MLB Player News

Julien (back) will start at designated hitter and bat second in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Guardians.

Julien hadn't played since Tuesday due to back tightness, but a few days off was apparently all he needed. The 26-year-old is competing for a strong-side platoon role at either first base or DH this spring.

Ruiz went 0-for-2 with two stolen bases in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Getting the start in center field and batting third, the 27-year-old was hit by a Darlin Saladin sinker in the third inning and promptly swiped second and third base before getting stranded. Ruiz's speed has never been in question, just the skills to support it, so he'll need to do more in camp to justify winning a spot on the Marlins' 26-man roster. If Kyle Stowers' hamstring injury lingers into the regular season, however, it could open up a spot for Ruiz to begin the campaign.

Steele (elbow) received full clearance for throwing Sunday following his final visit with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, Jared Wyllys of AllCHGO.com reports.

The left-hander has been throwing bullpen sessions with limited parameters since mid-January, but he's now been cleared to incorporate his full repertoire. Steele is aiming to return to the big-league rotation in May or June. He'll need a build up his throwing program significantly before embarking on a lengthy minor-league rehab assignment prior to being activated from the injured list.

Duarte (elbow) made his Grapefruit League debut Tuesday in a 6-6 tie with the Astros, retiring one batter while allowing three earned runs on three hits and one walk.

Duarte looks to be healthy again after he missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from UCL revision surgery on his right elbow, which he underwent in May 2024. A poor showing in his spring debut indicates that he may need some time to regain his command. After signing a minor-league deal with the Mets over the winter, Duarte is expected to open 2026 in the Triple-A Syracuse bullpen.

Sirota (knee) swatted a solo home run in his only at-bat during Saturday's Cactus League loss to Texas.

Sirota entered as a pinch runner in the sixth inning and remained in the game in right field. He got one plate appearance and took full advantage of the opportunity, belting a solo homer to left field off minor-league lefty Dalton Pence in the eighth frame. Sirota ended last season on the minor-league 60-day IL due to a knee injury, but he appears to be past the issue. The 22-year-old is one of the Dodgers' top prospects after posting a .333/.452/.616 slash line with 13 homers, 54 RBI, 48 runs, five stolen bases and a 48:59 BB:K over 59 games between Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and High-A Great Lakes last year. He figures to progress to the upper levels of the minors this season and could be a fixture on the big-league squad as soon as 2027.

Peguero (hamstring) threw a live batting practice session Friday and is on track to play this week, Maria Guardado of MLB.com reports.

Peguero began experiencing tightness in his left hamstring in mid-February but is progressing toward his Cactus League debut. The right-hander made 17 relief appearances for the Giants in 2025 after his contract was selected from Triple-A Sacramento in August, recording a 2.42 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 17:8 K:BB across 22.1 innings.

Bummer (shoulder) struck out a batter in a perfect inning of relief in Friday's 15-8 win over the Red Sox in Grapefruit League play.

Bummer is back to full health after spending the final five weeks of 2025 on the shelf due to left shoulder inflammation. The 32-year-old is set to serve as one of Atlanta's top left-handed bullpen options in 2026 after compiling a 3.81 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 51:17 K:BB across 54.1 innings last season.

Perez (shoulder) allowed one earned run on one hit over two innings of relief in Saturday's 7-5 win over the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.

The veteran southpaw covered a pair of frames out of the bullpen behind Spencer Strider in his spring debut. Even with Spencer Schwellenbach (elbow), Hurston Waldrep (elbow) and AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) all set to miss extended time to begin the season, Perez is a long shot to win a spot in the Atlanta rotation. Perez signed a minor-league deal in January after submitting a 3.54 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 44:22 K:BB across 56 innings in 11 appearances (10 starts) with the White Sox in 2025.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said Sunday that an MRI on Stowers' right hamstring revealed a "very minor" strain, and the outfielder is expected to return to game action in 1-to-2 weeks, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Though the diagnosis comes as welcome news, the 28-year-old still appears set to miss a large chunk of the Marlins' Grapefruit League slate. He won't be shut down from baseball activities for long, with McCullough relaying that Stowers is expected to resume taking live at-bats on the back fields of camp within the next few days. He's coming off a breakout 2025 campaign in which he finished as an NL Gold Glove Award finalist in left field, slugged 25 home runs and stole five bases in 117 games.

Strider allowed one run on two hits and no walks while striking out two over two innings during his spring debut Saturday against the Orioles. His fastball averaged 93.1 mph and touched 94.3 mph, and afterwards the right-hander said, "it's going to take time to get those things where I know everyone wants them to be," Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

A lower velocity early in spring training is fairly common for pitchers, but Strider deserves extra scrutiny given that his fastball velocity has steadily trended downward since averaging 98.2 mph during his first full MLB campaign in 2022. It averaged 95.5 mph last season in his first year back from internal brace surgery on his elbow, and he was inconsistent on the mound with a 4.45 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and significantly lower 9.4 K/9. Strider is currently more focused on improving the shape of his fastball, which could help him regain some dominance even if his velocity doesn't return to that 2022 peak.