MLB Player News

Gausman topped out at 96.2 mph with his fastball during his spring debut Wednesday against the Pirates, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. The 34-year-old right-hander walked one and struck out two over 1.2 scoreless, no-hit innings while tossing 23 of 38 pitches for strikes.

Gausman dealt with shoulder trouble last spring that prevented him from getting fully stretched out ahead of Opening Day, and he seemed to be playing catch-up all season with both his velocity and his command on his breaking pitches. Gausman finished with a 3.83 ERA and 21.4 percent strikeout rate -- his worst numbers in those categories since 2019 -- over 181 regular-season innings while averaging just 93.9 mph with his fastball. He spent this winter putting on extra muscle, and it showed in his first Grapefruit League action as he averaged 94.9 mph with his heater. If Gausman begins this season healthy, a bounce-back campaign could well be in the cards, as he produced a 3.16 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 31.1 percent strikeout rate as recently as 2023.

Chourio (wrist) is listed on the Cleveland roster for its March 14 Spring Breakout game versus Seattle prospects, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.

Chourio turned in an impressive 2024 campaign at Single-A Lynchburg, slashing .273/.416/.401 with five home runs and 43 stolen bases over 435 plate appearances before fracturing his left wrist in late August. He appears to be facing no restrictions with his wrist during spring training, as Stebbins notes that the 19-year-old outfield prospect has been part of the big club's depth roster during camp.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider indicated Thursday that Springer might not be his leadoff hitter in 2025, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

The overwhelming majority of Springer's starts since joining the Blue Jays have come from the leadoff spot and Schneider didn't dismiss using the outfielder there again this season, but he's also considering Bo Bichette for the top of the batting order, "depending on who we're facing." Vladimir Guerrero and Anthony Santander are slated to hit second and third, respectively, while Schneider mentioned leadoff and cleanup as options for Bichette. It's possible Springer will be used in whichever of those two spots Bichette doesn't occupy.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Thursday that Bichette could bat leadoff or cleanup this season, "depending on who we're facing," Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Schneider has decided on Vladimir Guerrero in the No. 2 hole and Anthony Santander in the No. 3 spot, but who bats before them and after them is not yet written in ink. Bichette has spent the vast majority of his career hitting second, but his 106 starts in the cleanup spot are the second most of any position in the batting order. George Springer has been the club's regular leadoff man during his four seasons in Toronto but might bat lower in the order in 2025.

Kingery is among a group of infielders vying to begin the regular season as the Angels' starter at shortstop while Zach Neto continues his recovery from offseason shoulder surgery, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

Kingery didn't play in the majors last season, but he had a good campaign at the Triple-A level, slashing .273/.321/.505 with 27 homers, 70 RBI, 76 runs and 26 stolen bases. The Angels acquired the 2015 second-round draft pick in a trade with Philadelphia in November, and he was added to the team's 40-man roster a few days later. Kingery has struggled during his previous stints in the majors; he has a .667 OPS and 28.4 percent strikeout rate over 1,127 career regular-season plate appearances. Punchouts have been a problem for him this spring as well, as he's fanned seven times in 19 at-bats. Kevin Newman and Tim Anderson are other candidates to hold down the fort at shortstop until Neto is able to return to action, with Newman described by Bollinger as having a "leg up" among the group for the role.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider plans for Guerrero to bat second and Anthony Santander to hit third this season, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

Guerrero began last season in the No. 2 spot but wound up hitting third for the bulk of the campaign. Schneider has not decided on a leadoff man or cleanup hitter, noting that Bo Bichette is an option for both spots "depending on who we're facing." Seemingly, George Springer is another prime candidate to hit ahead of Guerrero.

Cespedes (hand) is listed on Boston's roster for its March 13 Spring Breakout game against Tampa Bay prospects.

Cespedes' inclusion on the roster implies that he's back to full health after undergoing surgery in August to repair a hamate bone fracture in his left hand. The 19-year-old infield prospect hit .319/.400/.615 with five home runs and three stolen bases over his 105 plate appearances in the rookie-level Florida Complex League last season before being shut down with the hand injury. He'll likely open the 2025 campaign at Single-A Salem.

Guerrero (shoulder) is listed on Tampa Bay's roster for its March 13 Spring Breakout game versus Boston prospects, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Guerrero didn't play in the rookie-level Florida Complex League after June 22 last season while recovering from a lingering right shoulder injury, but he looks to be entering the 2025 campaign at full health. The 18-year-old outfielder posted a .909 OPS over his 125 plate appearances in the FCL last season, an impressive feat considering that he underwent surgery the prior summer to repair the labrum in the same shoulder.

The Astros list Santa (undisclosed) on the roster for their March 14 Spring Breakout game against Nationals prospects, Manny Randhawa of MLB.com reports.

Santa seems to be healthy again after he finished the 2024 season on Double-A Corpus Christi's injured list. The 21-year-old righty turned in an 8.69 ERA and 2.14 WHIP while striking out 16 and walking 16 over 19.2 innings for Corpus Christi before being shut down in late August.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Thursday that Teodo is a long shot to make the team's Opening Day roster, Jeff Wilson of AllDLLS.com reports.

Teodo has turned heads this spring with his big stuff and his results, as he's fanned five batters over 3.1 scoreless frames. However, Bochy noted that the Rangers want Teodo to continue to develop as a starting pitcher, and there's currently not room for him in the big-league rotation. Teodo is already on the 40-man roster and could make his major-league debut at some point in 2025 if he pitches well at Triple-A Round Rock.