MLB Player News

Spiers allowed one run on two hits and one walk while striking out three over three innings in Sunday's spring start against the Cubs.

Spiers, making his second Cactus League start, became the first Cincinnati starter to reach three innings. The right-hander threw 37 pitches (26 strikes) and told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com following the game that he got another up-and-down in the bullpen to get "more pitches under my belt." He entered camp as a depth starter, likely destined for Triple-A Louisville, but injuries to Andrew Abbott (shoulder) and Rhett Lowder (elbow) could factor into where Spiers lands to open the regular season.

Neris signed a minor-league contract with Atlanta on Monday that includes an invitation to big-league spring training, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Neris served as the Cubs' closer for most of 2024, logging 18 saves in 59.1 innings. However, he'll settle for a minor-league deal after logging a 1.40 WHIP and 13.8 K-BB% -- his worst such marks since the 2020 season. Neris could make the big club in a mid-leverage role.

Fortes (back) is starting at catcher and batting eighth in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

Fortes was scratched from Sunday's lineup with back spasms but he is evidently over the issue a day later. Fortes is the incumbent behind the dish, while prospect Agustin Ramirez is the higher-upside option who could push Fortes for playing time this summer.

Graveman experienced tightness in his back while throwing a bullpen session Saturday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.

Graveman will be sent to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the injury. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo described the issue as "nothing too alarming." Graveman signed with the Diamondbacks after camp opened and has yet to appear in a Cactus League game.

Rodriguez allowed one walk and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against the Rangers.

Rodriguez cruised through his first Cactus League start, setting down the side in order in the first inning and working around a two-out walk in the second. He threw 31 pitches (18 strikes). The left-hander told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com following Sunday's outing that he threw all of his pitches and feels everything is right where he wants it to be, which suggests the pitcher will be ready to go come Opening Day. Rodriguez opened the 2024 season on the injured list due to a shoulder issue and was limited to just 10 starts in the first year of a four-year contract.

Hurt (elbow) was been playing catch, per MLB.com.

Hurt underwent Tommy John surgery last July. Though his ability to begin playing catch indicates he has taken a positive step in his rehab, the righty hurler isn't expected to return to game action this season.

Miller is out of concussion protocol and has returned to throwing bullpen sessions, per MLB.com.

Miller had a scary incident in which he was struck in the head by a comebacker Feb. 20, and the righty hurler was subsequently placed in concussion protocol. However, he's since been cleared to resume throwing and is back to ramping up. Miller threw about 35 pitches in a bullpen session Friday and said he'll likely need to take part in one more bullpen before returning to game action, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

Merrill went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run Sunday in a Cactus League loss to Kansas City.

Merrill's homer was a massive 443-foot shot to center field. The 21-year-old is preparing for his second big-league campaign after posting an .826 OPS over 156 regular-season games last year en route to finishing second in NL Rookie of the Year voting. Merrill has looked good so far this spring, going 4-for-11 with four RBI through five contests.

Through eight Cactus League games, Bote has gone 10-for-20 with two home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, six runs and a 1:4 BB:K.

Bote has been given ample playing time this spring after he signed with Los Angeles on a minor-league deal in mid-December. The veteran utility man wasn't expected to have much of a chance at a roster spot, but he's doing all he can to put the onus on the Dodgers to find room for him given his scorching hitting in Cactus League play. Bote batted .304 over 48 plate appearances with the Cubs last year, though he didn't have any homers or stolen bases and struck out at a 27.1 percent clip. He's logged time in parts of six big-league campaigns and can play all over the infield as well as in the outfield, so Bote has plenty of defensive versatility to offer if he's able to claim a roster spot.

Wrobleski pitched three perfect innings, striking out two batters in a Cactus League contest against the Athletics on Sunday.

Wrobleski allowed just two balls to leave the infield, as he induced five groundouts to go along with his two punchouts. The southpaw contributed six starts among eight regular-season appearances in his first taste of the majors last year and posted a 5.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and 26:16 K:BB over 36.1 innings. Wrobleski's opportunities with the big club in 2024 were precipitated by a rash of injuries to the team's pitching staff, and he's likely to begin 2025 at Triple-A.