MLB Player News

Hancock logged four strikeouts over 2.2 perfect innings in Saturday's Cactus League matchup against the Padres.

It was an encouraging showing from Hancock after he was charged with three earned runs in just 1.2 innings in his first spring outing. The right-hander filled a swingman role for Seattle in 2025, posting a 4.90 ERA over 90 regular-season innings and making 16 starts in 22 appearances. With Bryce Miller (side) again dealing with health concerns, there could be a spot for Hancock in the Opening Day rotation.

Manoah tossed three scoreless innings in a Cactus League game against Arizona on Saturday, allowing four hits and issuing one walk while striking out one batter.

Manoah got into some trouble in the second inning by allowing three baserunners on a pair of singles and a walk, but he got through the frame with the help of a double play and a caught stealing. The right-hander averaged 92 mph on his fastball, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com, which is slightly down from the 93.4 mph he averaged the last time he threw in the majors, in 2024 with Toronto. Nonetheless, Manoah's bid for a rotation spot has gone fairly well so far -- through two spring appearances, he's tossed five scoreless frames despite a 1:3 K:BB.

Perez (shoulder) allowed one earned run on one hit over two innings of relief in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.

The veteran southpaw covered a pair of frames out of the bullpen behind Spencer Strider in his spring debut. Even with Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) all set to miss extended time to begin the season, Perez is a long shot to win a spot in the Atlanta rotation. Perez signed a minor-league deal in January after submitting a 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB across 56 innings in 11 appearances (10 starts) with the White Sox in 2025.

Strider allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out two over two innings during his spring debut Saturday against the Orioles. His fastball averaged 93.1 mph and touched 94.3 mph, and afterwards the right-hander said, "it's going to take time to get those things where I know everyone wants them to be," Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

A lower velocity early in spring training is fairly common for pitchers, but Strider deserves extra scrutiny given that his fastball velocity has steadily trended downward since averaging 98.2 mph during his first full MLB campaign in 2022. It averaged 95.5 mph last season in his first year back from internal brace surgery on his elbow, and he was inconsistent on the mound with a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and significantly lower 9.4 K/9. Strider is currently more focused on improving the shape of his fastball, which could help him regain some dominance even if his velocity doesn't return to that 2022 peak.

Bastardo (elbow) has struck out two batters while allowing one walk and no hits over two scoreless innings through his first two Grapefruit League appearances.

Bastardo appears to be back to full health after he was sidelined for all of 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. After selecting the right-hander in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft, Toronto kept him on the injured list all of last season. Now that he's healthy again, Bastardo will have to spend at least 90 days on the Blue Jays' active roster in 2026, or else Toronto will have to offer him back to the Red Sox.

Dallas (elbow) made his Grapefruit League debut in Monday's 4-3 loss to the Mets, striking out four batters over 1.2 perfect innings of relief.

Dallas spent the entire 2025 season on Triple-A Buffalo's 60-day injured list while recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in September 2024. The right-hander seems to have entered camp without any restrictions and came through with a dominant relief outing in his spring debut. Despite the strong showing Monday, Dallas is likely to spend most of the 2026 campaign in the Buffalo bullpen.

Ryan (back) checked out well after his bullpen session Saturday and is slated to face hitters in live batting practice in the coming days, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Ryan has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut, after he was scratched ahead of his scheduled outing last weekend when he experienced inflammation on the right side of his back. The right-hander was cleared to resume working out a few days after suffering the injury and seems to be moving through his throwing program as anticipated. While the back issue will prevent Ryan from pitching for Team USA during pool play in the World Baseball Classic, he's still part of the designated player pool and could be available for the second round of the WBC if his schedule aligns with it. Before that, Ryan is expected to pitch in a Grapefruit League game about five or six days after he throws his live BP session, per Matthew Leach of MLB.com.

Gray allowed two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out one over 1.1 innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League start against Minnesota.

Gray was on the mound in game action for the first time in a Red Sox uniform, but it wasn't exactly an impressive debut. He worked out of a two-out, two-on jam in the first inning but was touched for a home run in his second frame and removed with one out after 31 pitches, just 13 in which went for strikes. On the bright side, Gray did deploy all of the pitches in his arsenal as he focuses on getting ready for Opening Day.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Sunday that White has been diagnosed with a Grade 1 right oblique strain and won't return to game action for 3-to-4 weeks, Louis Addeo-Weiss of FishOnFirst.com reports.

Arguably the top pitching prospect in the Miami organization, White received an invitation to big-league camp but was always considered likely to open the season in the Triple-A Jacksonville rotation. The oblique injury, which White picked up Friday in his spring debut, will keep him out for the rest of the Grapefruit League slate. Assuming the estimated recovery timeline holds, White could still be ready to go when Jacksonville opens its season March 27, although he would likely need time to ramp up in extended spring training first.

Bibee allowed three runs on three hits over three innings in Saturday's Cactus League start against the White Sox.

Bibee increased his pitch count to 47 (29 strikes) in his second spring outing. After a forgettable first inning in which he allowed a home run and all three runs, the right-hander retired the final six batters he faced. Per Tim Stebbins of MLB.com, Bibee acknowledged putting too much pressure on himself last season after inking a five-year contract extension in March 2025, and he battles his mechanics all year. He eventually found a groove late, going 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA in four September starts, and he was the starting pitcher in the Guardians' lone postseason victory.