MLB Player News

Sweeney is not a given to open the season as the Tigers' primary shortstop, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

In his latest Opening Day roster projection, Stavenhagen has Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry sharing the shortstop job and Sweeney opening the season at Triple-A Toledo. Nothing has been decided, as Sweeney could still very well start at the position at least against right-handed pitching, but the gig won't be handed to him. Sweeney hit .218/.269/.373 with four home runs over 36 regular-season contests for the Tigers in 2024 before going 2-for-22 at the dish in seven postseason games.

Baz threw three scoreless innings while striking out two, walking one and allowing two hits in Sunday's Grapefruit League game.

The outing was Baz's spring debut, and he threw 50 pitches -- 33 of which went for strikes. His velocity was also excellent, as he hit 100.6 mph with his first pitch of the game, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Baz will presumably be in the big-league rotation to begin the season, though Topkin did note the team has not committed to its five starters at this point in spring.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Dominguez could see save opportunities early on in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista won't pitch back-to-back days or throw more than one inning at a time initially in his first season back from Tommy John surgery. That opens the door to save chances for others, with Gregory Soto and Andrew Kittredge (knee) being named along with Dominguez by Hyde in what will be a "mix and match" situation. Dominguez served as the Orioles' primary closer down the stretch last season, going 10-for-11 in regular-season save chances after being acquired at the trade deadline.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde named Soto as an option to see save chance early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista will not be allowed to appear in back-to-back games or pitch more than one inning at a time for a while as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, and Hyde said he'll "mix and match" at closer those days. The skipper named Andrew Kittredge (knee) and Seranthony Dominguez in addition to Soto as relievers who could see save opportunities when Bautista is off limits.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Monday that Kittredge (knee) is an option to see save chances early in the season on days Felix Bautista (elbow) is unavailable, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista's usage will be limited in the first half as he comes back from Tommy John surgery, as he won't pitch back-to-back days or go more than one inning. Hyde also listed Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as fill-in closer options in what he expects to be a "mix and match" situation. Kittredge is still getting treatment as he recovers from left knee soreness, but he's not expected to be out long.

O'Neill (illness) will start in left field and bat third in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that O'Neill had been battling an illness, but the 29-year-old needed just a couple days off to move past the ailment. After signing a three-year deal with Baltimore in December, O'Neill is projected to serve as an everyday player while occupying a prominent spot in the lineup versus both right- and left-handed pitching.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that Bautista (elbow) -- who will make his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox -- won't pitch back-to-back days or cover more than one inning early on in the season, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Bautista projects to open the season as the Orioles' closer, barring any setbacks during his appearances in the spring as he makes his return from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent in October 2023. However, for occasions in which Bautista is unavailable, Hyde said he would "mix and match" at closer those days, with the manager naming Andrew Kittredge (knee), Gregory Soto and Seranthony Dominguez as options to fill in. Hyde noted that he'll apply the cautious usage of Bautista "especially in the first half." The Orioles don't seem to have a hard deadline for when the restrictions on Bautista will be lifted, as it likely just depends on how the pitcher looks and is bouncing back from outings.

Rogers (knee) said Monday that he's resumed throwing off flat ground, but he's still a few weeks away from throwing off of a mound, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

Rogers is recovering from a right knee subluxation, an injury that has taken him out of contention for a spot in Baltimore's Opening Day rotation. Assuming Rogers is cleared to resume mound work by mid-to-late March, he'll likely need close to a month to get fully stretched out for starting duty. The Orioles may not have a rotation spot available for Rogers by that point in April, however, so the southpaw may have to work out of the bullpen when healthy until a starting gig reopens.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that McDermott (lat) will begin his throwing progression Monday, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.

McDermott is recovering from what's been described as a mild lat/teres strain, but the injury still seems to be significant enough to remove him from the competition for an Opening Day rotation spot. He'll likely be limited to playing catch off flat ground for the next week before advancing to throwing bullpen sessions and eventually facing hitters. McDermott may not have enough time to get fully ramped up to pitch in games before the Orioles' Grapefruit League schedule comes to a close.

Nikhazy could make the Guardians' bullpen out of spring training, Steve Stockmar of MLB.com reports.

Nikhazy is already on the 40-man roster and has gotten off to a great start in Cactus League play, throwing four hitless innings with four strikeouts across two relief appearances. Pitching coach Carl Willis said Sunday that Nikhazy would make the club's bullpen, not the rotation, if he were to win a job. Nikhazy is a starter by trade and had a strong 2024 season, logging a 2.98 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and a 124:53 K:BB in 123.2 innings split between the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He is working on improving his control and could be a multi-inning relief option early in the year if the club's starters aren't all ready to go five-plus innings consistently.