MLB Player News

Hamels (shoulder) has looked better than expected in throwing sessions and the Padres are hopeful he can be an option for them around midseason, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Hamels agreed to a minor-league contract with the Friars in mid-February and is being eased back into things this spring following all of the missed time due to shoulder issues. The veteran left-hander appears to be healthy now, though, and has apparently surprised the team by how well he's been throwing. Hamels figures to stay in extended spring training for a while before joining a minor-league affiliate to make some starts.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters Wednesday that Gonsolin (ankle) has started throwing, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

Gonsolin has started playing long toss and was able to throw from 120 feet Tuesday in Arizona. The right-hander is dealing with an ankle sprain significant enough to potentially cost him the start of the 2023 season. It's a positive sign he's resumed throwing, however, and there should be further updates on Gonsolin's status in the coming days.

Sanchez was recently shut down with left triceps soreness, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The Phillies have dealt with injury trouble from several of their arms this spring, and Sanchez's triceps soreness is the latest that will test the team's pitching depth. The team hasn't provided an official timeline for how long the left-hander will be shut down from throwing, but the timing of his injury this late in spring training could hurt his chances of making the Opening Day roster.

Ashby (shoulder) played catch on flat ground Wednesday in Brewers camp, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ashby said he was tossing at a distance of about 75 feet and that the workout lasted around 10 minutes. He plans to do something similar within the next couple of days, assuming his left shoulder continues to respond well. The 24-year-old southpaw will open the 2023 season on the injured list after being diagnosed last month with a slight labral tear and impingement, but he could be an option for Milwaukee by mid-May if there are no hiccups in his throwing progression.

Walker threw four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts Tuesday for Team Mexico in a start against Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic.

Walker allowed just one hit with one walk and showed off his athleticism by making a couple of impressive plays off the mound. The right-hander threw 40 of 63 pitches for strikes in one of the more impressive pitching performances of the tournament. Walker signed with the Phillies in the offseason, and if Philadelphia gets this version of the 30-year-old, both the club and fantasy managers should be very happy.

Woodruff won't make his scheduled start during Wednesday's Cactus League game versus the Diamondbacks due to wet field conditions, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

There's a good chance the game will be rained out anyhow, but either way, Woodruff will get his work in on the side. If the contest is played, Matt Bush will serve as an opener and be followed by Gus Varland and Hoby Milner.

Montgomery will pitch in a simulated game on a back field Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Montgomery has struggled to begin spring training, allowing six earned runs on eight hits and a walk with six strikeouts over seven innings. Despite the early issues, the southpaw is in no danger of falling out of the Cardinals' rotation. He's on a one-year, $10 million contract this season, and he figures to slot in behind Jack Flaherty at the top end of the rotation.

Peterson walked one and struck out five over four scoreless, no-hit innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

With Jose Quintana (ribs) projected to be out until around the All-Star break, there's an opening in the Mets' rotation, and the competition for it is fierce. Tylor Megill fired four scoreless innings against the Marlins on Monday with three strikeouts, but Peterson topped that Tuesday with a brilliant performance over 68 pitches (41 strikes) against a Washington lineup that contained a handful of Opening Day starters, including CJ Abrams, Keibert Ruiz and Corey Dickerson. Peterson might have the edge over Megill right now simply by virtue of the fact that he'd be the only southpaw in the New York rotation, but this battle could come right down to the wire.

The Pirates named Keller their starting pitcher for their Opening Day game March 30 in Cincinnati, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Keller will be rewarded with the Opening Day nod after he overcame a rough start to the 2022 campaign to sharpen his command and control from about mid-May onward, finishing the season with a 3.22 ERA over his final 120.1 innings. He's carried over that success through his first four appearances of the Grapefruit League slate (4.09 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 13:1 K:BB in 11 innings) while also incorporating a new slider/cutter hybrid into his repertoire. Wins will likely still be hard to come by for Keller while he's pitching for a Pirates squad that remains in rebuilding mode, but the right-hander could prove to be a solid contributor in the ratio categories during his fifth season in the majors.

Henry allowed four runs on three hits and three walks while striking out six over 3.1 innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Giants.

Henry told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he made a wrong decision on a 2-2 pitch that resulted in J.D. Davis' three-run home run. The left-hander, who is vying for the No. 5 starter job with Drey Jameson, Ryne Nelson and Brandon Pfaadt, regretted throwing a fastball hitter one fastball too many. "Just threw a good fastball hitter too many fastballs in one at-bat," Henry said. "I saw some things that would have suggested to throw other pitches and I still threw the heater." Henry had worked three scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fourth.