot in the big-league bullpen, but he could be an impact player in high-leverage situations this season.

Palumbo (blister) is expected to start the season at Triple-A Nasvhille, Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News reports.

Palumbo had five separate stints with Texas in 2019, making seven appearances (four starts). The development of a blister during the summer limited him and eventually prevented him from pitching in the Arizona Fall League. The 25-year-old left-hander spent the offseason adding weight (25 pounds) and working on a new changeup grip, which he apparently will hone while a member of the Sounds' starting rotation. Texas added three veteran starters during the offseason, filling out a rotation that already included Mike Minor and Lance Lynn. It means that, barring health issues, young starters like Palumbo will open the season in the minors.