MLB Player News

Bryant hit a 462-foot home run that had an 111.8 mph exit velocity during Tuesday's Cactus League game, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Bryant has struggled to stay on the field since joining the Rockies in 2022, though he worked on his core strength and flexibility this offseason and enters the season with renewed hope. While there should be caution in interpreting spring training results, Bryant's shot Tuesday was an impressive start to the exhibition slate. He's started both of his games at DH, another factor that could help him stay healthy during the regular season.

Marquez threw two scoreless innings in his Cactus League debut Tuesday, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reports.

Marquez also struck out two and walked two. Most importantly, he threw 32 pitches and came away with no injury concerns, a significant development after he was limited to only one start in 2024 while recovering from an elbow injury. Marquez figures to lead the Rockies' rotation in 2025.

Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post expects Dollander to be in the Rockies' rotation to begin the regular season.

There were rumblings prior to spring training about the possibility of Dollander skipping Triple-A and jumping straight to the majors to begin the 2025 season. He helped his case with a solid spring debut Monday, when he struck out three across two innings with his only run allowed coming on a solo home run. Dollander will have high expectations due to his rapid rise to the majors and pedigree, though it's worth keeping in mind the challenge he faces with Coors Field as his home park.

Mathews fanned three batters while allowing two hits and one walk over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

The reigning minor-league strikeout leader set down Vladimir Guerrero swinging in a perfect first inning before adding a pair of strikeouts in the second to escape a bases-loaded jam. Mathews has an outside shot to win a spot in the Cardinals' rotation if he wows this spring, but he's most likely pegged for Triple-A Memphis. Even if he doesn't break camp with the big club, he's a good bet to spend a good chunk of 2025 in the St. Louis rotation.

Scott tripled and socked a solo home run in Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Blue Jays.

Scott contributed the Cardinals' only two hits on the day and also had a 106-mph lineout. The speedy outfielder has reached base four times in his first two games this spring. Scott made the start in left field Tuesday while Lars Nootbaar played center field. Those two players along with Michael Siani are competing for reps in center field for St. Louis this season.

Harper (illness) will bat third and start at first base in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Blue Jays.

Harper missed some time at the beginning of last week while recovering from an illness, but he appears to be fully healthy now and will make his spring debut Wednesday. The 32-year-old is heading into his second season as the Phillies' full-time first baseman after he slashed .285/.373/.525 with 30 home runs, 87 RBI, 85 runs and seven steals across 145 games in 2024.

Lopez said this week that his goal is to make 30-to-35 starts and pitch 200 innings in 2025, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Lopez, who threw two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in his spring debut Tuesday against the Red Sox, made 26 appearances (25 starts) and threw 135.2 frames in 2024 in his move from the bullpen to the rotation, which he said through an interpreter "was a good opportunity to establish a base." That was more innings than he threw combined between the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, but Lopez has topped 180 innings twice in his career, doing so in back-to-back seasons with the White Sox in 2018 and 2019. The righty dealt with forearm and shoulder trouble in the second half last season but reported to camp healthy and is aiming to take a big step forward with his workload in 2025. Per David O'Brien of The Athletic, Lopez also got better results last season on a normal schedule, posting a 1.52 ERA and 0.97 WHIP during his five starts on four days' rest.

Horwitz (wrist) will begin taking two-handed dry swings later this week, Noah Hiles of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Horwitz has been taking one-handed dry swings and is nearly ready to take the next step in his hitting progression as he works his way back from right wrist surgery. He's expected to miss roughly the first month of the season.

Blackburn (back) is scheduled to start Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

Blackburn will most likely be limited to one or two innings in his spring debut as he attempts to make his case for a spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation. With Sean Manaea (oblique) and Frankie Montas (lat) both expected to begin the season on the injured list, the Mets should have at least two spots available at the back of the rotation for Blackburn, Tylor Megill and Griffin Canning. All three could end up breaking camp in starting roles if the Mets opt to go with a six-man rotation, something that president of baseball operations David Stearns said over the winter that he was expecting the team to implement in 2025.

Carroll has tweaked his bat positioning when setting up in the batters box, Alex Weiner of 's Arizona Sports reports. He previously kept the bat flat over his left shoulder before changing to a more upright position.

Carroll deployed the refined bat position Monday, when he turned on a high breaking ball for his first spring home run. This was a tweak Carroll started during the second half of 2024, and he continued to work on it over the offseason. "We talked about, I guess, shortening the path to the ball," manager Torey Lovullo said. "Creating better angles to certain pitches. It's not hindering his ability to hit the pitch as well as he's normally hitting, so he feels like that's a good starting spot for him." The new positioning worked for Carroll in the second half of 2024. After slumping in the first half (.635 OPS, five home runs), Carroll popped after the All-Star break (.919 OPS, 17 home runs),