MLB Player News

Turang (shoulder) will play in a minor-league game Monday and is considered a "full go" for the Brewers' season opener Thursday versus the Yankees, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Though they'll be playing the Rockies on Monday in their Cactus League finale, the Brewers sent Turang to the minor-league camp for the day so that he can stockpile competitive at-bats in a more uncontrolled game setting. Turang had missed more than a week of Cactus League action before he returned to the lineup Sunday as a designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. It's not clear if Turang will be playing the field at minor-league camp Monday, but the expectation is that he'll be in the lineup at second base Thursday.

McCoy is not projected to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

McCoy was added to the 40-man roster over the weekend, but he has minor-league options remaining and the Padres will use one to send him to Triple-A El Paso. He will provide utility depth in the minors.

Joe is not expected to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Yuli Gurriel and Brandon Lockridge have made the team, squeezing Joe out of a job. Joe has minor-league options remaining, so he will begin the season at Triple-A El Paso.

Little (lat) struck out two and scattered three hits over 1.1 scoreless innings in his Cactus League appearance Friday versus the Padres.

Little suffered a season-ending left lat strain last July and was eased along slowly in spring training, as he didn't make any appearances before the Cubs opened their campaign with a two-game set versus the Dodgers in Tokyo last week. The Cubs had already optioned Little to Triple-A Iowa on March 7, and his ability to make his spring debut Friday suggests that he'll likely avoid a stint on Iowa's injured list to begin the season. Little remains a member of the Cubs' 40-man roster and should have a good chance at surfacing in the big-league bullpen at some point in 2025.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said Monday that Painter will begin pitching in extended spring training games in a couple weeks, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

Painter is considered healthy, but the Phillies slow-played him this spring after he missed nearly all of the last two seasons due to Tommy John surgery in July 2023. He will build up in extended spring training games and eventually the minors before becoming an option to join the Phillies' rotation around midseason.

Birdsong has made the Giants' Opening Day roster, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.

Birdsong has been in a battle with Landen Roupp for the final spot in the Giants' rotation, and while the team has yet to confirm it, it appears Birdsong will break camp as the fifth starter and Roupp will be used in the bullpen. The 23-year-old Birdsong earned the spot following a fantastic Cactus League showing that saw him allow just one run with an 18:0 K:BB over 12 innings of work.

Strahm (shoulder) will not make a scheduled Grapefruit League appearance Monday versus the Rays due to left middle fingernail irritation, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.

The issue is not believed to be serious, and Strahm remains on track to be ready for the Phillies' season opener Thursday versus the Nationals. The left-handed reliever has made just two Grapefruit League appearances this spring due to a shoulder impingement that's caused inflammation, but he's been throwing lately without any problems with the shoulder.

Frelick (calf) will start in right field and bat cleanup in Monday's Cactus League game against the Rockies.

Frelick hadn't played since last Tuesday due to a sore left calf, but his inclusion in the lineup and his ability to occupy a spot in the outfield in the spring finale suggests he'll be ready to go for Thursday's season opener versus the Yankees. Though Frelick is batting cleanup Monday, Willson Contreras and Brice Turang (shoulder) are getting the day off, so Frelick could bump down a spot or two in the Opening Day lineup.

Megill will appear in Monday's Cactus League game versus the Rockies after pitching in minor-league games since mid-March, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

Megill's last Cactus League outing came March 15, but his absence doesn't appear to be the result of the undisclosed injury he dealt with earlier in camp. He's expected to open the season as the Brewers' primary closer.

The Padres optioned Campusano to Triple-A El Paso on Sunday.

Elias Diaz will be the Padres' primary catcher, and non-roster invitee Martin Maldonado is in line to serve as his backup. Campusano will head to El Paso, where he will receive regular playing time as he awaits another opportunity in the majors.