MLB Player News

Ort (oblique) has progressed to flat-ground throwing, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Ort tweaked his left oblique early in camp but has made progress of late. However, given that he's not throwing off a mound yet, his availability for Opening Day would appear to be in question.

Beeter (shoulder) is not expected to be ready in time for Opening Day, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports.

Beeter has not appeared in a Grapefruit League game because of a right shoulder problem. He had been throwing off a mound, but it's not clear whether he might have suffered a setback. Beeter has been converted to reliever and could work his way into an important role in the Yankees' bullpen, once healthy.

Wells is a candidate to bat leadoff for the Yankees during the 2025 campaign, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Wells and Jazz Chisholm have been getting most of the reps in the leadoff spot this spring, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone has indicated that both players are being considered for the role come the regular season. While Wells' lack of speed and .229 batting average to this point in his big-league career aren't typical of a leadoff hitter, he has shown an acumen for getting on base, frequently recording double-digit walk rates in the minors and posting an 11.4 percent walk rate over 414 plate appearances with the big club last year. Hoch notes that the Yankees have never had a catcher bat leadoff in a regular-season game over the long history of the franchise.

Berroa (elbow) needs Tommy John surgery, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

Berroa had been diagnosed with a right elbow strain following a Cactus League appearance in late February, but subsequent testing has revealed more extensive damage. He will be sidelined for the duration of the 2025 campaign and could get a late start to next season, as well. Prior to the injury, Berroa had a shot to serve in a high-leverage relief role for the White Sox.

The White Sox announced Friday that Carela will undergo Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, James Fegan of SoxMachine.com reports.

The 23-year-old was added to the 40-man roster in November in order to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, but he'll miss the entirety of 2025 due to the surgery. Carela is likely to be sidelined until midseason 2026.

Escarra went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three total RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League loss to Minnesota.

Escarra drove in three of the Yankees' four runs in the contest, notching a two-run single in the seventh inning and a solo shot to right-center field in the ninth. The 29-year-old made noise at Triple-A last season with a .930 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBI over 52 games, and he's competing in camp for the backup catcher job behind Austin Wells in the Bronx. Escarra has hit well this spring with a .294/.333/.471 slash line, four RBI and just three strikeouts over 18 plate appearances. His path to a roster spot could be helped by the fact that he is on the 40-man roster, unlike Alex Jackson, who is also in the running for New York's backup catcher role.

Matzek may not be ready for Opening Day after being diagnosed with an oblique injury, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

The severity of the issue isn't clear, but any sort of oblique strain this close to the start of the season likely means Matzek won't be ready for the opener. The southpaw is in camp as a non-roster invitee but likely would have made the initial 26-man roster if he was healthy. Instead, Matzek will aim for a mid-season debut with the Yankees.

The White Sox optioned Carela to Double-A Birmingham on Friday.

Carela made just one Cactus League appearance, tossing a scoreless inning. The 23-year-old was added to the 40-man roster over the offseason after reaching Double-A for the first time in 2024.

Schneider went 2-for-2 with a walk, a home run and two RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

He went back-to-back with Ernie Clement in the second inning off Cooper Criswell. It was Schneider's first long ball of the spring, but he's been locked in at the plate in camp when given an opportunity, going 5-for-13 with a 7:4 BB:K in 20 plate appearances. The 26-year-old doesn't have a clear starting spot in the lineup after managing a mediocre .625 OPS with a 31.7 percent strikeout rate in 2024, and he'll have trouble repeating his 454 PAs following the offseason additions of players like Anthony Santander and Andres Gimenez. Schneider's best path to playing time this season could come as a short-side platoon option in left field and at second base.

Clement went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a second run scored in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Getting the start at third base and batting seventh in what might have been a preview of Toronto's Opening Day lineup, Clement turned on a Cooper Criswell offering in the second inning and drove it out to center field for his first homer of the spring. The 28-year-old infielder has gotten off to a hot start in camp, going 8-for-17 (.471) in seven appearances, but he'll likely need to improve on last season's .284 OBP if he's going to be anything more than a utility player in the majors over the long haul.