MLB News

The New York Yankees announced that they reassigned infield prospect George Lombard Jr. to minor-league camp following their Grapefruit League game on Thursday. Lombard got off to a strong start at the plate in big-league spring training, but he had slowed down of late and will open the 2026 campaign most likely at Double-A for more development. Per MLB Pipeline, Lombard is considered the Yankees' top prospect going into this year, and he ranks as the No. 32 overall prospect in all of baseball. Even with Anthony Volpe (shoulder) set to miss the beginning of the season, the Yankees want to get Lombard more action in the minor leagues before he potentially makes his major-league debut in 2026. Lombard hit only .235/.367/.381 with a .748 OPS, nine home runs, 49 RBI, 90 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases in 132 games at High-A Hudson Valley and Double-A Somerset in 2025. He has a high baseball IQ and intriguing long-term power potential, but Lombard must first improve at making contact with the baseball at the plate.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (shoulder) will face hitters in a live batting practice session in camp on Saturday, manager Rob Thomson told Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It's a big benchmark in Wheeler's recovery from thoracic outlet surgery that he had last September, as it will be the first time that he has faced hitters since going under the knife. The 35-year-old could get into Grapefruit League games before the end of spring training, too, if he continues to progress in his throwing program and avoids any setbacks. We already know that Wheeler will open the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list, but his debut could come before the end of April. The former first-rounder and three-time All-Star was one of the top fantasy arms in baseball before his injury last year, and all the positive reports on his recovery this spring have his ADP rising. Wheeler is now the No. 29 fantasy starting pitcher in RotoBaller's 2026 rankings.

Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect Luis Pena impressed at Single-A in 2025, slashing .308/.375/.469 with a low 13.3 percent strikeout rate and 41 steals through 71 games as an 18-year-old. The showing earned him a promotion to High-A, where things did not go as smoothly, slashing just .168/.220/.297 with a 24.8 percent strikeout rate and three steals in 25 games. The 2026 campaign will provide Pena an opportunity to right the ship at High-A, and with highly-rated hit and power tools, there should be plenty of confidence that he will. Assuming he does, the Brewers' third-ranked prospect should continue to show off his 70-grade wheels (per MLB.com), and if all goes well, Pena could see time at Double-A before the season is over. The 19-year-old should already be on the radar in dynasty leagues, if not already rostered, although he's a couple of years away from the majors.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Joe Ryan will join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, replacing future Hall of Fame left-hander Clayton Kershaw, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. Ryan was scratched ahead of his first scheduled Grapefruit League start on Feb. 21 with back tightness, but he has since recovered and thrown three shutout innings with two walks and no strikeouts in his lone spring training outing to this point. Now that he's recovered from his back injury, he'll be available to USA for the quarterfinals of the WBC against Canada. The 29-year-old was a first-time All-Star in 2025 in his fifth year in the big leagues, going 13-10 with a career-best 3.42 ERA (3.74 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 194:39 K: BB in 171 innings over 31 outings (30 starts). The injury bug has been one of Ryan's biggest issues, like so many other pitches, but when healthy, he's a solid low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 fantasy starting pitcher.

New York Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) said after his 35-pitch live batting practice session in camp that he will throw again in six days, according to Jack Curry of the YES Network. Cole said he and the Yankees "will likely" talk about him pitching in a spring training game next week. There was always a chance that the 35-year-old former American League Cy Young winner would appear in a Grapefruit League game before the end of spring training, but that doesn't mean that Cole will be in the team's Opening Day starting rotation. The Yankees are still expected to eventually put him on the 60-day injured list, which would mean Cole won't make his 2026 debut until late May. Still, his recovery from Tommy John surgery and an internal-brace procedure has gone very well so far. The former fantasy ace is a big question mark in fantasy since he didn't pitch at all last year. Workload restrictions are expected once he returns to New York's rotation.

Chicago Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd has been named as the team's Opening Day starter for the March 26 contest against the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field, according to Jesse Rogers of ESPN. Boyd was a first-time All-Star last year on the North Side in his first year in Chicago, going 14-8 with a 3.21 ERA (3.65 FIP) and 1.09 WHIP with 154 strikeouts and 42 walks in 179 2/3 innings over 31 starts. His 154 strikeouts were the third-most in his career. This will be the veteran left-hander's third career Opening Day start after he started the first game of the regular season twice for the Detroit Tigers in 2020 and 2021. Boyd pitched in one game for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic in a relief role, allowing three runs on five hits over 2 1/3 innings versus Mexico. He knows how to keep hitters off balance, but Boyd isn't a big strikeout guy, limiting his fantasy upside as more of a back-end rotation arm.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfield prospect Slade Caldwell was the 29th overall pick in the 2024 Draft and performed admirably in his first taste of professional baseball in 2025. The left-handed slugger hit .294 at Single-A with an almost unfathomable 20.4 percent walk rate in 48 games there, leading to a superb .460 on-base percentage (OBP). While the batting average unsurprisingly took a dip at High-A, falling to .238, the pitch recognition remained, resulting in a 15.7 percent walk rate and .370 OBP. Getting on base allowed him to use his trademark tool, his speed, which allowed for 25 stolen bases in a total of 114 games. The former first-rounder could see more time at High-A to begin the 2026 campaign, but a good showing should get him to Double-A quickly. The 19-year-old is probably still a couple of years away from the majors, but he's a name dynasty managers should be familiar with.

Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper was invited to major league camp this spring and has not disappointed, going 6-for-19 (.316) with a double and a stolen base, a continuation of the success he saw a season ago. The Twins' second-ranked prospect spent half of 2025 at High-A and the other half at Double-A, posting similar numbers at both levels, culminating in a .289/.375/.469 slash line with 20 home runs and 25 steals in 113 games. He may begin the season with Double-A Wichita, but it shouldn't be long before the former first-rounder gets his first taste of Triple-A action, and a late-season debut in the majors could be in the cards. Brooks Lee is currently slated to play shortstop for the big league club, but even after a 16-homer campaign in 2025, Lee has produced an uninspiring .636 OPS, .277 wOBA, and 75 wRC+ through 189 major league games, so there is certainly an offensive hole Culpepper could fill if Lee's struggles continue. Culpepper is not a stash candidate in season-long leagues at this point, but could become one later in the year, so fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress throughout 2026.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfield prospect Josue De Paula made a strong impression during his first major league camp this spring, going 9-for-24 (.375) with a 4:8 BB:K, and although he was reassigned to minor-league camp, he could still make an impact with the Dodgers this year. The team's top-ranked prospect has shown well in professional ball thus far, recording a .279/.405/.414 slash line with a keen eye (16.4 percent BB%) and a better-than-average strikeout rate (18.7 percent K%) during his time in the minors. For a guy who doesn't have a highly rated speed tool, the Dominican was aggressive on the basepaths the last two seasons, swiping 32 bags last year and 27 the year before. Furthermore, the 6-foot-3 slugger has yet to really tap into his 70-grade future value (FV) raw power grade (rated only behind known power-producers Samuel Basallo and Bryce Eldridge, who have FV power of 80, per FanGraphs), belting just 12 home runs in 2025 in 98 games at High-A. The left-handed hitter played just four games at Double-A last year, so that is where he will likely begin 2026, however, with a good showing, he could be ticketed for Triple-A by the second half, and the soon-to-be-21-year-old could be knocking on the door to the majors by September. For now, the Dodgers' top-ranked prospect is not a stash option in season-long leagues, but he's certainly a name to monitor.

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop prospect Aidan Miller (back) was reassigned to minor-league camp on Thursday. It's no surprise at this point, as the youngster has been dealing with a back issue since late February, having not registered a single at-bat in Grapefruit League play this spring, and with Trea Turner and Alec Bohm holding down the left side of the infield to start 2026. The Phillies' top-ranked prospect will likely begin the season at Triple-A, which is where he had an eight-game stint at the end of 2025 after a strong showing at Double-A. The former first-rounder hit .356 over his final 39 games between Double and Triple-A last year, carried a .392 OBP for the season thanks to a 15.6 percent BB%, and stole 59 bases in a total of 116 games. Assuming health, there's a good chance the 21-year-old will make his major league debut later this year, with work at both third base and second base this spring opening other potential routes to the big leagues, and with a fantasy-friendly power/speed toolset, the right-handed slugger is a worthy stash option in deeper leagues.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) is getting close to taking full batting practice on the field, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. In addition to doing defensive work in minor-league games, Lindor had a batting practice session with normal, two-handed swings inside the batting cage on Tuesday. DiComo writes that Lindor "remains right on schedule to be ready for Opening Day." The 32-year-old All-Star had surgery for a broken right hamate bone last month, but he's making good progress, and barring a setback, he'll be ready to go for fantasy managers at the end of this month when the games count. Lindor's hand injury might make him a bit more risky as a fantasy investment in upcoming drafts, but he's still easily a top-10 option at the shortstop position after posting his second 30-30 season in the last three years in 2025.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios (elbow) said that he feels good and called his recent elbow inflammation "strange" to hear about after his MRI exam, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. Berrios is hoping to make his next start in the Grapefruit League. He was scratched from his Grapefruit League start on Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies due to right-elbow inflammation, but apparently, he's not too worried. Because of his elbow injury, the 31-year-old veteran wasn't able to pitch for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. While it doesn't seem too serious right now, fantasy managers must remember that Berrios also had some similar elbow and biceps issues late last season. The former first-rounder has a lot of tread on his tires, having thrown 1,571 2/3 innings in his 10-year big-league career. With some injury issues this spring to boot, Berrios is not in RotoBaller's top-100 starting pitchers going into the 2026 season.

New York Mets right-hander Clay Holmes will rejoin the Mets in what manager Carlos Mendoza said was a difficult decision for him. Holmes needs to stay built up and will pitch in a Grapefruit League game on Friday. Holmes got his arm built up well ahead of the other pitchers early in spring training this year because he knew he'd be pitching for Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. He was ready for his opportunity, as he retired the first eight Great Britain hitters he faced, including a stretch of five straight strikeouts. The 32-year-old veteran finished his outing for USA by allowing just one baserunner and striking out six to earn the victory. Fantasy managers and the Mets are hoping Holmes can take another step forward as a full-time starter in 2026 after he went 12-8 with a 3.53 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, and 129:66 K: BB in a career-high 165 2/3 innings over 33 outings (31 starts) last year in his first season with the Mets.

Chicago Cubs relief pitcher Daniel Palencia is one of the best closer options to grab once the elite options are off the board, since the 26-year-old is locked in as the team's primary closer and has lots of breakout potential. Palencia had 22 saves in 54 games last year and posted an impressive 2.91 ERA, 3.08 FIP, and 61 strikeouts in 52 2/3 innings. He went just 1-6 but added six holds while converting 22 of his 25 save opportunities. Palencia should get the save opportunities for a team expected to be one of the best in the National League, and the 26-year-old could easily be a top-10 closer this season, making him a great value at his current ADP as around the 15th relief pitcher off the board.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor (hand) will once again play four or five innings in the field at shortstop in a minor-league game in Port St. Lucie on Thursday. The All-Star shortstop is working his way back from surgery to repair a stress reaction in his left hamate bone. He is still working towards a return for Opening Day, but he has yet to take live at-bats and has not had an official return date set just yet. He has been extremely durable, logging over 150 games and at least 685 plate appearances in each of the last four seasons with 25+ homers and 15+ stolen bases each season. His recovery is progressing well, but he still has several steps before a full return to action.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Grant Taylor has looked excellent this spring and is a breakout candidate to watch. The 23-year-old has outstanding stuff and can dominate when at his best, but his role is still a little undefined. Last year, he worked 36 2/3 innings in the majors in 36 games, including two starts. He picked up six saves and 54 strikeouts while throwing 37 pitches at 100 mph or faster, including a blistering 102.2 mph on June 22. He posted a 4.91 ERA but a more impressive 1.42 FIP. He is expected to work out of the bullpen, possibly for multiple innings, and has stated his goal is to throw 100 innings this year. He logged a career-high 63 1/3 innings last year in the minors and majors combined. He is shaping up to be an elite relief arm with a very high strikeout ceiling, although his durability and uncertain role make him a little tricky to lock into a spot, since his value depends on how your league treats relief arms. His strikeout potential definitely makes him a great option to watch for dynasty leagues, since the goal is to move him back to the rotation later in his career.

New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco has never played a professional inning at first base, but the plan is for Polanco to play first base "more often than not," according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com. Polanco could gain 1B eligibility in most leagues early in the season, which could make him a very valuable and versatile utility player. Last year, Polanco posted a .265/.326/.495 triple-slash with an .821 OPS, 26 home runs, 78 RBI, 64 runs scored, and six stolen bases for the Mariners. He will be hitting in the heart of a solid batting order this season, and has nice upside as his current ADP. He already has 2B and 3B eligibility in most formats, so adding 1B will allow more flexibility in roster constructions.

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zack Wheeler (shoulder) continues to build up towards his return and threw 36 pitches in two simulated innings on Tuesday in his fifth bullpen session. According to manager Rob Thomson, Wheeler is getting close to throwing live batting practice. There's still a chance that he could appear in a spring training or minor-league game before the end of spring training. Wheeler continues to work towards an April return, which could make him a top starting pitcher again this season. He remains an injury risk, but all signs so far have been positive that he'll be back in the Phillies' rotation sooner rather than later. He can be a fantasy ace when healthy, so keep a close eye on his recovery as it progresses.

Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson (forearm) was diagnosed with a right-forearm contusion after he was hit by a pitch during a simulated game in camp on Tuesday, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. Torkelson exited with a trainer after he was hit by a fastball from reliever Burch Smith. "It was scary," manager A.J. Hinch said. "It's going to happen, whether it's a game or a practice game. From what I know, from afar, we've avoided anything major." The 26-year-old former first overall pick was held out of Wednesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Minnesota Twins as a precaution, but he could be back in action soon. Torkelson hit 31 home runs for the second time in the last three years in 2025, bouncing back from a 10-homer campaign in 2024. Strikeouts are always going to be part of Tork's game, but the high-end power upside is nice for corner-infield depth in fantasy baseball leagues.

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (hand) was forced to leave Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates early in the eighth inning after he was hit by a pitch on his right hand, according to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. Fortunately, X-rays on his right hand came back negative, according to the team. With an off day coming in spring training on Friday, Mountcastle could be back in the lineup on Friday, although it wouldn't be a surprise to see the O's give him a couple of days off. The 29-year-old right-handed slugger's fantasy stock is on the decline going into the 2026 season after he dealt with more injuries and disappointing play in 2025. Mountcastle slashed .250/.286/.367 with a career-worst .653 OPS, only seven home runs, 35 RBI, 34 runs, and three steals in 89 games played. With the addition of All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso, Mountcastle could be facing a drop in playing time, with a DH role his only clear path to at-bats.