MLB Player News

Houck is taking measures to avoid the shoulder fatigue that led to a velocity dip in the second half of 2024, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Even with the second-half dip, Houck took a step forward overall in 2024. His 30 starts and 178 innings were career highs and a building block for 2025. Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Monday that the velocity dip led to a lack of separation on pitches, but the shoulder issue can be rectified by mechanical tweaks. The manager added that Houck is working with coaches on a few pitches, including a four-seamer that can create space for Houck's other offerings. The right-hander threw just one four-seamer in 2024.

Rocker allowed four runs on four hits while striking out one over one inning in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.

Rocker's quest for a spot in the Rangers' rotation got off to a rocky start in his Cactus League debut. The right-hander hit the first batter faced and allowed loud contact during his one inning, during which he threw 22 pitches (14 strikes). Rocker told Kennedi Landry of MLB.com that he was leaving pitches up in the zone which contributed to three hard-hit balls. Early in camp, he appears to be outside the top five starters, but with a good spring season going forward, Rocker could force the coaching staff's hand.

Ortiz allowed six runs on six hits and one walk while striking out one over 1.1 innings in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Brewers.

Ortiz gave up three runs in the first and second innings before departing after 37 pitches (20 strikes). He had trouble finding the plate and paid for it. One silver lining was Ortiz's fastball velocity, which topped out at 97.6 mph. Another is that spring games don't count. The right-hander's career took a leap in 2024, when he posted a 3.32 ERA as a swingman for the Pirates, and Ortiz is expected to win a job as a full-time starter in Cleveland.

Cobb (hip) received an epidural injection to further aid in his recovery process, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

He had already received a platelet-rich plasma injection earlier this month and played catch over the weekend. Cobb is scheduled to play catch again Wednesday but will not get into games until at least mid-March (a return timeline of a month was estimated Feb. 12). He was up around 150 innings in 2022 and 2023, but injuries greatly plagued him in 2021 and 2024, and it looks like 2025 is perhaps trending in a similar direction.

McDermott (lat) said Tuesday that he feels "really good," but he's not sure when he'll be cleared to begin a throwing progression, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

McDermott has been limited to strengthening exercises since being diagnosed with a mild right lat/teres strain earlier this month. The injury has likely eliminated any chance he had to make the Orioles' Opening Day roster, but he could have a shot to be ready to join the rotation at Triple-A Norfolk at the start of the season.

Gray threw two scoreless innings, striking out one in Monday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.

Texas plated nine runs in the top of the first, making it a pressure-free day for Gray, who set down all six batters faced. He threw mostly fastballs and sliders among his 26 pitches while mixing in one curveball, a pitch he threw just 74 times in 2024. He told MLB.com that he's working on throwing the curve for strikes so that it can be a useful pitch instead of having batters lay off it and wait for a fastball.

Young averaged 95 mph with his four-seamer (touched 97 mph) in his first Grapefruit League outing Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASN reports.

Young isn't a serious threat to make the big club out of camp, barring injuries ahead of him, but he made a strong statement in his first appearance of the spring after averaging 92-93 mph with his fastball in 2024. The results were good too, as he tossed two scoreless innings against the Phillies in Clearwater. His two strikeouts were both called strikes on 95-mph fastballs. Young came into the year relevant because of his proximity to the big leagues, but if his fastball has jumped a grade, that would obviously improve his long-term upside. The 26-year-old righty also worked on his slider and changeup this offseason after logging a 3.44 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 96 strikeouts in 89 innings at Triple-A last year.

Hendricks pitched two perfect innings during which he racked up three strikeouts in a Cactus League game Monday versus San Francisco.

Hendricks looked great in his spring debut, even managing to record more punchouts than innings pitched -- something he did just four times in 29 regular-season appearances last year. Nobody is expecting the veteran right-hander to suddenly evolve into a strikeout machine, but the Angels will likely be happy if he can just eat up innings and serve as a stabilizing presence on a pitching staff that had a collective 4.51 ERA (fifth-worst in baseball) last season. Hendricks struggled himself last year, however, posting a career-worst 5.92 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 130.2 frames with the Cubs.

Winn (shoulder) allowed one walk and struck out one across a scoreless inning during Saturday's Cactus League game against the Giants.

Winn has made a full recovery after missing time a season ago due to a sprained right shoulder capsule. He'll now set his sights on earning an Opening Day roster spot after struggling to a 7.79 ERA with a 14:4 K:BB across 17.1 frames in 2024 with the Rangers.

Cantillo allowed one hit and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Monday's spring game against Arizona.

It was impossible for Cantillo to walk a batter as he threw only three balls among his 21 pitches. Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt told Jesse Friedman of MLB.com that throwing strikes will be the key to Cantillo's success. Cantillo made nine appearances (eight starts) for the Guardians in 2024, posting a 4.89 ERA while walking 3.5 batters per nine innings. He's one of several pitchers vying for a spot in the rotation.