MLB Player News

He struck out two and walked one. Newcomb is hoping to join the White Sox rotation after a successful 2025 spent mostly in the pen, but he should have a roster spot either way after signing for $4.5 million in December.

Bennett, who the Red Sox acquired from the Nationals for Luis Perales this offseason, made two spring training appearances, allowing three runs on five hits in three innings while striking out three. The 6'6" left-handed pitcher also flashed upper 90s velocity on his fastball while topping out at 98 mph, which is a significant increase from what he had shown with the Nationals. He also debuted a cutter that pounded the strike zone against righties. He could be a fast-rising prospect for the Red Sox this season. Boston also reassigned catchers Nate Baez and Ronald Rosario, RHPs Osvaldo Berrios, Hobie Harris, Vinny Nittoli, and Devin Sweet, and LHP Jeremy Wu-Yelland to minor league camp.

Hader, who ended last season with a strained left shoulder, has been dealing with biceps inflammation that has delayed his throwing program. His arm has felt good as he has started ramping back up, so Tuesday’s bullpen session will be the next step to seeing when he can get on the mound in spring training action. If the bullpen and subsequent spring action go without a hitch, Hader may only be a couple of weeks behind schedule, but be prepared for the Astros to be cautious with their closer in the early going. That still makes Bryan Abreu a solid pick in fantasy drafts, given all the questions surrounding Hader.

Lee also made a tremendous catch in the ninth inning, getting a great jump on a line drive and sliding into the gap between center and right field to haul it in. Had that ball dropped, it likely would have been an RBI double and would have allowed Australia to advance to the quarterfinals based on run differential. Instead, it will be Korea advancing out of Pool C along with Team Japan.

Panama scored three times in a miscue-riddled sixth inning for Canada, with all of the runs against James Paxton being unearned. That gave Panama a 4-2 lead, and Bradfield nearly added to it in on José Caballero’s double in the eighth, only to be thrown out at home thanks to an awesome combined effort from Owen Caissie and relay man Otto Lopez. Canada came back with one in the bottom of the eighth, but it couldn’t even the score after a rain delay in the top of the ninth. Panama won for the first time in three games in Pool A. Canada is 1-1 with Puerto Rico and Cuba still on the schedule.

Taillon was off to a miserable start this spring with the Cubs, but he acquitted himself well tonight, allowing just one hard-hit ball to the 14 batters he faced. He struck out three and had a 36% CSW.

Jarren Duran, Alek Thomas and Jonathan Ornelas also homered for Mexico. Ornelas’s ended the game in his second plate appearance after replacing Randy Arozarena in the outfield. Mexico joined Team USA and Italy at 2-0 to open Pool B play. Those three teams will begin taking each other on Monday, with Mexico and U.S. set for a prime-time battle.

Walker struck out three and allowed no hard-hit balls in an easy 64-pitch outing. With Mexico now 2-0 in pool play, Walker has a pretty good chance of getting another WBC start next week.

Bader extended Israel’s lead with a run-scoring single in the fifth inning as part of a four-run frame. The 31-year-old outfielder posted his highest barrel rate in a half-decade during a 17-homer campaign split between the Twins and Phillies last year. The move to Oracle Park doesn’t exactly raise his power ceiling but he’s a strong bet to reach 15 homers with at least double-digit steals as well. His realistic upside is limited based on his track record but he’s a solid fifth outfielder in deeper mixed leagues for fantasy purposes this spring.

Kremer struck out four and only allowed three baserunners. He got some help from reliever Josh Mallitz, who came on to wriggle out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. The 30-year-old righty will likely go undrafted in most fantasy leagues this spring and will operate at the back end of Baltimore’s new-look rotation.

Rodriguez struck out four and issued two walks. The 24-year-old righty made four relief appearances for the Brewers last season and is likely ticketed for Triple-A Nashville to open the regular season. Milwaukee has one of the deepest pitching staffs in the game which means his most likely path would be in a swingman type role at the highest level.