MLB Player News

Kolek (oblique) threw three innings and 49 pitches Thursday during a simulated game at extended spring training, MLB.com reports.

Kolek is in the process of building back up after suffering a Grade 1 left oblique strain in late February and missing the remainder of the Cactus League. The 28-year-old remains in Arizona but could soon report to an affiliate to begin what will likely be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. Kolek isn't projected to return from the Royals' injured list until late April or early May.

The Royals reinstated Massey (calf) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Kansas City optioned Nick Loftin to Triple-A Omaha to clear room on the 26-man active roster for Massey, who was shelved to begin the season after suffering a mild left calf strain in early March during spring training. Massey proved his health in a three-game rehab stint with Omaha last week, during which he went 3-for-12 with a home run. He'll likely have to settle for a utility role with Kansas City and could struggle to see regular at-bats while the Royals have all of their key position players available.

The Royals optioned Loftin to Triple-A Omaha on Monday.

Loftin will cede his spot on the 26-man active roster to Michael Massey (calf), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list. The 27-year-old utility player had appeared in four of the Royals' first nine games, going 2-for-9 with a double, two walks and three runs.

Povich covered 5.2 innings out of the bullpen in Sunday's 8-2 loss to the Pirates, taking a no-decision while striking out two batters and allowing two earned runs on four hits and three walks.

With starter Chris Bassitt getting chased from the game after allowing six runs over two innings, Povich -- who had been called up from Triple-A Norfolk -- was tasked with mopping up in the series finale in Pittsburgh. The young lefty was able to eat some innings and spare the bullpen from overuse, but the extended relief appearance will take him out of the running to fill the open spot in the Baltimore rotation that was created by Zach Eflin's (elbow) recent move to the injured list. Albert Suarez could be the leading candidate to replace Eflin in Monday's game against the White Sox, either as a starter or primary pitcher out of the bullpen.

Uberstine (0-1) was the pitcher of record in Sunday's 8-6 loss to the Padres after allowing one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over 2.2 innings of relief.

Uberstine made his MLB debut and pitched two scoreless innings before Jackson Merrill drove a fastball over the fence to lead off the eighth. The right-hander also walked a batter and gave up a double later in the frame. Overall, Uberstine threw the ball well and filled up the zone (45 pitches, 34 strikes), but the mistake pitch to Merrill proved to be costly. Uberstine, who had been used as a starter in the minor leagues, is expected to provide length out of the bullpen while he's up in the majors.

Story is tied for the MLB lead in swings outside the zone (43), and his 18 swing-and-misses are tied for fourth.

Story, whose 51.2 chase percentage ranks third in the majors, has struck out 17 times in 42 at-bats (40.5 K%) and is batting .119 following a 1-for-5 effort with two punchouts in Sunday's loss to San Diego. "I think the swing is in a good place," Boston manager Alex Cora told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com. "And you watch video and yes, it's same timing mechanism, hands placement. The body looks the same. It's just, 'What are we swinging (at)?'" For comparison, Story chased at a 35.3 percent clip and posted a 26.9 strikeout percentage in 2025.

The Rays activated Walls (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Monday.

Walls got a late start to the season due to a right oblique strain, but he's been cleared to return to action after playing in some extended spring training contests. The slick-fielding Walls should take over as the Rays' primary shortstop, though the club will want to give Ben Williamson some reps at the position as well.

The Rays optioned Williams to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Williams went just 3-for-23 with a 1:9 BB:K at the plate through his first seven games this season and has an untenable 40.5 percent strikeout rate so far at the major-league level. With Taylor Walls (oblique) returning from the injured list, the Rays will give Williams some additional seasoning in the minors.

Sandoval (elbow) did not make his scheduled rehab start for Double-A Portland on Sunday, because the game was postponed due to weather, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports. The left-hander will now start Wednesday for Triple-A Worcester.

Sandoval is returning from an internal brace procedure that he underwent in 2024 and prevented him from pitching in 2025. The Red Sox will eventually need to decide on a role for Sandoval. Connolly Early is currently the fifth member of the team's rotation, and it's possible that Sandoval works as a long reliever.

Alonso went 1-for-4 with an RBI double Sunday in the Orioles' 8-2 loss to the PIrates.

After leaving the Mets over the winter and joining the Orioles on a five-year, $155 million deal, Alonso has gotten off to a slow start to his time in Baltimore. The veteran first baseman has struck out at a career-worst 33.3 percent clip through his first nine games, which has played a large part in limiting the career .253 hitter to a .229 batting average thus far. The low average would be more palatable if Alonso were hitting for power, but his double in Sunday's game was just his second extra-base hit of the campaign. Alonso's average exit velocity and hard-hit rate place him in the 93rd and 90th percentile, respectively, of all players in the early going, so fantasy managers should have some hope that the five-time All-Star eventually turns things around.