MLB Player News

Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said Wednesday that tests on Garcia's left arm revealed no structural damage to his shoulder or elbow, but the team has yet to hone in on a formal diagnosis for his injury, Chris Halicke of DKPittsburghSports.com reports.

For now, Garcia's injury is being labeled as "left arm soreness," but more definitive word on the precise nature and extent of the issue should become available within the coming days when he undergoes additional testing. Tomczyk noted that Garcia is unable to grip a baseball at the moment, so the reliever likely won't be ready to throw for at least a couple of weeks and looks to be at risk of beginning the season on the injured list.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Vespi (sports hernia) is slated to throw a simulated game next week, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

After Vespi threw a 35-pitch bullpen session last Friday, there had been some hope that he would be cleared to face hitters this week, but the Orioles will instead continue to take things slowly with the lefty reliever for a few more days. With the Orioles providing no indication that he has suffered a setback in his recovery from the sports hernia surgery he underwent Jan. 5, Vespi still looks on pace to get fully ramped up by the time Opening Day arrives. However, since Vespi doesn't have an extensive track record in the majors and still has two minor-league options remaining, it wouldn't be surprising if the Orioles optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk before heading north for the start of the regular season.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday that Bautista (shoulder/knee) is on track to throw live batting practice next week, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

The 27-year-old has yet to make his spring debut while battling shoulder and knee soreness, but he's been gradually ramping up through bullpen sessions over the past two weeks and should be ready to take the next meaningful step forward in his buildup process within the next few days. Assuming Bautista is able to get in an appearance or two in a Grapefruit League game or minor-league game on the back fields at some point before spring training ends, he should be ready to handle closing duties for the Orioles by the time Opening Day arrives.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Hall (back) threw a bullpen session Wednesday and is set to throw live batting practice in the upcoming days, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Hall won't be an option for Opening Day while he remains behind the Orioles' other pitchers in his throwing progression due to the lower-back injury, but the fact that he's been cleared for mound work with a couple weeks left to go in spring training suggests he shouldn't be headed for an extensive absence to begin the season. The Orioles are still looking to develop the 24-year-old lefty as a starter, so he'll presumably join the Triple-A Norfolk rotation whenever he's deemed to be healthy.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Tate (elbow) threw his first half-mound session of spring training Wednesday, Nathan Ruiz of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Per Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Sun, Tate's throwing session consisted of all fastballs, as the Orioles aren't yet comfortable having him put spin on the baseball while he's working back from a right elbow flexor strain. Tate is already expected to be sidelined for the first month of the season, so the Orioles may not be planning on having him throw off a full mound until late in camp or until early April.

Soto (personal) has resolved his visa issue and is scheduled to arrive at the Phillies' spring camp in Florida on Wednesday or Thursday, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Because he'll be arriving at camp about three weeks after pitchers and catchers were scheduled to report, Soto isn't expected to be available to pitch for the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic and will instead conduct workouts with the Phillies. It's unclear how much throwing Soto has been able to do on his own while he was waiting for his visa situation to be resolved, so he could be more than a week away from making his spring debut. Fortunately for Soto, because he'll presumably be ticketed for a one-inning relief role, he won't require an extensive ramp-up period and still looks on track to be a part of the Phillies' Opening Day bullpen.

Sborz allowed three runs on one hit and three walks over a third of an inning in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.

Sborz entered in the fourth inning, an indication the Rangers are strongly considering him for a spot on the Opening Day roster. It also doesn't hurt that he's out of minor-league options. The right-hander remained on the 40-man roster over the winter despite his 6.45 ERA last season. The Rangers really like him, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. "He's got the arsenal, all the weapons; it's there. He's just lacked the consistency in the strike zone," manager Bruce Bochy said. What the manager sees is a reliever that fanned 101 batters over 81.1 innings (12.9 K/9) in two seasons with the Rangers, but as indicated by Tuesday's performance, command is the issue; Sborz walked 43 batters in that same span. Bochy said the reliever's got the stuff to pitch late in games, especially relevant with Jose Leclerc (neck) working his way back from injury.

Kinley (elbow) has begun throwing from 120 feet, MLB.com reports.

Kinley had season-ending surgery in late June of 2022 and is still recovering. He hopes to throw from a mound at some point in April before progressing to bullpen sessions. Despite the progression, Kinley is not expected back prior to the All-Star break.

Gilbreath (elbow) announced Tuesday that he will undergo Tommy John surgery, Danielle Allentuck of The Denver Gazette reports.

It was announced late last week that Gilbreath would likely need to undergo the operation, but the southpaw sought a second opinion before announcing the decision. Because of the surgery, he'll miss all of the 2023 season and could miss the start of the 2024 campaign as well. Gilbreath will likely be placed on the 60-day injured list whenever the team needs an opening on the 40-man roster.

Jansen is expected to join Team Netherlands in the quarterfinals of the World Baseball Classic if the club advances, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Jansen is still in spring training with Boston and just made his spring debut with the Red Sox on Monday. The long-time closer will remain in Florida as an option for the Grapefruit League, but he could be a late-inning option in the WBC if Team Netherlands advances. Jansen is coming off a 2022 campaign in which he recorded 41 saves along with a 3.38 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 64 innings in 65 appearances.