MLB Player News

Atlanta reassigned Fletcher to minor-league camp Monday.

He was sent to minor-league camp Monday along with Luke Williams, Andrew Velazquez and Eli White, with their demotions suggesting that Forrest Wall has won the final available bench spot on Atlanta's Opening Day roster. Fletcher hit .324/.366/.351 over 16 games during Grapefruit League play.

Atlanta reassigned Tromp to minor-league camp Monday.

Tromp looks to be third on Atlanta's organizational catching depth chart, but with both Sean Murphy and Travis d'Arnaud at full health heading into Opening Day, there wasn't a spot available for Tromp with the big club. He'll likely need Murphy or d'Arnaud to miss time at some point this season before he's summoned from the minors.

The Reds reassigned Kemp to minor-league camp Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

With a lifetime .238/.325/.352 slash line (94 wRC+) over 2,237 career big-league plate appearances, Kemp was one of the more accomplished non-roster invitees who joined the Reds for camp, but he never had much of a chance at winning a spot on Cincinnati's Opening Day roster in light of the team's ample infield and outfield depth. If Kemp isn't willing to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season, the Reds could grant him his release and allow him to join an organization that can present him with a clearer path to a big-league roster spot.

The Reds reassigned Kriske to minor-league camp Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Kriske struck out seven and pitched to a 3.60 ERA and 0.80 WHIP over five innings during Cactus League play, but those solid numbers weren't enough for him to win a spot in the Reds' Opening Day bullpen. The 30-year-old journeyman reliever has made 20 career appearances in the big leagues over parts of three seasons with the Yankees, Orioles and Royals, logging a 11.22 ERA over 21.2 innings.

The Reds reassigned Gilbert to minor-league camp Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Gilbert joined the Reds for spring training as a non-roster invitee after inking a minor-league deal with the organization over the winter. He could serve as a swingman for Triple-A Louisville after making seven starts among his 30 appearances for Triple-A Reno in the Arizona organization in 2023.

The Reds reassigned Bruihl to minor-league camp Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Bruihl is expected to report to Triple-A Louisville to begin the season and will serve as organizational relief depth. He made 27 appearances at the big-league level in 2023 between the Dodgers and Rockies, pitching to a 5.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP over 28 innings.

Ortiz has a "good shot" to make the Opening Day roster, according to manager Pat Murphy, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Ortiz is known for his excellent infield defense, but he's no slouch at the plate either. He is slashing .261/.393/.522 with one home run and one steal in 28 Cactus League plate appearances. If the Brewers trade Willy Adames during the season, Ortiz would likely take over as the everyday shortstop, but in the meantime, he could be an everyday option at third base while sometimes shifting to second base when the Brewers face a lefty.

Chourio is "in the mix" to make the Opening Day roster, according to manager Pat Murphy, Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

Murphy said that Joey Ortiz "has a good shot to make the club" during the same media scrum, so it's noteworthy that the team isn't publicly saying Chourio is likely to make the team. Chourio, who turned 20 earlier this month, is slashing .283/.313/.348 with zero home runs, zero steals, 10 strikeouts and two walks in 48 Cactus League plate appearances. If the Brewers want to give Ortiz regular playing time at third base, that would leave Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick and Joey Wiemer competing with Chourio for three starting outfield spots. There is no financial motivation for Milwaukee to send Chourio to Triple-A, but he still needs to earn a spot over the final week of spring training.

Butto has touched 97 mph with his fastball this spring and shown a slider and cutter to go along with his changeup and curveball, Tim Britton of The Athletic reports.

The deeper and stronger arsenal has led to good results -- Butto has allowed only one earned run over 10 Grapefruit League innings with a 9:2 K:BB. The 25-year-old has also been more aggressive in attacking the strike zone, a sign of his confidence in his new repertoire. "A light switch went off in the middle of [last] year, and he's really turned into a monster on the mound and an aggressive, come-at-you, want-to-get-you-out type of guy," pitching coach Jeremy Hefner said of Butto earlier this spring. After posting a 3.29 ERA and 28:9 K:BB over five September starts and 27.1 innings in 2023, Butto is behind Tylor Megill in the battle for the one available spot in the Mets' Opening Day rotation, but he's likely to be the next man up should a starter get hurt or falter.

Myers went 3-for-4 with a solo home run in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Mets.

The 28-year-old outfielder has had a strong camp, batting .407 (11-for-27) with two homers and two steals, and Sunday's long ball came off New York's Opening Day starter Jose Quintana. Myers still isn't guaranteed a spot on the Marlins' bench, as the team has an overload of utility players like Jon Berti, Nick Gordon and Vidal Brujan who have more position flexibility, but he might be the team's best defensive option in center field among the candidates for bench jobs. Working against Myers winning a spot on the initial 26-man roster is that he has minor-league options remaining, while Gordon and Brujan do not.