MLB Player News

Hicks will be eased into game action to begin the 2021 season, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Hicks opted out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and he hasn't pitched in a regular-season game since June of 2019 due to Tommy John surgery. While the right-hander is expected to take over as the Cardinals' primary closer at some point in 2021, manager Mike Shildt said that Alex Reyes should be the favorite to work in the eighth and ninth innings early in the year while Hicks is eased into action. Hicks converted on 14 of his 15 save chances while posting a 3.14 ERA and 0.94 WHIP in 28.2 innings during the 2019 campaign.

Reyes will work in the eighth and ninth innings early in the season while Jordan Hicks is eased into action, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

Reyes is expected to work as a long reliever for most of the 2021 campaign with the hope that he'll move to the starting rotation in 2022. However, Reyes will likely be the top option for save chances to begin the season since the Cardinals will be cautious with Hicks' usage early on after he missed the entire 2020 campaign. While Hicks should take over as the primary closer once he's fully built up, Reyes will handle ninth-inning duties to begin the year. Manager Mike Shildt said that Giovanny Gallegos and Andrew Miller could be utilized in high-leverage situations as well.

Miller has been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Miller was reassigned to minor-league camp in mid-March but is currently away from the team. It's not clear whether the right-hander has tested positive for COVID-19, but he'll need to clear the league's health and safety protocols before he's eligible to return.

The Brewers placed Topa (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.

The Brewers aren't anticipating Topa being available for the first half of the season while he recovers from a right flexor tendon strain, so he'll be a candidate to move to the 60-day IL when the team needs to open up an extra spot on the 40-man roster.

Smith (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day injured list Thursday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Smith has been dealing with right shoulder soreness recently and hasn't made an appearance in game action since March 13. He'll begin the season on the injured list and doesn't yet have a timetable for his return.

Castano was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday.

Castano missed out on a spot in the Marlins' Opening Day bullpen, with the organization's decision to keep Rule 5 picks Paul Campbell and Zach Pop on the roster likely playing a major factor. The 26-year-old lefty will likely open the campaign as a member of Jacksonville's rotation.

Johnson (groin) faced hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

While Padres manager Jayce Tingler has already indicated that Johnson will begin the season on the injured list, the right-hander looks to be tracking toward a minimum-length stay, or close to it. Assuming his groin responds well to Wednesday's throwing session, he may only need to complete one or two more simulated outings before the Padres sign off on his return from the IL.

The Reds will include Fulmer in their Opening Day bullpen, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Since last summer, Fulmer has bounced around between five organizations, but the Reds seem committed to hanging on to him, at least to begin the season. After coming over in a waiver claim from Pittsburgh earlier this month, Fulmer made three relief appearances for the Reds in the Cactus League, giving up a run on one hit and two walks over three innings. The 27-year-old will likely work in low-leverage situations out of Cincinnati's bullpen.

The Phillies announced Wednesday that Coonrod will be included in the team's Opening Day bullpen.

Coonrod's spot on the roster looked tenuous earlier in camp, but he was able to solidify his place in the bullpen after finishing the spring with a 0.96 ERA, 0.64 WHIP and 9:3 K:BB in 9.1 innings. Despite Coonrod's solid showing in the Grapefruit League, he'll enter the season behind at least closer Hector Neris and top setup men Jose Alvarado and Archie Bradley for saves and holds. That will make it tough to extract fantasy value from Coonrod, even if he maintains those excellent ratios over what will likely be a low volume of innings in relief.

Feyereisen was informed Wednesday that he will be included in the Brewers' Opening Day bullpen, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Feyereisen earned his spot after giving up just one hit (a solo home run) while posting a 17:2 K:BB in 9.1 innings this spring. Josh Hader is Milwaukee's closer and reigning NL Rookie of the Year and Devin Williams is locked in as the top setup man, but the bullpen pecking order is fairly unsettled beyond the top two options. If Feyereisen is able to carry over his form from the spring into the regular season, he could emerge as a key cog in the bridge to Williams and Hader.