MLB Player News

Altavilla was sitting at 97-98 mph with his fastball during Tuesday's live batting-practice session, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. He averaged 96 mph on his fastball last season with the White Sox.

Altavilla is in camp on a non-roster invitee contract and will also be pitching for Italy in the World Baseball Classic. There are jobs to be won in the Twins bullpen, and this alone won't win him that spot, but it's a nice first step.

Abel was impressive in Tuesday's live batting practice, hitting 96-to-98 mph with his fastball, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. "Abel is one of those guys that, I mean, you guys saw it last year, what he did to the Phillies late in the year," manager Derek Shelton said. "He's got electric stuff."

Abel might be overlooked a little bit in the battle for the now-three open rotation spots for the Twins, but he'll be in the mix along with Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews and David Festa, who is a little behind the rest of the group while returning from a shoulder issue. Abel made two starts for the Twins after the trade from the Phillies, striking out nine in his final start of the season against his former club.

Festa (shoulder) is still throwing bullpen sessions while other Twins pitchers are throwing live batting-practice sessions, Bobby Nightengale of The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports. Festa could begin throwing to live hitters next week.

Festa had a compressed nerve near his pitching shoulder last season and isn't yet throwing at 100 percent intensity. He still has a chance to win a rotation spot, especially now that three slots are in competition following Pablo Lopez's elbow injury. Festa is competing against Taj Bradley, Simeon Woods Richardson, Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel for those spots.

Matthews has a chance to win a rotation spot for the Twins this spring, and one more spot is now open in the wake of Pablo Lopez's elbow injury, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

Leach surmised that Taj Bradley and Simeon Woods Richardson were likely ahead of Matthews in the pecking order to begin spring training, but Lopez's injury now opens up a third spot in the rotation. Mick Abel and David Festa (shoulder) are also options for the Twins.

Bradley has a good chance of winning a rotation spot for the Twins, Matthew Leach of MLB.com surmises.

Bradley might have had an inside track at winning a job battle even before Pablo Lopez's elbow injury, but with three starting spots now open, the likelihood is even higher. Bradley is pitching in the World Baseball Classic, so some of his reps will be away from manager Derek Shelton's direct observations.

Woods Richardson will be competing for a rotation spot this spring and is out of options, giving him a good chance of making the Twins out of spring training in some capacity, Matthew Leach of MLB.com reports.

With Pablo Lopez (elbow) likely out for the season with a significant UCL tear, suddenly the Twins have three spots open in the rotation. Woods Richardson is competing with Taj Bradley, Zebby Matthews, David Festa and Mick Abel.

Volpe (shoulder) said Tuesday that a return sometime in April is "definitely" possible, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.

Volpe is working his way back from last October's labrum surgery on his left shoulder and is being eased into things in Yankees camp. The shortstop began his hitting progression with dry swings Monday and will move on to tee work and soft-toss next. Volpe will also need to show he's able to dive on his surgically repaired shoulder without issue, which he hopes to accomplish in a couple weeks. Randy Miller of NJ.com reported earlier this month that Volpe wouldn't be ready to make his season debut "at least until May," but the 24-year-old believes he can make it back quicker than that. Any timetable at this point is approximate, as Volpe still has several rehab hoops to jump through. Jose Caballero will handle shortstop for the Yankees until Volpe is ready.

The White Sox signed Baker to a minor-league contract Tuesday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports.

Baker -- who did not receive an invitation to major-league camp -- slashed .256/.343/.318 with one homer and 26 steals in 107 games with Triple-A Rochester in the Nationals organization in 2025. The 27-year-old got a cup of coffee with the Nats in 2024, going 7-for-14 at the plate. Baker will give the White Sox some experienced infield depth at Triple-A Charlotte.

Gordon is likely to open the season with Triple-A Sugar Land, Matt Kawahara of The Houston Chronicle reports.

Gordon will start the Astros' Grapefruit League opener Saturday against Washington, though the left-hander is one of seven pitchers competing for Houston's final rotation spot. Gordon appeared in 20 MLB games, including 14 starts, as a swingman last season, posting a 5.34 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and 7.5 K/9 across 86 innings.

Stephenson (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.

It's the first time throwing off a mound this spring for Stephenson. The righty missed all of 2024 and much of 2025 due to arm trouble and dealt with a nerve issue and thoracic outlet syndrome symptoms this offseason. Stephenson is a poor bet to stay healthy, but when he's on the active roster he'll be in the mix for high-leverage appearances.