MLB Player News

Not great is that his velocity today was the worst it’s been this spring. He averaged 95.6 mph with his fastball, down from 96.5 mph in his first three outings and 97.3 mph last year. Weirder than that, though, was that his two changeups today checked in at 89.5 mph and 88.8 mph. His changeups last year averaged 94.2 mph. It’s quite possible Fairbanks is still just easing into things, but given his injury history, it seems like something to watch.

Griffin is hitting an absurd .462 (6-for-13) with two doubles and two steals through four games in his first taste of Triple-A at just 19 years old. The top fantasy prospect left in the minors by a wide margin, he has a chance to force his way to the big leagues in the coming weeks with a strong early-season showing, much like Nick Kurtz did with the Athletics last year. His power/speed combination, athleticism, and rapid ascent have the look and feel of a potential generational talent, which doesn’t feel hyperbolic to suggest given his trajectory.

Feltner was struck on the backside by a 106-mph comebacker from Andrés Giménez at the conclusion of the third inning of his season debut, according to a team statement. It certainly doesn’t sound like a serious concern and fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day heading into his next start against the Astros at Coors Field on Monday.

Not good. Eflin is presumably headed for an MRI to determine whether he’s dealing with any structural damage and appears ticketed for the injured list, even if this isn’t a worst-case scenario. The 31-year-old veteran hurler looked sharp in his season debut, recording seven strikeouts while limiting the Rangers to just one run on four hits over 3 2/3 innings. There should be a definitive update on his status at some point in the coming days. Dean Kremer would be the logical choice to fill Eflin’s spot in Baltimore’s rotation.

Feltner appeared to be limping while coming off the mound after completing three shutout frames on 47 pitches (30 strikes) in his season debut north of the border. There should be an update on his status following the contest. His next start is on Monday against the Astros at Coors Field.

Boone added that Rodón was able to throw on Tuesday without any issues. It’s a bit unclear whether the issue will slow down his ramp-up process in any way. The 33-year-old southpaw is trending towards a late April or early May return to New York’s rotation after undergoing offseason elbow surgery. He was expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly, but that might be on hold temporarily.

Miller was shut down in spring training with lower back soreness and the issue apparently hasn’t improved to the point that he can resume swinging a bat. The 21-year-old shortstop remains on the minor league injured list and doesn’t appear close to making his season debut.

Not a great sign. It’s a bit unclear what transpired that caused Eflin to depart with two outs in the fourth inning after allowing one run on four hits. He finished with seven strikeouts and issued a pair of walks, throwing 74 pitches (44 strikes) in his season debut. The hope is that he isn’t dealing with a flare up of the back issues that plagued him last year. There should be an update from the club on his status shortly.

The long-term agreement, first reported earlier Tuesday, is now official. Emerson is widely regarded as one of the top prospects in baseball and is expected to be a key piece of Seattle’s roster through at least 2033. The 20-year-old prodigy’s combination of bat-to-ball skills and emerging power makes it easy to envision him as an impactful fantasy contributor in the near future. There has been no indication the Mariners plan to accelerate his timeline at Triple-A this season, but his arrival as the club’s shortstop of the future feels almost inevitable, especially since J.P. Crawford hitting free agency at the end of the year.

Loutos loses his spot on Seattle’s 40-man roster with the club finalizing an eight-year, $95 million contract extension with top prospect Colt Emerson. The 27-year-old reliever made 12 appearances between the Dodgers and Nationals last year.

Heyman did not provide specifics regarding a potential extension offer from the Cardinals to Wetherholt, who is hitting .250 (4-for-16) with one homer and one steal through his first four games in the majors. Still, it would make sense for both sides to explore a deal early in his rookie season, similar to the extensions the Red Sox and Orioles reached with top prospects Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Samuel Basallo last year. This report follows Seattle’s decision to sign top prospect Colt Emerson to an eight-year, $95 million contract earlier on Tuesday.