MLB Player News

Szapucki is listed as healthy for Low-A Columbia, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2017 and missed all of 2018, but it sounds like he's ready to make up for lost time. Szapucki made six strong starts at Low-A in 2017 before suffering a torn UCL, so if he looks like his old self, he could quickly receive a promotion to High-A.

Weigel will open the year with Double-A Mississippi, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

The Braves' Triple-A rotation is very crowded and this is Weigel's first year back from Tommy John surgery, so it makes sense to give him a pretty conservative assignment to open the year. Prior to tearing his UCL, Weigel was knocking on the door of the majors, so it's possible he could get to the big leagues as a reliever later this summer. He will be developed as a starter until then, but given the Braves' organizational rotation depth, they may have a greater need in the bullpen.

Maton was optioned to Triple-A El Paso on Thursday.

Maton will head to the minors to free up a roster spot for Matt Wisler, who was acquired from the Reds earlier in the week. Through three appearances this season, the right-hander has allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two in four innings.

Hart was claimed off waivers by the Brewers on Thursday and subsequently optioned to Triple-A San Antonio.

Hart spent the majority of the 2018 campaign with Triple-A Norfolk, compiling a 2.41 ERA and 45:10 K:BB across 41 innings (three starts, 29 relief appearances). The 28-year-old has appeared in the majors each of the last three seasons, notching a combined 3.43 ERA and 54:31 K:BB in 81.1 innings of relief.

Hudson notched his first save in an extra-inning win over the Pirates on Wednesday, allowing a walk over a scoreless two-thirds of an inning.

With his next scheduled turn in the starting rotation already having been tabled due to how the schedule lines up for the Cardinals over the next two weeks, Hudson got his temporary bullpen stint off to a fine start Wednesday. The 24-year-old right-hander was impressive in 26 relief appearances in his rookie 2018 campaign, so he's certainly no stranger to taking the hill in the latter stages of a game. Hudson's high-leverage deployment against the Pirates seems to have partly been the result of closer Jordan Hicks having pitched 2.1 innings over the prior three days and Andrew Miller already having worked earlier in Wednesday's contest.

Santillan will open the year at Double-A Chattanooga, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports.

Santillan, who turns 22 on April 15, logged a 3.61 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 61:16 K:BB in 62.1 innings (11 starts) at Double-A to close out last season, so it seemed possible that he might be assigned to Triple-A this year. We should expect him to have success in a return to Double-A before earning a promotion to Triple-A sometime this summer.

The Braves optioned Wilson to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.

With Kevin Gausman (shoulder) slated to return from the injured list to start Friday's game against the Marlins, Wilson will be the odd man out from the Braves' rotation. Wilson likely sealed his fate with a poor showing in his lone outing March 30 in Philadelphia, when he lasted just 3.1 innings while serving up four runs on five hits and four walks. The move to the minors temporarily puts a cramp on the right-hander's fantasy outlook, but his power arsenal will make him an intriguing speculative pickup when he eventually earns a call back to Atlanta.

The Braves activated Minter (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list Thursday.

After his left shoulder responded well to a bullpen session earlier in the week, Minter will re-enter Atlanta's late-inning mix ahead of Thursday's series finale with the Cubs. Manager Brian Snitker said earlier in the spring that he envisions playing matchups in ninth-inning situations this season and mentioned Arodys Vizcaino and Minter as the main candidates to pick up saves. Assuming the Braves are comfortable with how Minter looks coming off the injury, he could be worth grabbing on speculation if he's out there on the waiver wire.

Jansen picked up the save against the Giants on Wednesday, firing a scoreless ninth inning without allowing a baserunner and logging one strikeout to nail down a 5-3 victory for the Dodgers.

It's been business as usual for the dominant righty at the outset of 2019, as Jansen has now converted all three of his save opportunities, while allowing just one hit and one walk across his four innings of work. He remains one of the most reliable closers in baseball and is a good bet to top the 35-save mark this year, as he has in each of the last five seasons.

Minter (shoulder) said Tuesday's live bullpen session went well and is on track to be activated from the injured list when eligible Thursday, Kevin McAlpin of 680 The Fan Atlanta reports.

Minter also said his shoulder feels good and he appears slated to be activated Thursday with Bryse Wilson packing up his locker following Wednesday's game. The 25-year-old had the left shoulder tightness crop up at the start of March, but it looks as though he will escape by missing only the first five games of the season.