MLB Player News

Miller worked around two hits to pitch a scoreless inning in Monday's Cactus League game against the Padres. He struck out one.

Miller made his Cubs debut in the team's first game of the Cactus League slate. The 30-year-old opted out of the 2020 season in August after failing to make the Brewers' roster, and he struggled with an 8.59 ERA across 19 games (eight starts) with Texas back in 2019. He was invited to camp as a non-roster invitee and will have to pitch well this spring to get a shot with the Cubs, likely in a bullpen role.

Gallegos pitched a clean ninth inning in Sunday's Grapefruit League tie with the Nationals, recording two strikeouts.

It was notably Gallegos, and not eventual presumptive closer Jordan Hicks, who got the first ninth-inning call of spring, although it came in a non-save situation with the Cardinals actually down 4-2 entering the frame. The presence of Gallegos is a luxury of sorts for manager Mike Shildt; the hard-throwing right-hander proved effective in a closing role last season (4-for-4 in save chances) and certainly could soften the landing for Hicks in his return to game action after nearly two years off due to Tommy John surgery and last season's COVID-19 opt-out.

Reyes' fastball clocked in at 96 mph and above and was effectively mixed with a 79 mph curveball during his perfect inning in Sunday's Grapefruit League tie with the Nationals, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander topped out at 97.8 mph during his efficient nine-pitch frame, making it a highly encouraging spring debut for a pitcher competing for the No. 5 role in the starting rotation. Reyes is competing with a pair of proven veterans in John Gant and Carlos Martinez for the job, but the 26-year-old's stuff is undeniably a cut above both.

Edwards (forearm) struck out one over a 1-2-3 fourth inning Sunday in Atlanta's 9-7 win over the Rays in Grapefruit League play.

After missing most of the 2020 campaign with a flexor mass strain in his right elbow, Edwards was forced to settle for a minor-league deal with Atlanta this winter. With a 3.54 ERA and 32.9 K% over 199 career appearances in the majors, Edwards has a more impressive track record than most relievers attending camps as non-roster invitees. If he can stay healthy this spring, Edwards will have a good shot at earning a spot in the Opening Day bullpen.

Kelly resumed his throwing program at Dodgers camp Sunday, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Kelly left camp Friday after falling under the weather, but he returned Sunday and was able to resume throwing. He has had a slow start this spring as a result of shoulder soreness, but the right-hander should have ample time to ramp up before Opening Day.

Holmes (forearm) is scheduled to pitch in relief Sunday in the Pirates' Grapefruit League opener against the Orioles, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports.

Holmes reported to spring training at full strength after a strained right forearm sidelined him for most of the abbreviated 2020 campaign. The 27-year-old is attending big-league camp as a non-roster invitee and will be vying for a spot in the Pirates' Opening Day bullpen.

Lamet (elbow) reported no soreness Saturday after throwing Friday, Tony Gwynn Jr. of FOX Sports San Diego reports.

This is obviously good news for Lamet, whose 2020 campaign ended early due to an elbow issue. While the right-hander has said that he feels back to full health and appears on track for Opening Day, there is ample reason to be concerned about injury risk given his history of elbow problems and the stress he puts on his arm by throwing a violent slider as his primary pitch. In a best-case scenario, Lamet could cement his place as one of the league's top pitchers, but it remains to be seen how his workload will be managed over a full season.

Okert signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins on Friday, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports. The deal does not include an invitation to spring training.

The 29-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the majors since 2018 and has a career 4.28 ERA and 1.18 WHIP in 48.1 innings, all of which came with the Giants. Okert will provide the Marlins with some organizational bullpen depth.

Castano will get the start in the Marlins' Grapefruit League opener Sunday against the Astros, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw isn't thought to be a candidate for a rotation job for the beginning of the regular season, but Castano is firmly in the mix for a long-relief or swingman role out of the bullpen. The 26-year-old posted a superficially strong 3.03 ERA over 29.2 innings last year in his big-league debut, but his 12:11 K:BB and 4.80 FIP offer a better reflection of his likely upside.

Betances' fastbabll was sitting in the low 90s during Friday's live batting practice session, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander typically takes a while to ramp up his velocity -- last year at this time he was topping out at 86 mph, before eventually averaging 93.6 mph during the abbreviated regular season -- so this is an encouraging start to the spring for Betances. The 32-year-old has yet to rediscover the heat he flashed in his Yankees heyday prior to an injury-riddled 2019, but a return to something close to that form would provide a big boost to a Mets bullpen that will be missing Seth Lugo (elbow) to begin the campaign.