MLB Player News

Heim went 2-for-2 with a run scored, threw out a runner attempting to steal and picked off a runner at third base in Saturday's spring game against the Brewers.

Heim had a strong game after fellow catcher Kyle Higashioka belted two home runs and drove in six a day earlier. The two backstops are expected to have a relatively even share behind the plate, which could help the switch-hitting Heim maintain a strong bat all season and avoid a second-half fade.

Rocker allowed four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out one over one inning in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.

This was Rocker's second Cactus League start and looked very much like his first, when the right-hander gave up four runs in an inning. The main difference in the two starts is that Rocker was pulled early in the first inning and once again an inning later Saturday. He entered camp in the mix for a rotation spot but owns a 36.00 ERA through two starts.

Manager Brandon Hyde said Saturday that Povich is currently considered the Orioles' seventh starting pitcher, Jake Rill of MLB.com reports.

Assuming everyone stays healthy throughout spring training, Baltimore's five-man rotation of Zach Eflin, Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton, Dean Kremer and Tomoyuki Sugano is set, while Hyde labeled Albert Suarez as the No. 6 starter. Povich appears poised to begin the campaign at Triple-A Norfolk, but he's off to a strong start in spring training with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings through two starts. The left-hander made 16 starts for Baltimore as a rookie last year and had a 5.20 ERA, 1.43 WHIP and 69:34 K:BB across 79.2 innings, and it's likely just a matter of time before he receives another look in 2025.

Cantillo allowed four runs on three hits and four walks while striking out two over one inning in Saturday's spring start against the Cubs.

Cantillo was dialed in during his first Cactus League start, but the left-hander struggled to command his fastball the second time out and kept falling behind hitters. He was eventually pulled with one out in the first inning before coming back to start the second. He then walked three batters and left his second frame with two outs. It was a stark contrast to Cantillo's first spring outing, when 18 of his 21 offerings landed in the zone.

Bello (shoulder) will throw another bullpen session Monday, and manager Alex Cora said the organization is "still shooting for him to be on the Opening Day roster, but obviously it's March 2 now," Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

The right-hander was briefly shut down at the start of camp due to shoulder soreness, so he's a bit behind in his preparations for the start of the regular season. Bello still has more than four weeks to ramp up ahead of Opening Day and has a realistic chance to be available -- especially since he probably wouldn't be pitching in the first couple games of the season anyway -- but he may need a clean buildup the rest of the way to avoid an IL stint to begin the campaign.

Montgomery (ankle) has appeared in three Cactus League games thus far, going 1-for-3 with a walk while playing seven innings in center field and four in left field.

The No. 12 overall selection by the Red Sox in the 2024 First-Year Player Draft, Montgomery didn't make his professional debut at any point last summer, as he was recovering from surgery to address a fractured ankle that he suffered in June while playing with Texas A&M. The Red Sox then shipped him to Chicago over the winter as part of the prospect haul the White Sox received in exchange for left-hander Garrett Crochet. Now with a new organization, Montgomery seems to be healthy again, and the White Sox's decision to give him at-bats in spring training suggests that he'll bypass rookie ball and report to a full-season affiliate at the conclusion of spring training.

Giolito (elbow) will make his first start of spring training Thursday against the Blue Jays, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Giolito has been building up early in camp in simulated settings but is now on the cusp of making his first Grapefruit League start for the Red Sox. The right-hander missed the entirety of last season while recovering from an internal brace procedure, but it appears he'll be ready to claim a spot in Boston's season-opening rotation.

Ramos (elbow) will serve as the White Sox's designated hitter and No. 7 batter in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers.

Ramos is making his first start of the spring, as his lone other Cactus League appearance came as a backup DH in Friday's 3-2 loss to the Angels. Since he's still operating with some restrictions with his throwing while he works through a sore right elbow, Ramos may not be ready to play the infield anytime soon, but serving as a DH should still allow him to pick up enough at-bats this spring to keep him in contention for an Opening Day roster spot.

LeMahieu (calf) said Sunday that his injury isn't serious, but he'll likely be out for "a little bit," Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

The veteran infielder suffered the injury during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, and he now appears set to be sidelined for at least part of camp. LeMahieu labored through foot and hip injuries while posting a career-worst .528 OPS in 67 games during the regular season in 2024 before going unused throughout the playoffs during the Yankees' run to the World Series. Even though he entered camp as the frontrunner for the top job at third base, LeMahieu is off to an ominous start in 2025.

The Orioles optioned Selby to minor-league camp Sunday, Matt Weyrich of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Selby finished the 2024 regular season on the Orioles' 28-man roster and made five total relief appearances in the majors between stops with Baltimore and Kansas City, tossing seven innings while allowing two earned runs on three hits and four walks. Though he retains a 40-man roster spot heading into 2025, Selby took himself out of contention for an Opening Day bullpen gig by giving up four earned runs and recording just two outs in his lone Grapefruit League appearance. He'll likely begin the upcoming season at Triple-A Norfolk.