MLB Player News

Nance (shoulder) is scheduled to make his fourth appearance of the Cactus League in Sunday's game against the Mariners, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Through three outings, Nance -- who is attending camp as a non-roster invitee -- has struck out a batter while giving up one earned run on two hits and no walks over three innings. Nance finished the 2023 season on the Marlins' 60-day injured list after developing a shoulder issue in September, but he looks like he'll enter the 2024 campaign with a clean bill of health. The right-hander is competing for a spot in the Padres' Opening Day bullpen but is more likely to begin the season at Triple-A El Paso.

Bernardino allowed one hit over one scoreless inning in Saturday's spring game against Washington.

Bernardino, who was making his Grapefruit League debut, gave up a double to the first batter he faced then calmly got out of the inning unscathed. The left-hander bounced between Boston and Triple-A Worcester upon being claimed off waivers from Seattle in April, but he held down a steady job in the bullpen and thrived from June through the end of the season. That included several outings as an opener. In all, Bernardino logged 55 appearances -- tied for second-most behind Josh Winckowski -- and recorded a 3.20 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 50.2 innings. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but 2023 was a breakout season for the reliever, who appears to have a lock on a bullpen spot.

Jackson (elbow/appendix) has made two appearances for the Athletics thus far during Cactus League play, covering two scoreless innings and striking out a batter while giving up one hit and one walk.

When healthy, Jackson was one of the Athletics' top relievers last season, but he didn't make any appearances after May 16 due to a right flexor tendon strain. He began a minor-league rehab assignment in late July, but he ultimately wasn't activated from the 60-day injured list after he required an emergency appendectomy. Jackson appears to have made a full recovery from the appendectomy and should be in good shape to make the Athletics' Opening Day roster, but it's unclear if he'll be a part of Oakland's unsettled closing situation.

Manaea gave up three runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out three without walking a batter and threw a wild pitch.

The veteran lefty got in plenty of work in his first game action of the spring, tossing 41 of 56 pitches for strikes, but the results were something of a mixed bag. Manaea did at least keep the ball in the park, although Jazz Chisholm, Avisail Garcia and Jon Berti all laced doubles off him. Manaea is locked into a rotation spot for the Mets this season after making only 10 starts for the Giants in 2023 among his 37 appearances, but New York is counting on him to show the form he flashed in the second half for San Francisco -- over his final 51.2 innings last year, he posted a 2.61 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 48:15 K:BB.

Brieske has adjusted the grip on his slider over the offseason to give the pitch more spin, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Brieske said his previous slider acted more like a cutter at times, but he's adjusted his grip to hold the ball deeper in his hand and develop more spin. In his first spring appearance, the average spin rate of the pitch sat at 2,399 rpm, up 200 revolutions from last season, while the slider's speed was down a few ticks. He followed that performance with two more scoreless innings Saturday. Brieske had some success in a bullpen role last year, posting a 3.60 ERA across 35 innings, and he could take a step forward if his new slider is effective.

Beck (arm) was placed on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander is scheduled to undergo vascular surgery Monday to address the aneurysm in his upper right arm, and he'll be sidelined for at least the first two months of the regular season. Beck remains without an official timeline for his return, but more information is expected to be available following his procedure.

Francis struck out three and walked one over 2.1 scoreless, no-hit innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Entering the game to begin the fifth inning, Francis faced his toughest challenge in the sixth but breezed through the top of the Atlanta order, striking out Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia before getting Travis d'Arnaud to fly out. The 27-year-old right-hander tossed 30 of 42 pitches for strikes before exiting, and with Alek Manoah (shoulder) looking questionable for Opening Day, Francis may have the inside track on a rotation spot to begin the regular season.

Imanaga allowed three runs on three hits across 2.1 innings in Saturday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers. He struck out five.

Outside of allowing a three-run home run, Imanaga looked pretty good in his first start of the spring with his new team, striking out half of the batters he faced. The lefty is expected to slot into a top-of-the-rotation role with the Cubs after coming over from Nippon Professional Baseball in the offseason. Imanaga may have some ups and downs as he adjusts to MLB hitting for the first time, but the talent is there for him to make a strong fantasy impact.

Laweryson (biceps) made his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday in the Twins' 3-3 tie with the Phillies, striking out three over one inning while allowing two earned runs on one hit.

Laweryson served up a two-run home run that put the Twins in a 3-0 hole in the top of the seventh, but Minnesota rallied for three runs in the ninth inning to salvage a tie. A 25-year-old right-hander who has yet to reach the majors, Laweryson isn't a serious threat to make the Twins' Opening Day roster, but he at least appears to be healthy entering the 2024 season after he didn't pitch after Aug. 15 of last season due to right biceps tendinitis.

Rios (shoulder) is listed as one of the Mets' available relievers for Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Rios' 2023 season came to an end last July after he required surgery to address an axillary branch aneurysm in his right shoulder, but he seems to have received a clean bill of health for spring training. He's made two appearances in the spring thus far, tossing two scoreless frames.