MLB Player News

Gonsolin has pitched three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and no walks while striking out three batters, over two appearances in Cactus League play.

Gonsolin missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he appears back to full health this spring. The right-hander was super efficient in his most recent appearance Wednesday, needing just 13 pitches -- all of which were strikes -- to retire six batters. Gonsolin is a candidate to open the regular season as the Dodgers' fifth starter.

Woodruff (shoulder) threw a simulated game consisting of about 30 pitches Thursday, Sophia Minnaert of FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin reports.

Woodruff has now faced hitters on three occasions this spring and has built his workload up from around 20 pitches to 30. While Woodruff is being treated as a full participant in spring training, he's still being ramped up slowly following his October 2023 shoulder surgery and is not being viewed as a realistic candidate for the Opening Day rotation. Following his second sim game this past Friday, Woodruff told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com that his fastball was touching 92 miles per hour, which is about three ticks below his average velocity from his last healthy season in 2023. Woodruff could need to complete another sim game or two before the Brewers potentially make room for him in the Cactus League pitching schedule.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Sasaki will "potentially" make his Cactus League debut Tuesday versus the Reds, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Sasaki tossed a three-inning simulated game against White Sox hitters earlier this week, and his next outing looks as though it might come in an official game setting. The 23-year-old is expected to make his MLB debut March 19, in the second of the Dodgers' two games against the Cubs in Tokyo.

Hjerpe (elbow) allowed one run over an inning of work in his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday versus the Blue Jays.

Hjerpe didn't pitch after July 2 last season due to left elbow inflammation, but he had a normal offseason and entered Cardinals camp with a clean bill of health, per Daniel Guerrero of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The lefty has had elbow issues in each of his two pro seasons and changed his diet this offseason with the goal of reducing inflammation and soreness in his body. Hjerpe had a 13 percent walk rate but also a 35.2 percent strikeout rate in his 52.1 innings between High-A Peoria and Double-A Springfield in 2024. He'll rejoin the Springfield rotation for the start of the 2025 campaign as he hopes to stay healthy and cut down on the free passes.

Abbott (shoulder) threw a side bullpen session Wednesday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Abbott, who was already on a slower progression due to the shoulder, had added downtime due to an illness that kept him away from the team last weekend. It's unclear when he'll advance to facing hitters in a live batting practice session.

Lodolo allowed one run on one hit and three walks while striking out two over 1.2 innings in Wednesday's spring start against the Angels.

Lodolo looked out of sync as several pitches tailed high and outside, per Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The lefty's pitch count reached 26 after he issued his third walk, and manager Terry Francona opted to pull him mid-inning and have him come back an inning later. Lodolo was much better in his second frame, retiring the side in order on nine pitches.

Montgomery (finger) threw 26 pitches in a bullpen session Tuesday and plans to throw another one Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.

If Montgomery comes out of Friday's session without issue, the next step will be facing live hitters on the backfields before entering a game setting.

Burnes allowed three hits and struck out three over two scoreless innings in Wednesday's spring game against Milwaukee.

Burnes made his second Cactus League appearance and pushed his pitch count to 29 (20 strikes). He told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that other than a couple of breaking balls he left over the plate, he was pleased. The right-hander has struck out six over three innings thus far.

Meyer topped out at 97.7 mph while completing a scoreless inning Wednesday against the Mets in his Grapefruit League debut, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Meyer issued a two-out walk in the frame but needed only 13 pitches to get out of things unscathed. The right-hander's four-seamer averaged 96.4 mph in the outing, which is up more than two mph from what he averaged with the pitch last season. Meyer attributed the velocity increase to "a big offseason in the weight room," Daniel Alvarez-Montes of ElExtraBase.com reports. He had an up-and-down 2024 season which featured a 5.68 ERA and ended prematurely due to a shoulder issue, and Meyer is essentially still a prospect as he competes for a spot in the Marlins' rotation for 2025.

Painter has ditched his cutter and added a changeup as his fourth pitch, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic.

Painter is in camp with the big-league club but will not pitch in spring games, as the Phillies look to preserve the workload of their prized prospect in his return from 2023 Tommy John surgery. The 21-year-old threw 15.2 frames in the Arizona Fall League last year, posting a 2.30 ERA and 18:4 K:BB, and he impressed his pitching coach, Caleb Cotham, in the process with a refined pitch mix that Painter is expected to carry forward into 2025. Painter is also reportedly throwing bullpens at a lower intensity this spring compared to past camps as he prepares to make his major-league debut this summer. Gelb previously suggested back in January that 80 or so big-league innings could be the target for Painter in his debut season.