MLB Player News

Blackburn (back) threw one inning of live batting practice Tuesday, Andrew Tredinnick of NorthJersey.com reports.

Blackburn worked with the Mets this offseason to refine his sinker and sweeper with the goal of adding more run to his sinker and more horizontal movement to his sweeper to make it less of a slurve. He got off to a rough start with the Mets after getting traded from the A's last season, including a hand contusion and a spinal fluid leak in mid-September that ended his season. He had surgery Oct. 11 that came with a three-to-five month estimated recovery, and we'll be at five months in mid-March. Blackburn is understandably a little behind the likes of Tylor Megill, who is reportedly furthest along of Blackburn and Griffin Canning, all of whom are competing for the final two spots in the Mets' six-man rotation.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Thursday that Ohtani will remain the team's leadoff hitter this season, Bill Plunkett of The Orange County Register reports.

He'll be followed by Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez, which is the same top four in the lineup the Dodgers used down the stretch last season when all four were healthy. The reigning National League MVP, Ohtani batted .307/.392/.680 with 35 home runs and 44 stolen bases in 90 regular-season games out of the leadoff spot in 2024.

Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Assad (oblique) has resumed playing catch, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Assad was diagnosed with a mild oblique strain early on in camp but appears to be making strides. It's not clear when he might be ready for mound work and a game appearance, however. Assad is in a competition for the final spot in the Cubs' rotation, so he can't afford too long of a delay.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Shaw (oblique) is "doing great" and has resumed hitting in the batting cage and throwing, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Shaw suffered an oblique injury at the beginning of camp but has been trending in the right direction since then. The Cubs will continue to tread cautiously given the finicky nature of oblique injuries, but it would seem Shaw might not be far off from full activities. The top prospect is the favorite to be the Cubs' Opening Day third baseman.

Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Bateman will undergo hamate bone surgery on his right hand, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

It's a surgery that typically sidelines a player for around six weeks, so Bateman will get a late start to the season. Once healthy, he's likely to be assigned to Double-A Tennessee.

Manager Craig Counsell said Thursday that Caissie has been shut down due to left groin tightness, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Caissie underwent core muscle surgery over the offseason, although it's not clear whether this setback is related to that. It's uncertain how long the outfield prospect might be shut down. If healthy, Caissie projects to open the season at Triple-A Iowa.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that Steer (shoulder) will start throwing "fairly soon," Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports.

Steer has been slow-played early on in camp due to right shoulder soreness, which is an issue that dates back to the end of last season. He is expected to be limited to serving at designated hitter at the beginning of the spring training schedule. and it's not clear when he might be ready to play the field. At this point, Steer's Opening Day readiness does not seem to be in doubt.

Fitzgerald (back) will resume baseball activities Thursday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Fitzgerald was held out of workouts for a couple days due to a lower-back injury. With the issue having subsided, he's been cleared to resume activities and should be ready to play in Cactus League games before long.

Toglia is on track to open the upcoming season as the Rockies' everyday first baseman, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports. "'I'm an everyday player, I want to play every day'...there's a mindset. He has the mindset," manager Bud Black said of Toglia. "The defensive side is real. He's a really good defender. In time he's going to get his due, both inside the game and outside the game. But that takes time."

After winning a spot on the Opening Day roster coming out of camp last spring, Toglia served as a part-time player for the Rockies to begin the season. He split time between first base and right field before he was sent down to the minors April 24 after batting just .106 with 20 strikeouts over his first 15 games. Upon returning to the majors June 6, however, Toglia proceeded to start the Rockies' final 101 games, with the last 90 coming at first base. He hit just .233 following the call-up, but he showcased power (21 home runs) and made a surprising impact on the basepaths with 10 steals. Toglia's high strikeout rate (32.2 percent in 2024) will likely continue to make him a batting-average risk during the upcoming campaign, but after building up his job security with his strong finish to last season, the 26-year-old should be able to pile up plenty of useful counting stats.

The Cubs designated Canario for assignment Thursday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

The move frees up a spot on the 40-man roster for Justin Turner, whose signing has been made official. Canario has an .857 OPS but a 42.2 percent strikeout rate during his brief time in the majors over the last two seasons. Strikeout issues and a lack of minor-league options could limit Canario's appeal, but the Cubs should be able to find a trade partner willing to gamble on the 24-year-old's power upside.