MLB Player News

Hader recorded two outs and allowed two home runs in his first appearance of the spring Wednesday. He struck out two batters and walked one.

Hader was working on his offspeed stuff Wednesday, throwing "quite a few" changeups, according to Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. However, the two homers came off fastballs. Hader worked almost exclusively fastball-slider the last three seasons, but it appears he is attempting to bring back the changeup that he used from time to time during his 2017 rookie season. That's likely in an effort to keep the ball in the park, as he gave up 1.7 HR/9 over the last two years. Of course, he also struck out 169 batters in 94.2 innings during that same span.

Floro has been dealing with soreness and has yet to pitch in a Grapefruit League game, although he has thrown live batting practice sessions, Jordan McPherson of The Miami Herald reports. "Dylan had just a little bit of soreness, and we wanted to make sure we got him back on track, and he is," Marlins manager Don Mattingly said last week.

Acquired from the Dodgers in the offseason, Floro's name has come up in the closer discussion for Miami, but he hasn't yet gotten a chance to show his new team what he can do on a mound. There's still enough time for the right-hander to get ready for Opening Day, but his role in the bullpen remains undetermined.

Lamet (elbow) will pitch another simulated game later this week, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Lamet looked good in his first sim game of the spring Sunday, hitting 98 mph and throwing 20-25 pitches. His next opportunity to throw will come later this week, when he'll hurl multiple innings for the first time. Should that outing go well, Lamet could then get into a Cactus League game sometime next week. It remains to be seen whether the right-hander's progression will allow him to ramp up to a starter's workload in time for Opening Day.

Graterol threw a bullpen session Wednesday, during which he threw only fastballs, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Graterol has been ramping up slowly this spring following an offseason that featured inconsistent throwing. Manager Dave Roberts indicated that Graterol touched 96 mph with his fastball during his first bullpen session of the spring and that he is expected to throw another one in the coming days. Assuming that plan holds, Graterol should be ready to go by Opening Day.

Morejon is a candidate for a rotation role to begin the campaign, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

There is some question about whether Dinelson Lamet (elbow) will re ready by the start of the campaign, which could open the door for one of the Padres' young pitchers to temporarily claim a rotation spot. Morejon might be the favorite in that scenario given that his theoretical competitors for the role (MacKenzie Gore and Ryan Weathers) have each yet to throw a regular-season big-league inning. Morejon has thus far allowed only one run over four innings this spring while racking up five strikeouts, though his six walks are a concern.

Weathers has a legitimate chance to open the season on the big-league roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Weathers has held his own thus far in Cactus League play, allowing a pair of earned runs and striking out three over four innings. The Padres may have a need for a a fifth starter to open the campaign if Dinelson Lamet (elbow) needs more time to ramp up, and Weathers has been mentioned as a candidate for the role (along with fellow prospect MacKenzie Gore and Adrian Morejon). Even if he isn't tabbed as a temporary starter, Weathers could still open the campaign on the big-league roster as a multiple-inning reliever.

Chafin allowed three runs on three hits across one inning in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

A Wilmer Flores two-run home run was the key blow against Chafin. The southpaw won't be counted on to face too many righties like Flores during the regular season, though Chafin actually held that handedness to a .228 batting average the past three seasons, compared to the .261 average he allowed to lefties. Chafin could see an expanded role in 2021 if he continues to have some success against opposite-handed batters, but he still figures to primarily be used in same-handed matchups.

Marlins general manager Kim Ng said Wednesday that Guzman is "out for a bit" due to right elbow inflammation, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Guzman hasn't yet appeared in a Grapefruit League game this year, but he's apparently been unavailable due to a right elbow issue. It's not yet clear when he'll be able to return, but Guzman will likely begin the season in the minors once he's fully healthy.

Rodriguez (biceps) is listed among the available relievers for Wednesday's spring game against the Giants, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Rodriguez suffered a right biceps strain in March 2020 that forced him to miss all of last season, but he's now healthy and could make his spring debut Wednesday. The right-hander could contend for a major-league bullpen spot after posting a 3.45 ERA and 65:17 K:BB over 47 innings with High-A Myrtle Beach in 2019.

Bickford threw his third scoreless inning of the spring in Tuesday's exhibition game against the Giants.

Bickford was tagged for four earned runs in the first big-league appearance of his career last September, but he has put that behind him and is off to a good start this spring. Bickford was once considered one of the better prospects in baseball, and although he no longer carries that tag, he does still possess the arm talent to contend for a spot in the Brewers' bullpen.