MLB Player News

Chafin has had an efficient spring thus far, which makes it hard for manager Torey Lovullo to evaluate the left-hander, Richard Morin of the Arizona Republic reports.

Chafin, perhaps more than other Diamondback reliever, will be impacted by the rule change requiring relievers to face a minimum of three batters upon entering a game unless the inning comes to an end first. He's been successful attacking hitters, putting the ball in the zone with good results. A byproduct of that is a low pitch count. Lovullo would like to see more pitch variety from Chafin. "I would have liked to seen him throw a slider or two," Lovullo said after one outing. "But he knows what he needs to get to [get ready for Opening Day]. We'll figure that out." Chafin is an old-breed lefty specialist. He's made 225 appearances over the last three seasons, totaling 153.1 innings.

Hudson is slated to throw at least 45 pitches in twice-a-week bullpen sessions while spring training remains suspended, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Rogers reports manager Mike Shildt and his staff are in the process of setting up a maintenance program for the team's starting pitchers to follow during the suspension of spring training. The templates will be individualized to an extent for each player, but Hudson, the projected No. 3 starter, is likely to see his fall approximately within the 45-pitch, twice-a-week guideline. The right-hander had worked up to 74 pitches in his second start of Grapefruit League play last Sunday against the Marlins, but that elevated count was primarily due to control issues he experienced during his 3.2 innings of work.

The Cubs reassigned Hultzen to their minor-league camp Thursday, Bruce Levine of 670TheScore.com reports.

The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 first-year player draft overcame a slew of serious injuries to finally make his MLB debut at 29 years old in 2019. Though he turned in 3.1 scoreless innings across his six relief outings with the Cubs, Hultzen's status as a lefty specialist probably hurt his case for a roster spot with the three-batter minimum in place for the 2020 season. Hultzen will presumably open the campaign at Triple-A Iowa.

De Leon was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Sunday.

De Leon was acquired from the Rays in November and had an outside chance at cracking the Opening Day roster, but he's now set to begin the season -- whenever that occurs -- in the minors. The 27-year-old had a 3.51 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 73:27 K:BB over 51.1 innings at Triple-A last season, though he also had three big-league appearances.

Weigel was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.

The 25-year-old right-hander had a good showing in camp before MLB suspended the Grapefruit League schedule, but Atlanta has apparently decided Weigel would be better off in the rotation at Gwinnett than in the big-league bullpen to begin the regular season.

Sewald has posted a 1.69 ERA, 0.75 WHIP and 5:1 K:BB through 5.1 innings this spring.

The right-hander is coming off an encouraging big-league campaign, as Sewald compiled a 22:3 K:BB through 19.2 innings with a FIP more than a full run below his 4.58 ERA. His spot in the Mets' bullpen seems secure for the regular season, but he's unlikely to see much high-leverage work -- Sewald recorded only one save and zero holds in 2019.

Rainey has posted a 3.38 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 3:3 K:BB through 5.1 spring innings.

While the right-hander hasn't been dominant, he also has yet to allow a home run this spring, an encouraging note after he surrendered 10 long balls in his first 55.1 big-league innings over the last two years. Rainey is expected to open the regular season in middle relief for the Nats, but his high-90s fastball and sharp slider could allow him to work his way into a late-inning role if his command takes a step forward.

Gallegos was credited with his second save of spring in a Grapefruit League win over the Marlins on Thursday, firing a perfect ninth inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.

Gallegos is a leading contender to serve as the Cardinals' closer whenever the 2020 regular season does begin, and Rick Hummel of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes the right-hander has pitched the ninth inning in four of his six spring appearances. Pitching coach Mike Maddux credited the hard-throwing reliever for his resiliency after Thursday's game, noting Gallegos' first two Grapefruit League outings were "a little big rugged" but that the 28-year-old has bounced back well over his last three.

Lamet pitched four scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against Seattle on Wednesday, allowing one hit while striking out three.

Lamet has shined as one of the most impressive hurlers in Cactus League play, starting three games without allowing an earned run. In those contests, he has pitched nine innings and has allowed only three hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters. Lamet's dominant spring has cemented his place near the front of San Diego's regular-season rotation.

Barraclough was optioned to minor-league camp Wednesday.

Barraclough signed with the Padres in December and had a chance to earn a spot in the big-league bullpen, but he struggled with a 13.50 ERA and 2.25 WHIP in Cactus League play. Once a promising high-leverage reliever with the Marlins, Barraclough will start the season in the minors and attempt to earn his way back to the major-league level.