MLB Player News

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Thielbar (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.

Thielbar had a setback with his left hamstring during Saturday's live batting practice session. There's no timetable at this juncture for the left-handed reliever's return. It's a blow to a bullpen that will also be without Jhoan Duran (oblique) at the start of the season.

Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said Monday that Duran will begin the season on the 15-day injured list with a moderate right oblique strain, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.

Duran felt a cramp in his side while warming up ahead of a live batting practice session Saturday and a subsequent MRI revealed the bad news. The fact the Twins are labeling his injury as a moderate strain would suggest that he's probably in store for longer than a minimum stay on the IL. Manager Rocco Baldelli might not settle on one closer while Duran is on the shelf, but Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart are viewed as the top candidates for saves while Duran is sidelined.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that Sborz has been battling knee soreness lately but will throw a live batting practice session Monday, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Sborz has been held out of Cactus League action for nearly two weeks because of the knee issue, but he'll face hitters Monday and should be ready for a game appearance soon. The Rangers anticipate the reliever being fine for Opening Day.

Brebbia (calf) is scheduled to make a relief appearance Monday in a game at minor-league camp, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Brebbia still has yet to make his Cactus League debut, but he'll still be able to build up at minor-league camp Monday as he looks to secure his spot in the White Sox's Opening Day bullpen. Assuming Brebbia's right calf presents no further complications in Monday's outing or his subsequent spring appearances, he could find himself in a prominent role in the bullpen to begin the campaign. The White Sox have yet to anoint a closer since trading away Gregory Santos to the Mariners in February, and Brebbia represents one of the more battle-tested options in an otherwise green bullpen. In addition to Brebbia, hard-throwing 23-year-old Prelander Berroa (shoulder) and converted starting pitcher Michael Kopech are candidates to factor into the equation for saves.

Kelly (oblique) will return to Grapefruit League play Friday with an appearance versus the Blue Jays, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports.

Kelly has missed most of this month with a left oblique injury but is nearly ready to step back on a mound in a game setting. The reliever is expected to be ready for Opening Day and is competing for a spot in Boston's bullpen.

Jansen won't make his scheduled Grapefruit League appearance Monday against the Twins due to lower-back tightness, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

The Red Sox aren't concerned and think Jansen could be ready to pitch as soon as Tuesday, so his absence shouldn't affect his availability for Opening Day. Jansen had previously been limited by a lat issue and has made just one appearance this spring. It's not an ideal way to prep for the season, but as a one-inning reliever, the 36-year-old closer shouldn't need as much ramp-up time as other pitchers.

Murphy is experiencing soreness in his left elbow and will undergo an MRI on Monday, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

Murphy is competing for a spot in Boston's bullpen, but the injury looks as though it could threaten his availability for Opening Day. The southpaw posted a 4.91 ERA and 49:17 K:BB over 47.2 relief innings with Boston last season.

Jacques was optioned to Triple-A Worcester by the Red Sox on Monday, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Jacques was knocked around this spring, allowing four runs on 10 hits and two walks over four innings. He will give the Red Sox some left-handed relief depth at Worcester.

Santos, who suffered a mild lat strain Monday, is still "waiting to get things calmed down" before officially beginning a rehab routine, MLB.com reports.

The update comes directly from manager Scott Servais, who's counting on Santos to play a key seventh- and eighth-inning role this season. Santos has already been ruled out for Opening Day, however, and it's likely extra caution is taken with the restart date of his baseball activities considering he's also already dealt with a shoulder problem this spring.

Brash (elbow) has "picked up his throwing quite a bit" according to manager Scott Servais and could be ready for game action shortly after Opening Day, MLB.com reports.

Brash has now upped his throwing distance to 110 feet after hitting the 90-foot threshold early in the week. The next step for Brash is to progress to begin throwing off a mound, and once he's successfully completed that phase of his rehabilitation, he's likely to log game action at the minor-league level before being deemed ready to face big-league hitters.