MLB Player News

Beede has give up just one run on two hits while striking out eight over seven innings this spring.

Beede has been opening the eyes of both manager Bruce Bochy and GM Farhan Zaidi with his relative early dominance in exhibition play, according to Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area. The 2014 first-round pick saw his stock drop heavily with a sharp increase in ERA over the last two seasons with Triple-A Sacramento (4.79 in 2017 and 7.05 in 2018). Part of his brief success early on this year may be attributed to trimming down his repertoire to a four-seam fastball, curveball and changeup (dumping his sinker and cutter). If Beede can continue to display strong results, then he could vie for a bullpen job or even enter the fifth-starter conversation, a scenario that seemed unlikely prior to the start of spring training.

Ferguson will build up to a three-inning workload this spring, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Ferguson was a starter almost exclusively in the minors but started in just three of his 29 big-league appearances last season. There was some thought that he'd stretch out as a starter this spring, but the team will apparently prepare him for a flexible, multi-inning role.

Kelly (back) is throwing off a mound Friday, Ken Gurnick of MLB.com reports.

Kelly was scratched from Wednesday's scheduled appearance due to back tightness, but his quick return to mound work suggest it's not a major issue. The 30-year-old expects to return to throwing on consecutive days next week as his status for Opening Day doesn't appear in imminent danger.

Weigel was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett on Friday.

Weigel has pitched in a pair of spring games after throwing just four rehab innings while recovering from Tommy John surgery last season. He could be a factor in the Braves' rotation later in the year, though he'll have to conquer Triple-A first after struggling to a 5.27 ERA in eight starts for Gwinnett back in 2017.

Nelson (shoulder) is set to make his Cactus League debut Monday against the White Sox, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Nelson had a successful two-inning appearance during an intrasquad game Thursday, clearing the way for his return to spring action. The 29-year-old missed the entirety of 2018 following shoulder surgery, so appearing in a Cactus League game is a big step toward his regular-season availability.

Crowe was reassigned to the Nationals' minor-league camp Thursday, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Also being shifted to minor-league camp in the first wave of spring cuts were pitcher Ronald Pena, catcher Tres Barrera, first baseman Jose Marmolejos and outfielder Chuck Taylor, while catcher Raudy Read and pitcher James Bourque were optioned to Triple-A Fresno and Double-A Harrisburg, respectively. Crowe, a second-round pick in 2017 and the Nats' No. 10 fantasy prospect, looked sharp to begin last season at High-A Potomac but stumbled to a 6.15 ERA and 1.80 WHIP in 26 innings after a promotion to Harrisburg. Look for the 24-year-old right-hander to get another crack at that level in 2019.

Guzman was optioned to Double-A Jacksonville, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Guzman will likely spend all of 2019 refining his craft in the minors. He generates elite velocity with his fastball, but needs to greatly improve his command and secondary pitches.

Hernandez was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

Hernandez logged a 5.21 ERA, 1.45 WHIP and 45 strikeouts in 65.2 innings in the majors last year. He should serve as an up-and-down arm this year.

Yamamoto was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans, Andre Fernandez of The Athletic reports.

The former Brewers farmhand only logged three starts at Double-A last year, so he was obviously going to open the year in the minors. Yamamoto has below-average fastball velocity but has been able to make it work with quality secondary offerings and deception. That may change as he faces more advanced hitters.

Melancon allowed two homers in Thursday's spring training game, both coming on 92 mph fastballs to the opposite field, Susan Slusser of The San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The two homers are equal to the entire total he allowed with the Giants in 39 innings last season. The good news is that his velocity matched his average fastball from last season.