MLB Player News

Cameron is a candidate to make the Royals' Opening Day rotation with a strong spring, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Cameron entered camp as a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, primarily due to the amount of talent the Royals already have in their big-league rotation. However, with Alec Marsh (shoulder) and Kyle Wright (shoulder/hamstring) both dealing with injuries, the competition for the fifth starter job has thinned out, opening the door for Cameron. The 25-year-old southpaw only reached Triple-A in July of last season, but he turned in a 2.32 ERA and 1.02 WHIP alongside a 62:11 K:BB in 54.1 innings over nine starts at Omaha -- good enough land a spot on Kansas City's 40-man roster this winter. He showed no signs of slowing down during his spring training debut, throwing two scoreless innings against the Rangers on Friday.

Brubaker tweaked his side while attempting to avoid a comebacker during an appearance Friday versus the Rays, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

The comebacker struck Brubaker in the lower back, but it's the pitcher's side that is the bigger issue. He is receiving treatment, but there is no word yet on how much time he might miss. Brubaker missed all of 2023 and was limited to just eight rehab appearances in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery and later an oblique injury.

Hurd will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow next week, Geoff Pontes of Baseball America reports.

Hurd was a third-round pick of the Yankees in 2024 and has yet to make his professional debut. That debut will now have to wait until 2026 following surgery to repair his UCL and also remove a bone chip.

Hampton underwent Tommy John surgery Friday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Hampton had traveled back to New York to have his right elbow examined and got the worst possible news. If there's a silver lining, it's that having the operation now will give him a chance to return for the start of the 2026 season, or at least early on in the campaign.

Brubaker departed a Grapefruit League appearance against the Rays on Friday after being hit in the lower back by a comebacker, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

He tossed a scoreless fourth inning and returned for the top of the fifth when leadoff hitter Kameron Misner drilled one right back up the middle. Brubaker was in clear pain but was able to walk off the field under his own power. The right-hander missed all of 2023 and was limited to just eight rehab appearances in 2024 due to Tommy John surgery and later an oblique injury, so he can ill afford to miss much time in camp if he wants to secure a spot on the 26-man roster.

Crawford (knee) threw a bullpen session Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

Crawford has been eased into things early on in Red Sox camp as he tries to get past patellar tendon soreness, and it's a good sign that he's been cleared for mound work. The right-hander should have enough time to ramp up before Opening Day as he looks to lock down a rotation spot.

The White Sox are considering using Clevinger (neck) in a late-inning relief role, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It's just one of the roles the team is mulling, as it first wants to see what Clevinger looks like in camp after the hurler was inked to a minor-league contract Thursday. More than 90 percent of Clevinger's 156 career appearances in the majors have come as a starter, but he's had injury difficulties in recent years -- including being limited to just four starts in 2024 due to neck and elbow issues -- so it's possible a bullpen role gives him a better chance to stay healthy. The White Sox do have an opening at closer, should he prove to be effective in relief. The 34-year-old had neck surgery last July and it's not clear whether he'll have any restrictions this spring.

Garcia (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The Astros have already ruled Garcia out for Opening Day after he had a couple setbacks last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. However, he's been throwing for a while without issue and should be able to make some Grapefruit League appearances. Garcia hasn't started a major-league game since May 2023.

Clevinger (neck) signed a minor-league contract with the White Sox that includes an invitation to spring training Friday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports.

Clevinger had an injury-marred 2024 season for the White Sox, as he was able to make only four starts due to neck and elbow injuries. When he was last fully healthy in 2023, Clevinger managed a 3.77 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 131.1 innings. If he can stay on the mound throughout spring training, he would seemingly have a decent chance of cracking the Opening Day roster and securing a spot in the rotation.

Rasmussen threw live batting practice Wednesday and is preparing for the season as a starter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Rasmussen has been limited to only 24 total appearances across the last two seasons due to elbow issues, and he didn't pitch more than two innings in any outing in 2024 after returning to the mound in early August. However, he'll be set to work on a five-day starter's schedule throughout spring, something he believes will keep him healthier rather than potentially pitching back-to-back days out of the bullpen. Tampa Bay has a solid five-man unit with Shane McClanahan back after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, so Rasmussen may need a strong spring performance combined with some luck to earn a rotation spot to begin the year.