MLB Player News

Strider (elbow) will throw at least one more live batting practice session before getting into a spring game, either in Grapefruit League action or in a minor-league contest, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The ace right-hander looked very good in his first live BP session Friday, tossing two simulated innings as he continues his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his elbow. "I think it's gone super well," Strider said about his rehab after the BP session. "In hindsight, there's always going to be things we could have done differently, places where we should have slowed down and places where we should have sped up. But I think it's been a really seamless process so far." If Strider is able to begin building up by the final week of camp, it's possible he could come off the IL and rejoin the Atlanta rotation by the end of April, although the team's schedule presents an added wrinkle on that front. Atlanta will be playing in Coors Field on April 28-30, hardly an ideal environment for a pitcher to make his return from a serious arm injury.

The Padres optioned Bergert to minor-league camp Sunday.

Bergert was added to the Padres' 40-man roster during the offseason and could be a candidate to make starts for the big club at some point in 2025. He figures to begin the season at Triple-A El Paso after he spent the entire 2024 campaign at Double-A San Antonio, turning in a 4.78 ERA, 1.35 WHIP and 87:33 K:BB over 98 innings.

The Giants optioned Seymour to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Seymour was added to the Giants' 40-man roster over the winter, but he didn't make a serious run at claiming a spot in the big club's Opening Day rotation this spring. He'll return to Sacramento, where he turned in a 4.82 ERA, 1.57 WHIP and 132:60 K:BB over 134.1 innings in 2024.

The Giants optioned Ragsdale to Triple-A Sacramento on Sunday, Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The right-hander was added to the 40-man roster in November to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he was never a likely bet to make San Francisco's Opening Day roster. Ragsdale had a 5.03 ERA, 1.62 WHIP and 57:26 K:BB across 53.2 frames in his first taste of Triple-A last year.

Horton (shoulder) gave up one earned run on one hit and struck out one over one inning in Saturday's 9-8 win over the Mariners in Cactus League play.

The right-hander is being brought along slowly this spring after he didn't pitch during the final four months of the 2024 season while recovering from a Grade 2 right subscapularis strain. Horton should increase his workload in his next spring outing, though it could come at minor-league camp rather than in the Cactus League.

Nunez (shoulder) gave up two unearned runs on one hit and one walk over one inning Wednesday in the Padres' 4-3 loss to the Rockies in Cactus League play.

The Rule 5 pick made his spring debut for the Padres after recovering from the shoulder injury that cost him the final four months of the 2024 season. Nunez has yet to pitch above the High-A level, but in order for the Padres to retain his rights, he'll need to spend the entire 2025 season on the 26-man active roster or on a reserve list. The 24-year-old righty will likely be limited to a low-leverage role out of the bullpen if the Padres opt to carry him on their Opening Day roster.

Winn threw two scoreless innings with four strikeouts and two hits, picking up the win during Saturday's 7-3 win over the Royals in Cactus League play.

Winn has made two appearances (one start) this spring, covering three scoreless innings while collecting five strikeouts. The 26-year-old made 12 starts last season before undergoing season-ending ulnar transposition surgery in late July. Winn could begin the season in the bullpen, as he appears to be a long shot for the fifth-starter role while competing with Hayden Birdsong, Kyle Harrison and Landen Roupp.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Sunday on the Marlins Radio Network that "no innings limit" has been set for Alcantara this season.

The skipper backed up comments from Alcantara himself, who said Saturday that the team hadn't informed him of any innings restrictions. That contradicts an earlier report from Jeff Passan of ESPN.com. The right-hander missed all of last season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, but he had a relatively normal offseason and is poised to start Opening Day for the Marlins.

Gallen allowed one run on three walks while striking out three over two hitless innings in Saturday's split-squad start against the Reds.

The negatives are obviously the walks, but Gallen told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he had success with the curveball in his third Cactus League start. The right-hander threw 52 pitches (24 strikes) as he builds up ahead of Opening Day.

Montgomery pitched one-third of an inning in a Cactus League game against the Reds on Saturday, allowing five runs on two hits and two walks.

It was Montgomery's spring training debut after he dealt with a strained left index finger early on in camp. The left-hander hit his first batter and followed up by allowing a two-run home run to Christian Encarnacion-Strand. He then walked the next two and then got Matt McLain to fly out before allowing an RBI single to Elly De La Cruz. He was pulled after 28 pitches. Montgomery is in a competition with Brandon Pfaadt and Ryne Nelson for the last rotation spot.