About Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller
Dolphins Won't Pursue Lamar Jackson Or Another QB
The Miami Dolphins will not be pursuing Baltimore Ravens franchise-tagged quarterback Lamar Jackson or any other starting QBs this offseason, according to multiple team sources. "Mike fully believes Tua Tagovailoa is the perfect fit for his system," according to a source. There was another recent rumor that the Dolphins might be trying to pull Tom... Read More
Brock Purdy To Have Surgery Friday
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow) will have surgery on his right UCL on Friday, according to a source. He was originally set for surgery on Feb. 22, but an MRI exam showed too much inflammation around his injured right elbow. With a six-month recovery timetable, Purdy is expected to be ready the second... Read More
Paul Blackburn Wants To Use Changeup More
Oakland Athletics right-hander Paul Blackburn, who is entering a season with a secure rotation spot in 2023 for the first time in his career, is utilizing that luxury by treating spring games as a testing ground for a more versatile repertoire of pitches. He wants to increase the usage of his changeup against right-handers after... Read More
Mike Clevinger To Make Spring Debut Saturday
Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Clevinger said he will make his Cactus League debut on Saturday against his former team, the San Diego Padres. The league was investigating Clevinger after domestic-violence chargers were made against him, but MLB has decided not to discipline him this season. It's good news for his fantasy value in... Read More
Nick Allen Not Guaranteed To Start At Shortstop
Oakland Athletics infielder Nick Allen isn't a lock to open the 2023 season as the team's starting shortstop, according to general manager David Forst. Allen is probably still the favorite for the 6 to open the regular season, but Aledmys Diaz could also be pushing him for playing time at the position. The 24-year-old Allen... Read More
Marcell Ozuna The Favorite For DH Job
Atlanta Braves outfielder Marcell Ozuna remains the favorite for primary designated hitter duties for the team in 2023. Ozuna is playing often in the Grapefruit League in spring training and is strictly being used as a DH, despite saying before arriving to camp that his throwing arm was stronger after rehab work in the winter.... Read More
Kyle Wright Could Make Spring Debut Next Week
Atlanta Braves right-hander Kyle Wright (shoulder) will throw a side session on Tuesday and live batting practice on Friday, and he could make his Grapefruit League debut next week. It sets him up to make three spring starts before Opening Day. Wright could make another start against minor-leaguers and then be lined up for the... Read More
Chase Anderson Promoted To Big-League Camp
The Cincinnati Reds promoted/invited right-hander Chase Anderson to major-league spring training on Tuesday while also reassigning left-hander Andrew Abbott, right-handers Alan Busenitz, Ben Lively and Connor Phillips, outfielder Allan Cerda, infielder Alex McGarry and catcher Jhonny Pereda to minor-league camp. Anderson will be hoping to earn a spot on the team's Opening Day roster after... Read More
Juan Soto Says He's 100 Percent Healthy
San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto (calf) ran on Tuesday morning to test his injured calf and said that he is 100 percent healthy. "They don't want to take any risk," Soto said. If things continue to go well, the expectation is that Soto will join Team Dominican Republic in Florida by Friday for the... Read More
Dany Jimenez Struggling With Velocity In Camp
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dany Jimenez has been struggling with his velocity so far in spring training. The 29-year-old Dominican right-hander got up to the low-90s on the radar gun in his most recent Cactus League outing, but before that he topped out in the upper-80s with his fastball. It's something to keep an eye... Read More
Trevor Rosenthal Won't Be Ready For Opening Day
The Detroit Tigers will take their time ramping up relief pitcher Trevor Rosenthal in spring training to make sure that he stays healthy. Manager A.J. Hinch didn't put a timetable on Rosenthal's readiness for games and said "Opening Day is not something that's feasible." "It does not matter when he's ready, as long as he's... Read More
Sam Huff Returns On Monday
Texas Rangers catcher Sam Huff (shoulder) returned to Cactus League play on Monday night in the 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies, walking in his only plate appearance. He also caught two innings in the contest. Huff suffered a right shoulder injury in a Cactus League game last Wednesday against the San Diego Padres. The... Read More
A.J. Puk Throws Live Batting Practice
Miami Marlins left-hander A.J. Puk (groin) threw a live batting practice session on Tuesday morning in camp, and the next step is for him to make his Grapefruit League debut on Friday as long as he checks out fine. The 27-year-old southpaw is taking things slow in spring training while dealing with left adductor tightness,... Read More
Terrin Vavra To Resume Swinging Tuesday
Baltimore Orioles infielder Terrin Vavra (shoulder) said he will swing a bat on Tuesday to test his injured left shoulder. He's been feeling much better and expects to play in Grapefruit League games soon. The 25-year-old has been dealing with left shoulder discomfort since late last week and has taken some time off as a... Read More
Andrew Knizner Not Assured Backup Job
St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol made it clear on Tuesday that the backup catching job behind starter Willson Contreras is wide open in spring training. Incumbent Andrew Knizner and newcomer Tres Barrera are in a battle for the job in camp, with Barrera impressing the coaching and pitching staffs with his work. Knizner has... Read More
Marlins Continue To Talk With Yuli Gurriel
The Miami Marlins continue to talk with free-agent first baseman Yuli Gurriel, according to sources. If they were to sign him, it would likely be a minor-league deal with an invitation to big-league spring training. Gurriel remains on the open market a year after slashing .242/.288/.360 with a career-low .647 OPS, eight home runs, 53... Read More
Tyler Naquin Back In Cactus League Lineup
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Tyler Naquin (shoulder) is back in the Cactus League lineup on Tuesday against the Chicago White Sox and right-handed starter Lance Lynn, starting in right field and batting fifth in the order. Naquin has missed a couple of games while dealing with minor shoulder discomfort, but he'll be back in the fold... Read More
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Could Resume Swinging This Weekend
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (knee) continues to get treatment on his right knee and is feeling better every day, according to manager John Schneider. Guerrero could get back in the batting cages by the weekend. Guerrero is dealing with a sore right knee and is taking things slowly in camp. It's... Read More
Tanner Scott Throws Live Batting Practice
Miami Marlins relief pitcher Tanner Scott (biceps) is throwing live batting practice on Tuesday. If he comes out of the session well, Scott will make his Grapefruit League debut on Friday. The 28-year-old left-hander has been slightly behind the other pitchers in camp due to left biceps discomfort, but as long as he doesn't suffer... Read More
Robert Suarez Drops Out Of World Baseball Classic
San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez has decided not to compete in this year's World Baseball Classic for Team Venezuela. "Just to be around the team and get my training in and get ready for the start of the season," said Suarez. "The goal is always to have a better season." The 32-year-old signed... Read More
Joe Musgrove Using Hyperbaric Chamber To Heal
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove (toe) has been using a hyperbaric chamber in hopes that he can get back on a mound sooner than anyone expects after recently breaking his left big toe in a weight-room accident. He's also adhering to a diet that is full of iron and potassium and low on... Read More
Jonathan Loaisiga "Looks Outstanding"
New York Yankees right-handed reliever Jonathan Loaisiga "looks outstanding" this spring, according to manager Aaron Boone. Loaisiga had the distinction of being the slowest pitcher in baseball last year with nobody on base, but this year he'll be forced to speed up with the new pitch clock in play. He had a 7.02 ERA over... Read More
Andrew McCutchen Playing Against Blue Jays
Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen (hand) is back in the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Tuesday against the Toronto Blue Jays and left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, and he's serving as the designated hitter and batting third in the lineup. McCutchen left Sunday's game early against the Minnesota Twins due to hand soreness, but it was merely... Read More
Whit Merrifield Back In Grapefruit League Lineup
Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Whit Merrifield (quadriceps) is back in the starting lineup for the Grapefruit League game on Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Mitch Keller. He's starting at second base and batting leadoff. Merrifield suffered a right quadriceps injury last Thursday and hasn't played in a spring game since as a... Read More
Oswald Peraza Expected To Return Thursday
New York Yankees shortstop prospect Oswald Peraza (foot) is dealing with a minor foot injury in camp and is expected to return to the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday, according to sources. Peraza is battling for the starting shortstop gig in spring training this year with fellow prospect Anthony Volpe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. The 22-year-old... Read More
Tony Gonsolin Has An Ankle Sprain
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tony Gonsolin (ankle) is being listed as day-to-day with a left ankle sprain that he suffered during drills in spring training on Monday, and he won't make his scheduled Cactus League start on Wednesday. Gonsolin has a noticeable limp, although this injury shouldn't cause him to miss Opening Day later... Read More
Wanya Morris Suffers Hamstring Strain
University of Oklahoma offensive tackle Wanya Morris (hamstring) suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain while running the 40-yard dash during the NFL combine in Indianapolis, according to a source. He's expected to face a three- to four-week recovery timeline, and it's unclear if he'll be able to work out for scouts at his school's... Read More
Richard Gouraige Sits Out Of Combine
University of Florida offensive tackle Richard Gouraige (ankle) woke up with a swollen ankle on Sunday after a pain-tolerance test created an injury, according to sources. As a result, he wasn't able to take part in any on-field drills during the combine in Indianapolis. It's a missed opportunity for Gouraige to impress scouts before April's... Read More
Zack Kuntz Impresses At Combine
Old Dominion tight end Zack Kuntz (knee) impressed during the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Saturday and became the tallest player ever (6-foot-7) to jump 40 inches. He also ran a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, which is incredible considering he had surgery late this year to fix a dislocated kneecap. Kuntz was fully cleared to take... Read More
Dontayvion Wicks Suffers Minor Injury At Combine
University of Virginia wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks (hip) tweaked his hip flexor while running the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine in Indianapolis on Saturday and shut it down for the day, according to a source. The good news is that his injury isn't considered serious, so it shouldn't negatively affect his draft stock in... Read More