MLB Player News

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Dominguez could see save opportunities early on in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista won't pitch back-to-back days or throw more than one inning at a time initially in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. That opens the door to save chances for others, with Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge (knee) being named along with Dominguez by Hyde in what will be a "mix and match" situation. Dominguez served as the Orioles' primary closer down the stretch last season, going 10-for-11 in regular-season save chances after being acquired at the trade deadline.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde named Soto as an option to see save chance early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista will not be allowed to appear in back-to-back games or pitch more than one inning at a time for a while as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, and Hyde said he'll "mix and match" at closer those days. The skipper named Andrew Kittredge (knee) and Seranthony Dominguez in addition to Soto as relievers who could see save opportunities when Bautista is off limits.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Kittredge (knee) is an option to see save chances early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista's usage will be limited in the first half as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, as he won't pitch back-to-back days or go more than one inning. Hyde also listed Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as fill-in closer options in what he expects to be a "mix and match" situation. Kittredge is still getting treatment as he recovers from left knee soreness, but he's not expected to be out long.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Bautista (elbow) -- who will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox -- won't pitch back-to-back days or cover more than one inning early on in the season, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista projects to open the season as the Orioles' closer, barring any setbacks during his appearances in the spring as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in October 2023. However, for occasions in which Bautista is unavailable, Hyde said he would "mix and match" at closer those days, with the manager naming Andrew Kittredge (knee), Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as options to fill in. Hyde noted that he'll apply the cautious usage of Bautista "especially in the first half." The Orioles don't seem to have a hard deadline for when the restrictions on Bautista will be lifted, as it likely just depends on how the pitcher looks and is bouncing back from outings.

Faucher has tossed three scoreless innings across his three Grapefruit League appearances, allowing one hit and hitting another batter while striking out two.

Though the sample size is small, Faucher's excellence thus far in spring could give him an early leg up on emerging as the Marlins' preferred option at closer heading into Opening Day. While his ratios over his 53 total appearances with Miami in 2024 aren't eye-popping (3.19 ERA, 1.40 WHIP), he shined after the All-Star break with a 2.75 ERA (2.10 FIP) and 21.2 K-BB% before spending most of September on the injured list due to a shoulder impingement. Now healthy again, Faucher has resembled the dominant reliever he was over his final two months of the 2024 campaign.

Cronin (knee) is scheduled to make his second appearance of Grapefruit League play Monday versus the Astros, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

In his first season with Miami in 2024, Cronin submitted a 4.35 ERA, 1.42 WHIP and 72:25 K:BB across 70.1 innings over 56 relief appearances, but he didn't pitch in the final week of the campaign after landing on the injured list due to left knee tendinitis. The injury doesn't seem to have delayed him in spring training, but Cronin may need to close camp on a high note to ensure he clinches a spot in Miami's Opening Day bullpen. He lacked command in his first spring outing Thursday against St. Louis, recording two outs while allowing two earned runs on two hits while also hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch.

Neris signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Neris served as the Cubs' closer for most of 2024, logging 18 saves in 59.1 innings. However, he'll settle for a minor-league deal after logging a 1.40 WHIP and 13.8 K-BB% -- his worst such marks since the 2020 season. Neris could make the big club in a mid-leverage role.

Martin struck out one over a scoreless fourth inning in Sunday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Martin, who missed time earlier in camp due to the flu, made his Cactus League debut Sunday. Setting down the side in order on 15 pitches (nine strikes), Martin has been mentioned as a top candidate for the team's closer role, although Texas manager Bruce Bochy said that he may not "have a defined closer," Jack Magruder of MLB.com reports. However the manager chooses to close out games, Martin is expected to be one of the trusted arms Bochy turns to in the ninth inning.

Graveman experienced tightness in his back while throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Graveman will be sent to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo described the issue as "nothing too alarming." Graveman signed with the Diamondbacks after camp opened and has yet to appear in a Cactus League game.

Hurt (elbow) was been playing catch, per MLB.com.

Hurt underwent Tommy John surgery last July. Though his ability to begin playing catch indicates he has taken a positive step in his rehab, the righty hurler isn't expected to return to game action this season.