MLB Player News

Strider (elbow) struck out six batters over 2.2 perfect innings during his Grapefruit League debut Monday versus the Red Sox.

Cleared to pitch for the first time since April 5, 2024 after completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow, Strider looked as dominant as ever Monday. He found the strike zone on 23 of his 27 pitches and struck out six of the eight batters he faced, with the other two outs coming on a weak popout into foul territory and a first-pitch groundout. His velocity also appeared right in line with pre-surgery levels, with Strider topping out at 98 miles per hour on a first-inning strikeout of outfield prospect Roman Anthony. Since Strider will still need to get stretched out over the course of multiple starts, he remains on track to open the season on the 15-day injured list, but his dominant performance Monday makes a mid-to-late April debut increasingly realistic and is likely to send his ADP soaring.

Henderson is a "leading contender" to make starts for the Brewers in April following the injury to Tobias Myers (oblique), Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Henderson was cut from major-league camp last week, but he will be back to make a start Monday against the Padres and it appears he might be ahead of Tyler Alexander in the rotation pecking order. The 23-year-old Henderson has spun 5.2 scoreless frames with an 8:1 K:BB during Cactus League play. Myers could be back before the end of April and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) might be ready around then, too, so Henderson's stay in the rotation -- if he is indeed part of it -- could be brief.

Atlanta reassigned Leon to minor-league camp Monday.

Leon's dismissal leaves Atlanta with just two healthy backstops in big-league camp: Drake Baldwin and Chadwick Tromp. Barring an addition from outside the organization, the two will begin the season as Atlanta's catching tandem until Sean Murphy (rib) is ready to make his 2025 debut. Leon is likely to open the campaign as organizational catching depth at Triple-A Gwinnett.

The Cardinals scratched Siani from the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals due to an illness, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Victor Scott -- who looks to be Siani's main competition for primary duties in center field to begin the season -- will shift over from left field to replace Siani. Assuming he can quickly shake off the illness, Siani will have a few more opportunities this spring to stake his claim to a near-everyday role. The 25-year-old Siani drew high marks for his defense last season, but aside from going 20-for-23 in stolen-base attempts, his fantasy profile was relatively hollow. Siani hit just .228 with two home runs, 42 runs and 20 RBI over his 334 plate appearances, most of which came at the bottom of the lineup.

Manager Mike Shildt announced Monday that King will start the Padres' March 27 season opener versus Atlanta, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

In a surprising decision, King is getting the ball instead of Dylan Cease, but the two are essentially co-aces for the Padres. King broke out in 2024 in his first full campaign in the big leagues as a starting pitcher, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 201:63 K:BB over 173.2 innings during the regular season.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Monday that Myers will begin the season on the 15-day injured list after an MRI revealed a left oblique strain, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

The good news is the MRI was actually "better than we were expecting," according to Murphy, who added that Myers could rejoin the rotation before the end of April. Tyler Alexander is likely to occupy a spot in Milwaukee's rotation for as long as Myers is shelved.

Wood went 2-for-3 with a double, a two-run home run and a second run scored in Sunday's Grapefruit league game against the Rays.

The 22-year-old outfielder wasted no time in making an impact, taking Connor Seabold deep in the first inning. Wood has been raking this spring, batting .379 (11-for-29) with four doubles and four homers with a 4:9 BB:K. After slashing .264/.354/.427 in 79 games during his big-league debut last year, Wood could be poised to take a big step forward in 2025.

Senger could open the season as the Mets' No. 2 catcher behind Luis Torrens, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

Internal options for catching depth are limited with Francisco Alvarez (hand) set to begin the campaign on the IL, but Senger's defensive skills behind the plate could make him the choice over Jakson Reetz and Chris Williams. The 27-year-old Senger doesn't offer much upside with his bat however, managing a .724 OPS with three homers over 48 games for Triple-A Syracuse in 2024, and the Mets could look outside the organization for Torrens' backup once other teams begin to trim their rosters at the end of camp.

Acuna seems likely to win a spot on the Opening Day roster and could handle the short side of a platoon at second base alongside Brett Baty, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

The Mets may have been reluctant to bring Acuna north if he was just going to be stuck on the bench, but the potential for consistent playing time might make the decision to keep him on the 26-man roster easier. That playing time is available due to an oblique injury to Jeff McNeil, and if either or both of the youngsters play well in his absence, there's no guarantee he wins back the starting gig given how his production has declined since he won the NL batting crown in 2022. The 23-year-old Acuna would help his case with a strong finish to his spring -- through 14 appearances he's batting .226 (7-for-31) with a 0:6 BB:K, although he has gone 3-for-3 on steal attempts.

Baty may begin the season platooning at second base with Luisangel Acuna, Tim Britton of the Athletic reports.

With Jeff McNeil (oblique) sidelined to begin the year, the decision to keep youngsters Baty and Acuna on the Opening Day roster gets easier, as regular playing time could be available for both. Baty would handle the strong side of any platoon at the keystone, and he could be taking a lot of momentum into the regular season -- through 14 Grapefruit League appearances, he's batting .343 (12-for-35) with three doubles, two homers and a 4:5 BB:K.