MLB Player News
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Esteban Mejia SP | BAL
Orioles' Esteban Mejia: Showing monster stuff in Florida
Mejia has a 2.17 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 47:22 K:BB in 37.1 innings in the Florida Complex League.
A 6-foot-3 righty who signed with Baltimore in January of 2024, Mejia won't turn 19 until spring training and has as much upside as any pitcher in the lower levels. According to Josh Norris of Baseball America, Mejia's fastball has been up to 102 mph and he shows off multiple offspeed pitches that will be between 60-grade and 80-grade pitches in time. Given how hard he throws and how young he is, Mejia's risk of arm injury is elevated, and his 13.8 percent walk rate illustrates the difficulty of reining in such an electric arsenal. He only recorded two outs while walking three batters and giving up three unearned runs in his most recent start Thursday.
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Brandon Sproat SP | MIL
Mets' Brandon Sproat: Might join big-league bullpen
Sproat could be an option for the Mets' bullpen if the team doesn't trade for any high-leverage relievers at the deadline, Will Sammon of The Athletic reports.
General manager David Stearns has gone this route in the past during his time in Milwaukee, breaking in future aces Brandon Woodruff, Corbin Burnes and Freddy Peralta in relief roles. The Mets are actively working to acquire established bullpen arms however, and using a prospect like Sproat in high-leverage spots during a playoff push would appear to be Plan B. Sproat has had an erratic season with Triple-A Syracuse but is locked in right now, tossing 23 scoreless innings over his last four starts with a 27:6 K:BB.
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JR Ritchie SP | ATL
Braves' JR Ritchie: Quality start in Triple-A debut
Ritchie struck out six while giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over six innings for Triple-A Gwinnett on Saturday.
Making his first Triple-A start since getting promoted last week, Ritchie looked a little nervous as he served up solo shots in the first and second innings, but the right-hander settled into a groove after that. It's the first time since May 23 he's completed six innings in a start, but he hadn't been tagged for multiple homers in an outing since April 16. Ritchie has a combined 2.50 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 85:28 K:BB in 86.1 innings across three levels this season in what has been a very successful first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May 2023. The 22-year-old isn't yet on the 40-man roster, but Ritchie is one step away from making his big-league debut for an Atlanta squad that is currently missing Chris Sale (ribs), Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) and Reynaldo Lopez (shoulder) from its rotation.
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J.P. France SP | HOU
Astros' J.P. France: Makes first rehab appearance
France (shoulder) threw 1.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out two in a Florida Complex League rehab start Monday.
France has slowly ramped up his throwing intensity, most recently throwing live batting practice in mid-July. He's been sidelined the entire 2025 season, so he's likely to have a lengthy rehab stint. An exact timeline for his return has yet to be established, but France should debut at some point late in the season.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Guardians' Shane Bieber: Set to start in High-A
Bieber (elbow) will make a rehab start Tuesday at High-A Lake County, MLB.com reports.
Bieber, who threw two innings (32 pitches) in a rehab start in the Arizona Complex League last week, is targeted for three innings and between 40 and 45 pitches Tuesday. That path suggests at least two more rehab outings for the right-hander before he rejoins the Guardians' rotation.
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Rhett Lowder SP | CIN
Reds' Rhett Lowder: Targeting return for Fall baseball
Reds manager Terry Francona said Lowder (forearm/oblique) is doing rotational stuff and is expected to start throwing this week, MLB.com reports.
Francona added that Lowder is going to have a "pretty big buildup." The organization is hopeful the 23-year-old right-hander will be available for the Arizona Fall League.
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Hunter Greene SP | CIN
Reds' Hunter Greene: Throws side session
Greene (groin) threw a side session Monday and is scheduled to make a rehab start in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Greene is expected to throw two innings and 30 pitches Wednesday. If all goes well, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona said the right-hander will follow up with another side session and then a start at Triple-A Louisville on July 29. Greene tentatively appears on track to return from the 15-day injured list in the first or second week of August.
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Austin Gomber SP | TEX
Rockies' Austin Gomber: Falls to 0-4
Gomber (0-4) took the loss against St. Louis on Monday, allowing five runs on 11 hits and no walks while striking out six batters over 5.2 innings.
Gomber got through three scoreless frames before the Cardinals scored twice against him in the fourth. St. Louis struck for another run in the fifth, and Gomber entered the sixth inning trailing 3-2. The southpaw was unable to make it out of the sixth, as the Cardinals put up two more runs against him on four singles (two of which didn't leave the infield). Gomber is still looking for his first victory of the campaign, and he's taken the loss in each of his past three starts. On a positive note, Gomber's 5.2 frames and six punchouts Monday were both season-high marks, so he at least appears to be healthy after missing over two-and-a-half months to begin the campaign due to a shoulder issue.
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Michael McGreevy P | STL
Cardinals' Michael McGreevy: Shines with seven frames Monday
McGreevy (2-1) earned the win over Colorado on Monday, allowing two runs on seven hits and no walks while striking out one batter over seven innings.
McGreevy was promoted from Triple-A Memphis on Monday afternoon in order to notch his first big-league start in nearly a month. The right-hander didn't overpower the Rockies -- he notched just five whiffs and one punchout -- but gave St. Louis plenty of length, completing seven frames on an efficient 91 pitches. McGreevy has held his own when given opportunities with the major-league club this season, posting a 3.81 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 17:3 K:BB over 28.1 innings spanning five outings (four starts). Monday's appearance was likely more than just a spot start, and McGreevy lines up to get another turn in the rotation this weekend versus San Diego.
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Ben Brown SP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Falters in long relief
Brown (4-7) took the loss against Kansas City on Monday, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and no walks while striking out four batters over four innings.
After nearly a month in the minors, Brown was summoned back to the big club Monday to work in bulk relief behind opener Ryan Brasier. While Brown did manage to eat up four frames on 63 pitches, he wasn't very effective and was especially stung by the long ball -- he gave up a pair of homers to account for three of the runs against him. The right-hander has dazzled at times this season, including during a two-outing stretch in late May and early June during which he allowed two runs and posted a 16:2 K:BB over 13 frames, but that just makes his overall struggles more frustrating. Brown is at a 6.48 ERA and 1.54 WHIP across 83.1 innings on the season, and it remains to be seen how long he'll stick on the big-league roster after his latest poor appearance.