MLB Player News

Vizcaino has been able to hit 96 mph with his fastball this spring, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports. "He feels strong," Mets manager Luis Rojas said Sunday. "He wants to get out there. The breaking pitches, they've looked nasty in the bullpens."

The veteran reliever hasn't pitched in a big-league game since April 2019 due to shoulder surgery and has yet to see any Grapefruit League action this spring, but if Vizcaino demonstrates he still has good stuff he has an outside chance of breaking camp in the Mets' bullpen, or at least showcasing himself for other teams. Vizcaino has exactly 50 career saves and posted a 2.53 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 110:39 K:BB over 99.2 innings since 2017.

Nationals manager Dave Martinez said Rainey (collarbone) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

While he has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut as he recovers from a muscle strain near his right collarbone, Rainey is beginning to ramp up again and is expected to be ready to go for the start of the regular season. After incumbent closer Daniel Hudson endured a turbulent 2020 campaign and after Sean Doolittle left for the Reds this offseason, Rainey looks like he could be a candidate for ninth-inning duties earlier this winter, but those hopes were dashed when the Nationals signed three-time All-Star Brad Hand to a one-year, $10.5 million deal. Rainey should once again serve as one of the Nats' top setup men in 2021.

Gsellman (ribs) made his Grapefruit League debut Thursday against the Nationals, pitching a scoreless inning in relief while working around two hits and a walk.

Gsellman's 2020 campaign came to an end in early September when he suffered a fractured rib, but he received a clean bill of health heading into spring training. Per Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, Gsellman is included on the Mets' travel roster ahead of Monday's game against the Nationals, so he could get the chance to make his second relief appearance of the spring.

Ginkel allowed one walk and struck out one over a scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.

Ginkel entered the game in the eighth inning in what was his second spring appearance. He pitched the fifth inning during his other outing. He had been considered closer material in 2020 following a breakout 2019, but the right-hander allowed 11 earned runs over 10 innings when pitching the final third of games last season. Ginkel is expected to have a spot in the 2021 bullpen but has been passed by Stefan Crichton for high-leverage work.

Hill has pitched two innings thus far this spring, allowing no runs on two hits and one walk while striking out six.

Hill has improved his K/9 during each of his three big-league campaigns, starting at 8.3 in 2018 and building to 10.0 last season. The southpaw doesn't throw hard -- his fastball velocity averages just over 90 mph -- but he gets enough strikeouts and induces enough groundballs to be viewed as a valuable bullpen piece for the upstart Padres.

Jansen completed one scoreless inning in Sunday's Cactus League contest against Texas, allowing one hit. He did not issue any walks or collect any strikeouts.

Jansen had some issues with his mechanics late last week that resulted in a delay in his next trip to the mound, but those problems didn't appear to surface Sunday. Jansen allowed a one-out single in his lone frame but otherwise had a smooth outing, throwing 12 total pitches (seven for strikes). Per Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register, the veteran closer touched the low 90s in the appearance, just a tick below his average velocity last season. Jansen no longer comes without risk, but he should have adequate opportunity to prove that he can still thrive in a ninth-inning role for one of baseball's best teams.

Graterol is expected to be ready to pitch in a one-inning role by the start of the regular season, Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Graterol has gotten off to a slow start this spring due to unspecified non-injury issues that kept him from throwing regularly in Venezuela during the offseason, but manager Dave Roberts indicated Sunday that he expects the flamethrower to be able to pitch by Opening Day. Graterol figures to be a key cog in the Dodgers' bullpen plans after posting a 3.09 ERA and 0.90 WHIP across 23.1 innings last season.

Lamet (elbow) threw 20-25 pitches, including some sliders, and hit 98 mph in a simulated game Sunday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

This was Lamet's first time throwing sliders since he suffered an elbow injury in September last season. Provided he emerges from Sunday's session without setbacks, the right-hander could soon toe the mound in a Cactus League contest. It remains unclear whether Lamet will be ready to pitch by Opening Day, and the Padres have a deep enough rotation to allow the 28-year-old as much time as necessary to comfortably ease back into action.

Hicks, who's already thrown a pair of live batting practice sessions, is scheduled to pitch in a "B" game Wednesday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports. "The good news is, Jordan is in a really good place, on track for the season," manager Mike Shildt said. "But we're just taking it rightfully slow and building up the intensity to what that looks like for competition."

The right-hander has been brought along carefully this spring after last pitching in June 2019, but with Hicks passing every test put in front of him thus far, he appears to be on the cusp of game action. If all checks out well after Wednesday's outing, Hicks would likely be deemed ready for his Grapefruit League debut.

Rolison (1-0) gave up one hit and no walks while failing to strike out any batters over two scoreless innings as he earned the win in Sunday's spring game against the White Sox.

Rolison gave up a leadoff double to Yoan Moncada to begin his spring debut Sunday, but he retired the next three batters before pitching a clean fifth inning. Manager Bud Black was pleased with Rolison's performance. "He showed some pitchability," Black said. The southpaw will likely begin the season with Triple-A Albuquerque but could be in line to make his major-league debut at some point in 2021.