MLB Player News

Lowder (elbow) will begin a throwing progression Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports.

Lowder has been shut down in the early days of camp due to right elbow soreness that developed during his throwing sessions in January. The righty said Monday that he feels "great with where I'm at now" and views the brief shutdown period as a blessing in disguise because he was able to fine-tune some of his mechanics. Opening Day availability remains possible for Lowder, but the Reds will proceed cautiously with the young righty.

Henry said Sunday that he's been working on adding a cutter to his repertoire during the offseason, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports. The left-hander is adding a sixth pitch to his mix, which also includes a four-seamer, curveball, sinker, changeup and slider.

Henry said the cutter is still a work-in-progress, and the end goal is for it to speed up right-handed batters and make lefties pause when delivered. Change is needed, after both righties and lefties teed off on Henry, who opened the 2024 season in Arizona's rotation before eventually being optioned to Triple-A Reno. The 27-year-old finished with a 7.04 ERA over nine outings (seven starts) for the Diamondbacks. Arizona now has a surplus of starting pitching ahead of Henry, who is likely to begin 2025 at Reno, for whom he has a respectable 4.20 ERA over three seasons in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.

Skenes has worked on a cutter and sinker this offseason, Noah Hiles of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Skenes noted that his cutter is a variation of his slider, while his sinker is a completely new addition. He didn't commit to throwing the latter in game action, though it sounds as if the tweaks were an attempt to help Skenes pitch more efficiently and work deeper into games. Across his 23 big-league starts in 2024, Skenes completed seven innings only four times, and he was purposefully limited by the Pirates across the final month of the season. General manager Ben Cherington stated that he expects all limitations to be taken off his star pitcher this season, so Skenes' efficiency will ultimately determine his workload.

Montgomery (finger) is scheduled to have a throwing session Tuesday or Wednesday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.

The left-hander was diagnosed with a strain of his left index finger Thursday and has been shut down for a few days, but he's expected to be back throwing soon. Montgomery should have enough time to be fully built up for the start of the regular season if he can avoid setbacks.

Lodolo started a throwing program in October and comes into camp without any existing medical issues, as opposed to 2024 when he was managing the rehab from his fractured tibia from the 2023 season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "It was nice to go into [this past offseason] relatively healthy and build a foundation that can get me through the year," Lodolo said.

Lodolo has entered his arbitration seasons, so a healthy 2025 season carries greater stakes. When healthy, he has flashed ace potential -- alas, "when healthy" has been the predominant concern regarding him. Lodolo has also been working with a metal file on his index finger to prevent a recurrence of the blisters that have plagued him in the past.

Nunez has yet to throw a live batting practice session in camp as the Mets prioritize having the right-hander healthy for Opening Day, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Nunez tossed his second bullpen session of the spring Saturday, but after his 2024 campaign ended early due to forearm trouble and a setback in December prevented him from pitching in winter ball, the organization doesn't want to push him too quickly. Pitching coach Jeremy Hefner didn't even rule out Nunez beginning the season on IL or at Triple-A Syracuse if he needs an extra week or two. "In the range of outcomes, that's definitely a part of it," Hefner said Saturday. "It's our hope to get him ready, and he's on track to be ready. But we are not going to force him into something he's not ready for." Once he is deemed ready, Nunez will have a high-leverage spot in the Mets' bullpen waiting for him after posting a 2.31 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and dazzling 48:8 K:BB over his first 35 big-league innings.

Meyer worked with new Marlins pitching coach Daniel Moskos this offseason on grips for a sinker and a sweeper, as well as on refining his changeup, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

"My slider is going to be more down in depth and my sweeper's going to come across the plate," Meyer said Friday before displaying his new arsenal in a live batting practice session. "I feel like with the movement, there's definitely a big separation between those two... My change is going to be a really good pitch, too, one of my best pitches. I feel like all my pitches are one of my best pitches right now. I just have crazy confidence in them that I haven't had a lot in the past going through the injury." Meyer has relied mainly on two pitches, his mid-90s fastball and nasty slider, dating back to his college days, and if even one of his other offerings can become a quality pitch, it would significantly improve his chances of not just sticking in the rotation but reaching his sky-high ceiling as a starter.

The Nationals placed Gray (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery and an internal brace procedure in July, so it was always a matter of time before he landed on the 60-day IL for this season. Gray started up his throwing program in late January and will continue building up his arm strength in the coming months in hopes of taking the mound late in 2025 for the Nationals.

Lowder (elbow) is being handled cautiously to the point that he may not be ready by Opening Day, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. "I wouldn't even put an artificial timetable on him," manager Terry Francona said on Saturday. "Everybody shoots for Opening Day. I get it; I do, too. We need to do what's right by him, and we will. So that's kind of our timetable."

Lowder, who reported slow recoveries from throwing sessions in January, underwent an MRI that showed no structural damage. During the offseason, Lowder worked on his four-pitch mix of four-seamers, sinkers, sliders and changeups. He had a focus on landing his breaking ball to batters on both sides of the plate. Francona said once the right-hander is ready to pick up a ball, which the manager said could be "in a couple of days," there will be a throwing progression first.

Knoth underwent Tommy John surgery during the offseason and will miss the entire 2025 campaign, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Knoth spent his entire first season as a pro with Single-A Carolina, finishing with a 4.48 ERA and 1.40 WHIP alongside a 96:40 K:BB over 84.1 innings. However, he spent the final month of the year on the injured list due to an elbow injury that will ultimately cost him another whole season. The 19-year-old right-hander will now spend the next several months recovering from the procedure before turning his focus to returning sometime in 2026.