MLB Player News

Phillips (elbow) threw a bullpen session to a squatting catcher March 17, per MLB.com.

Phillips had previously been throwing only to a standing catcher, so this was a notable step forward in his recovery from the Tommy John surgery he underwent last June. The righty reliever is beginning the season on the 60-day injured list and is expected to miss most of the season, though he could be ready for game action sometime in the second half.

The White Sox designated Mead for assignment Wednesday.

Mead is a victim of the White Sox needing to clear space on their 40-man roster. The former top prospect has yet to establish himself at the big-league level, slashing .238/.300/.317 across parts of three seasons. Mead is still just 25, so there could be a club willing to take a shot at him via waivers.

The Diamondbacks placed Locklear (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Locklear was held out for the entirety of spring training while recovering from Oct. 16 surgeries to repair the labrum in his left shoulder and a torn ligament in his left elbow. He's not expected to be ready to return from IL until around mid-May to early June.

Zeferjahn went two-thirds of an inning, allowing three runs, courtesy of two long balls, on four hits while walking one batter in a 7-7 tie against the Dodgers on Monday.

Zeferjahn appeared in eight games this spring for the Angels, posting a 5.23 ERA in 10.1 innings. The right-hander, who made 12 appearances in 2024, completed his first full season with a 4.74 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 62 appearances for Los Angeles in 2025. The 28-year-old will likely be in the mix for high-leverage opportunities immediately given the bullpen depth has been gravely impacted by injuries to Kirby Yates (knee inflammation), Ben Joyce (shoulder surgery rehab), both of whom require stints on the 15-day injured list to begin the new campaign, and Robert Stephenson (elbow), who was placed on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.

The Giants selected Kilian's contract from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.

Kilian won a bullpen job as a non-roster invitee after yielding just one run with an 11:2 K:BB over 9.1 innings during Cactus League play. The 28-year-old is likely to operate in middle relief initially, but it wouldn't be a surprise if he pushes for a more high-profile role as part of a Giants bullpen that's in flux.

Schmidt (elbow) is tentatively slated to begin throwing bullpens before the end of March and could face hitters in April or May, per MLB.com.

Schmidt did some throwing during spring training but primarily threw off flat round. He seems to be doing fine in his recovery from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July, though the right-hander isn't expected to be ready to rejoin the Yankees until the second half of the season.

The Diamondbacks placed Del Castillo on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a left calf strain.

Del Castillo was unable to make any Cactus League appearances after straining his left calf shortly before the start of camp, but he made enough progress in his recovery for Arizona to clear him to serve as a designated hitter in a minor-league spring training game earlier this week, per MLB.com. Arizona will likely want Del Castillo to be available to play catcher prior to activating him from the IL, and it's unclear how close the 26-year-old might be to taking part in defensive drills.

The Giants reassigned Fulmer to minor-league camp Wednesday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.

Fulmer joined the Giants as a non-roster invitee in February, and he had a solid showing during spring training with five earned runs allowed and a 16:4 K:BB over 10.1 innings. He made just three regular-season appearances between the Cubs and Red Sox last season after missing all of 2024 due to UCL revision surgery.

The Twins selected Laweryson's contract from Triple-A St. Paul on Wednesday.

Laweryson won a spot in the Twins' bullpen after posting a 1.17 ERA and 7:1 K:BB in 7.2 innings this spring as a non-roster invitee. The 27-year-old will be part of an unsettled relief corps in Minnesota, giving him a chance to pitch his way into leveraged appearances.

The Diamondbacks designated Holman for assignment Wednesday.

Holman was pushed off the 40-man roster with Arizona needing to clear three spots for infielder Ildemaro Vargas and right-handers Jonathan Loaisiga and Joe Ross, all of whom will be included on the Opening Day squad. Arizona previously scooped up the 25-year-old Holman off waivers from the Athletics in February after he turned in a 5.09 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 17:9 K:BB over 23 big-league innings last season.