MLB Player News

The Phillies optioned Leon to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.

Leon had been in contention for a reserve spot in the Phillies' Opening Day outfield but was unable to distinguish himself in spring training, slashing just .231/.355/.308 with a 4:7 BB:K over 31 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League. The 27-year-old should be in line for an everyday role at Lehigh Valley and will likely rank near the top of the list for a call-up if the Phillies should have an opening in the big-league outfield at any point.

Kim (finger) arrived at spring training Monday and said that he's been cleared to take part in fielding drills, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

After suffering a torn tendon in his right middle finger in an offseason accident, Kim underwent surgery Jan. 18 to address the injury and is facing an estimated recovery timeline of 4-to-5 months. Because he's mostly been limited to rehab work for the first two months post-surgery, Kim stayed home for the beginning of camp, but he's now far enough along in his recovery to start working out with the team again and increasing his baseball activities. Kim has yet to resume swinging a bat, which will be the major hurdle that he will need to clear before embarking on a rehab assignment. Once he's ready to return from the injured list, Kim is expected to take over as Atlanta's everyday shortstop, but Mauricio Dubon will likely fill those duties for at least the first month and a half of the season.

McClanahan struck out seven and walked two without allowing a hit or a run in 3.2 innings Sunday against the Pirates.

The lefty's changeup was working well, getting whiffs at a 62 percent clip while he threw it 35 percent of the time. McClanahan's fastball averaged 94.8 miles per hour and touched 97.5 mph -- down from the 97.0 mph he averaged in 2022 and 2023. Still, McClanahan is discounted in drafts and can rack up strikeouts when he's healthy. He's up to eight innings through three spring starts.

Ritchie struck out six across four scoreless, hitless innings of relief Sunday against the Phillies.

The only baserunner he allowed over 52 pitches (39 strikes) was a hit batsman as Ritchie continues to turn heads in spring training. The 22-year-old right-hander boasts a 2.25 ERA, 0.58 WHIP and 14:5 K:BB in 12 innings and has thrown four innings in each of his last two outings. Ritchie is not on the 40-man roster and isn't expected to break camp in the big-league rotation, despite Atlanta's rash of pitching injuries, but a hot start at Triple-A Gwinnett would put him in line to make his MLB debut early in the season.

Crochet is slated to start a minor-league game Monday after having his scheduled Grapefruit League start Sunday against the Twins pushed back, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

With five scheduled off days over the first month, the Red Sox plan to have Crochet pitch on a six-day schedule early in the season to manage his workload, per McCaffrey. Crochet said he prefers pitching every fifth day, but he's trying to be adaptable. In three spring starts, Crochet has allowed six runs in 8.2 innings with five strikeouts and a walk, but he didn't express much concern about his lackluster results. Crochet said that his velocity has been "a little down" from where he anticipated, but noted that he's more concerned about "pounding in the strike zone" at this stage of the spring. McCaffrey adds that Crochet is lined up for one final Grapefruit League start Saturday, although that would fall on four days' rest after Monday's spring game.

Moll could make the Reds' Opening Day roster as the Reds' second left-hander out of the bullpen, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Caleb Ferguson's oblique injury has created the extra roster space for another left-hander, with Moll following Brock Burke in the pecking order.

Williamson could win a spot in the Reds' Opening Day rotation, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports. Williamson threw four shutout innings in Sunday's spring training game and has a 1.64 ERA with a 13:2 K:BB over 11 innings so far.

Williamson's stat line is nice enough, but also Chase Burns isn't quite extended out like the Reds would have hoped for, nor is his range of mobility where they'd like it, which could give them the impetus to keep Williamson. Williamson missed all of the 2025 season after having Tommy John elbow surgery in September of 2024.

Goodman went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's Cactus League game against the Angels.

Goodman has only five hits in 34 at-bats this spring, with Sunday's long ball marking his second extra-base hit and home run of the exhibition season. Despite unremarkable results, Goodman is striking out only 22.2 percent of the time and still projects to be one of the Rockies' best hitters in 2026.

Urquidy allowed three earned runs on six hits and one walk while striking out four and walking one across 3.2 innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

It was a mixed performance for Urquidy, who built up to 61 pitches and also managed more strikeouts than walks in an outing for the first time in three appearances this spring. He's also allowed three earned runs in each of those outings, resulting in nine earned runs across 8.2 innings. Urquidy was the presumed fifth starter for the Pirates entering the spring, but he may be leaving the door open for either Hunter Barco or Carmen Mlodzinski to claim the role instead.

Jenkins (hamstring) is expected to be ready for the start of the Triple-A St. Paul Saints season, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports.

Jenkins was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain March 1, but he could return to play in a minor-league game this week. The 21-year-old received a taste of the Triple-A level late last year and has a decent chance of making his MLB debut at some point in 2026.