MLB Player News

Imaging revealed a strain in Montgomery's left index finger Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The Diamondbacks don't seem too concerned about Montgomery's finger, but they'll hold off on having him throw for now and see how he feels in a few days. The 32-year-old southpaw also reported shedding 20 to 25 pounds over the offseason, as he's determined to bounce back from a 2024 campaign that was easily the worst of his career.

Nunez (forearm) does not have any restrictions at the start of camp, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nunez missed most of the second half and all of the postseason with a right flexor strain, but he touched 96 mph during a Mets-supervised live batting practice session over the winter and is now considered fully healthy. While this certainly qualifies as good news, Nunez should still be considered a bit of a health risk moving forward, given the nature of his previous injury. The 28-year-old was superb for the Mets when on the bump in 2024, collecting a 2.31 ERA and 48:8 K:BB over 35 innings.

Ashcraft (elbow) threw a live batting practice session Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Ashcraft looks to be opening spring training without any restrictions after he didn't pitch after the All-Star break last season due to a right elbow strain. The 27-year-old will be vying for a spot in the Opening Day rotation, but with the Reds adding Brady Singer in the offseason, the team may not have a starting role available for Ashcraft. The right-hander could change minds with a strong showing in spring training, but his track record as a starter over parts of three big-league seasons isn't overly impressive (4.91 ERA, 1.52 WHIP in 328 innings), and his lack of reliable offerings beyond his big fastball and slider could make him a better fit in the bullpen.

Ray (hamstring) completed a bullpen session Thursday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Ray finished the 2024 season on the injured list after straining his hamstring in an Aug. 27 start, but he was able to throw a simulated game in September and seems to have had a normal offseason. Heading into the fourth season of the five-year, $115 million deal he signed with Seattle in November 2021, Ray should have a hold on a rotation spot after he fared well for San Francisco upon completing his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Though he posted a 4.70 ERA over his seven starts for the Giants before being shut down with the hamstring strain, Ray's underlying metrics (21.7 K-BB%, 3.51 SIERA) were more impressive.

Manager Bud Black said Thursday that Sullivan will be behind the Rockies' other pitchers to begin spring training while the left-hander continues to recover from hip surgery, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

It's unclear when Sullivan had surgery, but it was presumably at some point over the winter, as he finished last season on Double-A Hartford's active roster. Sullivan was excellent over his seven starts with Hartford (1.97 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 24:7 K:BB in 32 innings), and his efforts earned him his first invitation to big-league camp as a non-roster invitee. Once he's fully ramped up, Sullivan will likely open the 2025 season with either Hartford or Triple-A Albuquerque.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Thursday that Marquez (elbow) is back to full health for spring training, Patrick Lyons of JustBaseball.com reports.

After completing his recovery from his May 2023 Tommy John surgery, Marquez was cleared to make his 2024 debut for the Rockies on July 14, but he made just one start before going back on the shelf after developing a stress reaction in his surgically repaired elbow. Fortunately for Marquez, he didn't require another procedure and was able to move past the elbow issue through extended rest and rehab. The 29-year-old should be in the mix for the Rockies' Opening Day start, though that will hinge on him remaining healthy throughout the spring.

Fulton (elbow) threw live batting practice to a number of hitters Thursday, Kevin Barral of FishonFirst.com reports.

The extent of Fulton's throwing session isn't fully known, but the fact that he was facing hitters in the early stages of camp is a sign that he's healthy again after he missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in the summer of 2023. Despite the major red flags on his health record, the Marlins still protected Fulton from the Rule 5 Draft this winter and added him to their 40-man roster. The 23-year-old lefty isn't expected to be a factor in the majors anytime soon, as he'll need to prove his health and turn in quality results in the upper levels of the minors before he makes his big-league debut.

Barco (lower body) completed a bullpen session Thursday, Andrew Destin of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Barco didn't make any appearances after July 28 of last season due to what Pirates director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk termed as a "left lower-extremity" injury, but the 24-year-old lefty doesn't appear to be operating with any restrictions to begin spring training. He'll likely open the 2025 season at Double-A Altoona, with whom he struck out six over four innings of one-run ball across his two starts last summer before landing on the injured list.

Oviedo (elbow) threw a bullpen session Thursday, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Oviedo was sidelined for the entire 2024 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery in December of 2023, but he was regularly doing long toss off flat ground in September and has now reached another checkpoint in the recovery process by throwing off a mound. According to MLB.com, Oviedo is being viewed as a "full go" for spring training, but because he's returning from a major injury, the Pirates could bring him along more slowly than their other rotation candidates. The right-hander could build up his pitch count in simulated games on the backfields of camp before he makes his Grapefruit League debut.

Montgomery said Thursday that he lost 20 to 25 pounds over the offseason, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

Montgomery appears motivated following a disastrous 2024 campaign which saw him collect a 6.23 ERA, 1.65 WHIP and 83:44 K:BB across 117 innings. It's been no secret that the Diamondbacks have attempted to trade the lefty this offseason, but his $22.5 million salary has made that difficult. Arizona plans to operate with a traditional five-man rotation again in 2025, which could mean Montgomery being used in long relief if he's still with the club on Opening Day.