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Baseball Player News

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Thairo Estrada Thairo Estrada Begins season on IL Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 11:11 AM The Rockies placed Estrada (wrist) on the 10-day injured list Thursday. Analysis: After suffering a non-displaced fractured right wrist when he was hit by a pitch in a Cactus League game March 20, Estrada is likely to require 4-to-8 weeks of recovery time. With Estrada on the shelf, Kyle Farmer has started at second base in three of the Rockies' first four games, while Tyler Freeman has manned the keystone in the other contest.
Jeff Criswell Jeff Criswell Opens season on IL Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 11:07 AM The Rockies placed Criswell (elbow) on the 15-day injured list Thursday. Analysis: Criswell is slated to miss the entire 2025 season and likely the early part of the 2026 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery March 14. He'll likely be shifted to the 60-day IL later on in the season when Colorado needs to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for another player.
Austin Gomber Austin Gomber Strikes out five in rehab start Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 11:05 AM Gomber (shoulder) struck out five batters and allowed two earned runs on three hits and two walks over four innings in a rehab start for Triple-A Albuquerque on Friday. Analysis: While tending to a sore left shoulder in spring training, Gomber didn't have enough time to get fully stretched out in advance of the Rockies' season opener and was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, but he was cleared to take the hill for Colorado's Triple-A affiliate on Opening Day. He tossed 66 pitches (39 strikes) in the rehab start, so he may need just one more tune-up outing with the Triple-A club Wednesday before getting the green light to return from the IL next week.
Kervin Castro Kervin Castro Makes season debut Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 10:42 AM Castro (elbow) struck out two batters over 1.1 perfect innings of relief Saturday in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's 5-4 loss to Lehigh Valley. Analysis: Castro enters the 2025 season at full health after he didn't pitch in 2024 while completing his recovery from June 2023 Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old right-hander previously saw big-league action in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, making a combined 20 appearances between stops with the Giants and Cubs.
JT Brubaker JT Brubaker Shifts to 60-day IL Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 10:34 AM The Yankees transferred Brubaker (rib) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Monday. Analysis: Brubaker has yet to make his Yankees debut since being acquired from the Pirates last March, as he missed the entire 2024 season while completing his recovery from April 2023 Tommy John surgery. He appeared poised to come off the IL after the All-Star break last season, but an oblique strain suffered during his rehab assignment thwarted those plans. Brubaker then returned to full health in advance of spring training, only to get drilled by a line drive in his first Grapefruit League appearance Feb. 21 and sustaining three rib fractures on his left side. The right-hander has yet to resume baseball activities since suffering the injury, so the Yankees were comfortable moving him to the 60-day IL in order to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Adam Ottavino. Brubaker won't be eligible to return from the IL until late May.
Lance Lynn Lance Lynn Announces retirement from baseball Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 10:34 AM Lynn has announced his retirement from baseball, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. Analysis: Lynn had been wanting to continue his career and was reportedly in talks with the Cubs last month about a major-league contract. However, he's ultimately decided to hang up his cleats. The 37-year-old finishes with 143 wins and a 3.74 ERA spread over parts of 13 big-league seasons. Lynn made two All-Star teams and won a World Series with the Cardinals in 2011.
Adam Ottavino Adam Ottavino Links up with New York Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 10:30 AM The Yankees signed Ottavino to a one-year contract Tuesday. Analysis: Ottavino failed to make the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after signing a minor-league contract, but he's now joined their rival on a big-league pact. The veteran reliever is absorbing the roster spot vacated by Devin Williams, who was placed on the paternity list. Ottavino held a 4.34 ERA and 70:23 K:BB over 56 innings for the Mets in 2024.
Devin Williams Devin Williams Going on paternity leave Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 10:29 AM The Yankees placed Williams on the paternity list Tuesday. Analysis: Williams will be away from the Yankees for anywhere between one and three games while he welcomes a new addition to his family. He made his Yankees debut over the weekend against his former Brewers squad, notching a save Thursday during a rocky ninth inning in which he yielded one earned run on two hits and one walk wile striking out two batters. Luke Weaver could step in as the Yankees' interim closer during the team's three-game home series versus the Diamondbacks if Williams ends up missing all of those games.
James Wood James Wood Belts first 2025 homer Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:59 AM Wood went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Monday's loss to the Blue Jays. Analysis: The 22-year-old went back-to-back with CJ Abrams in the sixth inning to account for the Nationals' only runs of the night. The blast was the first of the season for Wood, who had struck out seven times in 13 plate appearances during his first three games of 2025. Growing pains are to be expected for Wood, but big things are expected from him after he produced nine homers, 14 steals and a .781 OPS in 79 big-league games last year.
Eric Wagaman Eric Wagaman Swats first homer of year Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:51 AM Wagaman went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's loss to the Mets. Analysis: Getting the start at DH and batting third against David Peterson, Wagaman took the southpaw deep for a solo shot in the sixth inning. It was the 27-year-old utility player's first long ball of the season, and Wagaman has been seeing more playing time than expected in the early going with Connor Norby and Jesus Sanchez both on the shelf with oblique injuries. Wagaman has started three straight games, all against lefties, and has gone 4-for-15 (.267).
Brendan Donovan Brendan Donovan Hits first-ever homer off lefty Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:50 AM Donovan hit his first career home run off a left-handed pitcher Monday, taking Tyler Anderson deep in the Cardinals' loss to the Angels. Analysis: Donovan entered the contest homerless in 335 career plate appearances versus southpaws before hitting one out off Anderson in his first trip to the dish Monday. It was his only hit in five plate appearances. Donovan batted third in the Cardinals' first three games versus righties before hitting sixth against a southpaw Monday.
Otto Lopez Otto Lopez Hot start to season continues Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:46 AM Lopez went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Monday's loss to the Mets. Analysis: The second baseman gave the Marlins an early lead when he touched up David Peterson for a solo shot in the first inning. It was Lopez's second homer in five games after he hit only six in 117 contests last season, and he's come out of the gates flying with a .400 (8-for-20) batting average. Lopez never flashed much pop in the minors, but at 26 years old, he could be maturing into some extra power.
Yimi Garcia Yimi Garcia Notches first save of 2025 Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:41 AM Garcia struck out two in a perfect ninth inning Monday to record his first save of the season in a win over the Nationals. Analysis: Jeff Hoffman had pitched Saturday and Sunday, so Garcia got the call to protect a three-run lead Monday. The 34-year-old righty has been busy himself to begin the year, appearing in three of the Jays' first five games and posting a 4:0 K:BB over three scoreless innings. Garcia is locked into a high-leverage role and should see a handful of save opportunities the rest of the season when Hoffman is unavailable.
Masyn Winn Masyn Winn Harder contact after swing tweak Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:29 AM Winn went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts in Monday's loss to the Angels but had a game-high three hard-hit balls. Analysis: During a rain delay in Sunday's game against the Twins, Winn compared video from 2024 to 2025 and worked on his swing with hitting coaches Brant Brown and Brandon Allen, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. They noticed in the 2025 video that his hips were leaning back before his swing, which led to lazy flyballs. Winn stood more upright during batting practice Monday and worked on driving through the ball. While he wasn't rewarded during Monday's game, Winn was heartened by the hard contact he made and is confident "everything is going to click" for him soon. The 23-year-old is 0-for-14 with seven strikeouts in his first four contests this season.
Carlos Santana Carlos Santana Playing every day Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:23 AM Santana started at first base and went 2-for-4 with a double in Monday's 7-2 loss to San Diego. Analysis: Santana has started at first base and served as Cleveland's cleanup hitter for all four games thus far. He's hit safely in three of those four games, going 6-for-16 with two doubles, three runs scored and one RBI. The 38-year-old (turns 39 on April 8) is projected to have an everyday role for the Guardians.
Gabriel Arias Gabriel Arias Back at second base Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 8:14 AM Arias started at second base and went 1-for-3 and was caught stealing in Monday's 7-2 loss to the Padres. Analysis: Arias helped cover third base for the previous game-plus while Jose Ramirez dealt with a wrist injury. Ramirez returned to the lineup Monday, and Arias was back at second base, which he'll continue to share with Daniel Schneemann.
Jake Burger Jake Burger Goes deep in loss Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 7:58 AM Burger went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 14-3 loss to Cincinnati. Analysis: Burger's two-run shot in the ninth inning was little consolation for the Rangers, who were down 6-0 after two innings and 14-0 before they got on the scoreboard. The homer was Burger's first of the season. The first baseman has reached base safely in four of the first five games, scoring four runs and knocking in three.
Josh Smith Josh Smith Starts at third base Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 7:54 AM Smith started at third base and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in Monday's 14-3 loss to the Reds. Analysis: Smith returned from a quadricep injury to fill in at third for the injured Josh Jung (IL-neck). It's likely he'll be the primary fill-in at the hot corner until Jung is ready to return. Ezequiel Duran and Jonathan Ornelas are also around and could grab a start or two against a lefty.
TJ Friedl TJ Friedl Logs first steal Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 7:41 AM Friedl went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and a stolen base in Monday's 14-3 win over the Rangers. Analysis: Friedl returned to the lineup after getting Sunday off. He was back at leadoff, which was a good place to be Monday. The two batters behind him, Matt McLain and Elly De La Cruz, went a combined 6-for-8 with three home runs, a double and 10 RBI. In addition to scoring twice, Friedl swiped his first bag of the season. He's looking to put an injury-marred 2024 behind him and should register double-digit thefts if given good health. He stole 27 bases in 138 games in 2023 before falling back to nine over 85 games in 2024.
Jeimer Candelario Jeimer Candelario Slides to 1B mid-game Tue, Apr 1, 2025, 7:34 AM Candelario started at third base and went 1-for-5 Monday's 14-3 win over Texas. Analysis: Candelario, who has started all four games thus far, was moved mid-game to first base when Christian Encarnacion-Strand (hand) was removed after being hit by a pitch. Imaging came back negative, but Encarnacion-Strand may not be ready to go Tuesday. If so, it's likely Candelario starts at first base Tuesday, with Santiago Espinal entering the lineup at third.