MLB Player News

The Rockies announced Sunday that Criswell is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery and will miss the entire 2025 season, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Criswell wasn't known to be contending with a right elbow or forearm injury in spring training, though it likely explains why he had yet to make his Cactus League debut. The 25-year-old right-hander reached the big leagues for the first time in 2024, appearing in 13 games while logging a 2.75 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 27:9 K:BB in 19.2 innings. Criswell had been expected to compete for a spot in the Rockies' Opening Day bullpen this spring before going down with the season-ending injury.

Gomber was scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start Sunday against the Mariners due to left shoulder soreness, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

The southpaw said that his arm speed isn't at the level he wants it to be at this time of the spring, but he didn't express any major concern about the shoulder issue preventing him from being ready for Opening Day. Assuming he misses just one turn through the spring rotation, Gomber should have plenty of time to ramp up and complete his throwing progression before the March 28 season opener versus the Rays.

Nola struck out two and allowed one hit and no walks over two scoreless innings during Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers.

According to Todd Zolecki of MLB.com, the right-hander was focused on commanding his fastball and changeup and completely avoided using his knuckle-curve, which was his most-used pitch last year at 32.9 percent. Opposing batters hit .279 against his changeup in 2024, and turning that into a more reliable offering could help him improve upon the 3.57 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 197:50 K:BB he posted across 33 regular-season starts last season.

The Cardinals reassigned Mathews to minor-league camp Sunday.

Though Mathews is regarded as one of St. Louis' top pitching prospects, he was always facing an uphill battle to win a spot in the Opening Day rotation after having made just four starts above the Double-A level. The 24-year-old southpaw should still make his MLB debut at some point in 2025, but for now, the Cardinals will send him to minor-league camp to open up more innings in Grapefruit League play for other rotation candidates. He'll continue to stay in a starter's schedule at minor-league camp, with Rob Rains of StLSportsPage.com noting that Mathews will cover three innings Sunday in a game on the back fields.

Freeman (ankle) will start at first base and bat third in Sunday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.

Freeman's previous two spring training starts had come as a designated hitter, but he'll return to his familiar post at first base now that he's resumed full defensive work following offseason surgery to remove loose bodies from his right ankle. The 35-year-old is on track to man first base in both of the Dodgers' games in the season-opening series versus the Cubs in Tokyo on March 18 and 19. Manager Dave Roberts said earlier in the spring that he plans to deploy Freeman as the Dodgers' full-time No. 3 hitter in 2025, which should lead to plenty of RBI opportunities while he slots behind Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts.

Ramos (oblique) said he is scheduled to play in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Padres, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Ramos was expected to be sidelined for a week after suffering a minor oblique injury last weekend, and returning to action Tuesday would put him right in line with that initial timetable. The 25-year-old is poised to begin the season as San Francisco's primary left fielder after he posted a .791 OPS with 22 homers during his first full MLB campaign last year.

Wood (quadricep) will serve as the Nationals' designated hitter and No. 4 batter in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.

The Nationals' initial lineup featured Josh Bell at DH, but that was apparently a clerical error. Wood will end up starting, as expected, after he made his spring debut Friday before getting Saturday off. Wood has been slowed during spring training due to left quad tendinitis, but he was cleared to participate in defensive drills during the past week and should soon resume making starts in the outfield.

Encarnacion-Strand went 1-for-2 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's spring game against the Padres.

Encarnacion-Strand led off the second inning with a solo home run, his second blast of the Cactus League. He's looking to put an injury-marred 2024 in the past; the 25-year-old corner infielder was limited to just 29 games by a wrist injury last season. While the Reds are using Encarnacion-Strand and others at both corner infield spots, he appears to be the team's expected starter at first base.

Skenes allowed one earned run on four hits and one walk while striking out four across three innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game.

Skenes had a slow start to his first spring training outing, allowing three baserunners and his only earned run in the first inning. He was sharp thereafter and surprisingly threw 54 pitches, though the longer outing allowed him to work in his cutter and sinker -- offerings he developed over the offseason, per Kevin Gorman of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

Martinez allowed one walk and struck out three over two scoreless relief innings in Saturday's spring game against San Diego.

Like in his first spring outing, Martinez cruised during his second Cactus League appearance. He's allowed two hits and a walk with six strikeouts through four innings. Martinez entered after starter Brady Singer, but nothing should be read into that. Martinez is projected for a rotation spot.