MLB Player News

White Sox manager Will Venable confirmed to reporters that Newcomb will operate in relief to open the season after battling for a spot in Chicago’s rotation during camp. The decision makes it a near-lock that both Anthony Kay and Erick Fedde will make the Opening Day rotation. There’s zero fantasy intrigue here but it’s worth noting that the White Sox are going to give a few veterans some run before they consider promoting a top prospect like Hagen Smith or Noah Schultz.

Ritter homered to center in the fifth, with the roundtripper travelling an estimated 427 feet. The 25-year-old has performed exceptionally this spring, and it’s hard to imagine he hasn’t enough enough to earn a roster spot with Colorado to open the 2026 campaign. He’s someone worth keeping an eye on in NL-only formats.

Rooker probably did enough this spring to make the A’s. The 31-year-old has gone deep five times in the Cactus League with a .761 slugging percentage. It won’t be an upset at all if Rooker is a top ten outfielder in 2026.

Eisert will likely be one of the first relievers back up for Chicago when they need bullpen help. The White Sox are going to need a lot of bullpen help.

Petit was diagnosed with a UCL sprain in his right elbow, and he underwent the season-ending procedure a few weeks later. The 26-year-old was the first pick of the Rule 5 draft, but now he’ll head to the 60-day injured list with a chance to help the Colorado bullpen in 2027.

Colton Cowser and Jeremiah Jackson also homered for Baltimore. The 404-foot shot off Mitchell Parker was Henderson’s first Grapefruit League homer after he went 6-for-15 with two homers for Team USA. He appears set to open the season in the leadoff spot for Baltimore. If not for his broken hamate, Jackson Holliday might have kept that assignment after finishing last season there, but getting Henderson the most at-bats on the team seems like a pretty good strategy.

Bradish got nine whiffs on his 35 breaking balls today but none on his 39 fastballs and sinkers. Everything turned out well, of course, but it was still rather discouraging to see him walk the likes of Jacob Young, Nasim Nuñez and Drew Millas before departing. Bradish will make his season debut Saturday at home against the Twins on Kyle Bradish Jersey Hoodie day.

García started at first base for the seventh time today and later moved to second, where he’s started five times. The acquisition of Jorbit Vivas adds to the likelihood that García will get most of his starts at first. In spite of his .139/.162/.222 line this spring, he’s probably going to hit third or fourth against righties, which will be nice for his fantasy value. It’s unclear how much he’ll play versus lefties, but given the Nationals’ lack of talent and their potential desire to trade García at the deadline, it might make sense to use him as a true regular initially and see what happens.

Abrams has never posted the OBPs of a traditional leadoff hitter, but it’s bizarre to see the Nationals burying the second or third best hitter in the sixth spot unless it’s simply their way to motivating him to show more plate discipline. Maybe that works out in the long run, though there’s also not much to suggest that Abrams is in the team’s long-term plans anyway. We’d still be OK drafting Abrams, since this is probably a temporary measure.

Happ’s homer was the second of the season, and it came in the third inning off Chad Patrick. The outfielder’s roundtripper came right after an Alex Bregman homer, and the two will likely be hitting near each other to open the regular season. Happ will once again be a solid — if flawed — fantasy option in 2026, because that’s what he’s been for seemingly the last 40 years.

Bregman and Ian Happ went back-to-back in the third inning off Chad Patrick. The 31-year-old has swung the bat well in his first spring training with the Cubs with a slash of .471/.550/1.000. Bregman is more of a high-floor than a high-ceiling player at this stage, but there’s still enough oompf in his bat to suggest he’s worth a starting spot in eligible formats.