MLB Player News
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Triston McKenzie SP | SD
Padres' Triston McKenzie: Moved to minor-league camp
The Padres reassigned McKenzie to minor-league camp Saturday.
McKenzie was in Padres camp as a non-roster invitee after signing a minor-league contract in December. The team has had big question marks at the back of the rotation throughout spring training, but McKenzie wasn't able to make a serious bid for a big-league role, posting a 9.95 ERA, 2.84 WHIP and 11:9 K:BB over 6.1 innings spanning four appearances. The right-hander has dealt with multiple injuries over the past three years and has struggled during his stints in the majors during that span, so he may need a prolonged run of success in the minors before he sees a big-league mound again.
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Marco Gonzales SP | SD
Padres' Marco Gonzales: Won't make Opening Day roster
The Padres reassigned Gonzales to minor-league camp Saturday.
Gonzales signed with San Diego on a minor-league contract in late January. The Padres had an open competition for their final two rotation spots this spring, but Gonzales failed to make an intriguing case, posting an ugly 10.80 ERA, 2.55 WHIP and 13:9 K:BB over 13.1 innings. The 34-year-old missed all of last season while recovering from flexor tendon repair surgery in his left forearm, and given his results this spring, it's clear he hasn't yet fully shaken off the rust.
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Brandon Sproat SP | MIL
Brewers' Brandon Sproat: Breaking camp with Brewers
Manager Pat Murphy said Saturday that Sproat will be included on the Brewers' Opening Day roster, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
Sproat has allowed five earned runs in nine innings this spring while striking out 10 batters and walking two. Despite his difficulties with run prevention, he'll officially be a part of Milwaukee's Opening Day pitching staff, and injuries to Brandon Woodruff (lat), Quinn Priester (wrist) and Kyle Harrison (finger) make it likely that he'll begin the year in the rotation. Once the Brewers' injured starters begin to return, Sproat could be relegated to the bullpen or sent down to Triple-A Nashville.
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Merrill Kelly SP | ARI
Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Headed to injured list
The Diamondbacks will place Kelly (back) on the 15-day injured list to begin the regular season, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Kelly was expected to have a delayed start to the year while he continues to work his way back from a back injury, and he will officially spend the start of the season on the IL. If he is able to return after a minimum-length stay, he'd be lined up to make his season debut April 7 versus the White Sox.
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Yoshinobu Yamamoto SP | LAD
Dodgers' Yoshinobu Yamamoto: Dazzles in final spring tune-up
Yamamoto tossed five scoreless innings against the Padres in a Cactus League start Friday, allowing three hits and issuing one walk while striking out seven batters.
Yamamoto took the mound for the Dodgers for the first time since returning from his tenure with Team Japan during the World Baseball Classic. Though it should be noted that San Diego fielded a split-squad lineup, the right-handed hurler looked sharp, tossing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes and racking up seven punchouts. Yamamoto's next trip to the mound will be for Los Angeles' Opening Day matchup versus Arizona next Thursday.
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Foster Griffin SP | WAS
Nationals' Foster Griffin: Gets stretched out Friday
Griffin gave up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins. He struck out five.
The 30-year-old southpaw has seen extensive work on the back fields this spring, with Friday's start being just his second Grapefruit League appearance, but Griffin built up to 78 pitches (53 strikes) and appears ready to take the ball for his first MLB game since 2022. Over eight innings this spring, he's delivered a 4.50 ERA and 9:2 K:BB, and he'll handle a mid-rotation role for the Nationals to kick off 2026 after spending the last three seasons in Japan.
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Eury Perez SP | MIA
Marlins' Eury Perez: Tops 80 pitches Friday
Perez gave up two runs on four hits and a walk over five innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He struck out five.
In what was likely to be his final spring outing, Perez fired 52 of 81 pitches for strikes. The 22-year-old right-hander has a 5.52 ERA over 14.2 Grapefruit League innings thanks to a few untimely long balls, but Perez's 20:7 K:BB offers a more accurate glimpse at his upside. He's expected to take the mound March 28 at home against the Rockies.
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Chris Paddack SP | MIA
Marlins' Chris Paddack: Gives up first run of spring
Paddack allowed one run on two hits over four innings in Friday's split-squad game against the Nationals. He struck out three without walking a batter.
The right-hander gave up his first run of the spring on a CJ Abrams single in the second inning. Paddack's 0.69 ERA and 12:3 K:BB over 13 innings in camp are encouraging, but over the last five seasons he's stumbled to a 5.11 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 7.5 K/9 while averaging about 76.1 innings a year due to various injuries. Even if he can stay healthy, Paddack doesn't profile as more than an innings-eater for the Marlins while they wait for younger pitchers like Robby Snelling and Braxton Garrett to muscle their way to the majors.
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Jose Suarez SP | ATL
Braves' Jose Suarez: On track for roster spot
Suarez allowed one run on two hits and two walks over 5.1 innings in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates. He struck out six.
The 28-year-old southpaw has had a solid spring, posting a 3.38 ERA and 14:8 K:BB over 16 innings, and he built up to 75 pitches (44 strikes) during Friday's start. With Martin Perez having fallen short of a bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Suarez and prospect Didier Fuentes are set to begin the season in the bullpen as long-relief options, although one or both of them could be called upon for spot starts as Atlanta begins its schedule with 13 games in 13 days.
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Martin Perez SP | ATL
Braves' Martin Perez: Headed for minors
Perez will remain with the Atlanta organization after coming up short in his bid for a spot on the Opening Day roster, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.
The veteran lefty pitched well this spring, posting a 2.84 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 12.2 innings, but the dominance of top prospect Didier Fuentes seems to have squeezed out Perez. Perez is expected to begin the season at Triple-A Gwinnett and could be one of the first players called up if further injuries hit the big-league rotation.