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MLB News

Combined summaries and individual breaking-news reports, all in one recency-first feed.

Thursday, March 12

Andrew McCutchen Signs Minor League Deal with Texas Rangers

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After a fractured exit from the Pittsburgh Pirates, 39-year-old veteran Andrew McCutchen has signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. McCutchen, who served as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, aims to compete for a spot on the big league roster. Despite his frustration over a lack of communication from Pittsburgh, he remains committed to continuing his career. He is expected to compete for a designated hitter role, potentially platooning with Joc Pederson.

Wednesday, March 11

Willy Adames Reflects on 2025 Pressure and Adjustments for 2026

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Giants shortstop Willy Adames opened up about the immense pressure of his $182 million contract during his 2025 debut season. Despite a slow start, Adames finished strong with a second consecutive four-WAR season and 160 games played. Entering 2026, he has implemented swing adjustments, including a smaller leg kick and a more upright stance, to simplify his approach against high-velocity pitching. Adames expects a smoother start as he settles into his leadership role in San Francisco.

Vinnie Pasquantino Makes History With Three-Homer WBC Performance

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Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino made history as the first player to hit three home runs in a single World Baseball Classic game, powering Italy to a 9-1 victory over Mexico. This breakout performance secured Italy a No. 1 seed in Pool B and a quarterfinal matchup against Puerto Rico. After a hitless start to the tournament, Pasquantino’s historic effort helped Italy sweep pool play, and his three-homer game has been celebrated with international broadcast calls.

Spencer Strider Shows Mechanical Progress in Spring Outing

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Spencer Strider delivered a strong four-inning performance against the Rays, recording five strikeouts and one walk. After struggling with mechanical consistency in earlier outings, Strider showed improvement by slowing his delivery and maintaining better command, notably striking out the side in the third inning. He continues to sit in the mid-90s with his fastball while showcasing two breaking balls, remaining a focal point of the Braves' pitching staff as he prepares for the season.

Padres to Slow-Play Joe Musgrove Following Tommy John Surgery

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The Padres are managing Joe Musgrove carefully as he returns from October 2024 Tommy John surgery. While Musgrove reported no physical issues after a 60-pitch outing on March 4, he is currently day-to-day with no scheduled next start. The team intends to limit his innings or pitch counts to ensure he is healthy for a potential postseason run. Musgrove has reintroduced his slider and sweeper to his repertoire, but the team will likely rely on bridge pitchers to start the season.

Aaron Judge Continues Dominance as Team USA Advances

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Aaron Judge remains the focal point of the Yankees' offense, with projections suggesting he will continue his elite production through 2027. Beyond his club duties, Judge and Team USA have advanced to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals following Italy's victory over Mexico. Team USA is set to face Canada this Friday in Houston. Meanwhile, the Yankees are managing their spring roster, recently losing prospect Brock Selvidge for the season due to an internal brace procedure in his pitching arm.

Giancarlo Stanton Powers Yankees With Two-Homer Spring Performance

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Giancarlo Stanton dominated in Wednesday's 8-1 spring training win over the Blue Jays, hitting two home runs and driving in three runs. Stanton crushed a two-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the sixth, bringing his total to three homers in the past two days. Serving as the designated hitter, he has been a standout performer, boasting an impressive 1.546 OPS through four Grapefruit League games while demonstrating elite power form for the Yankees.

Report Settles Debate on Kiner-Falefa's Controversial World Series Out

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A final MLB report has put to rest the debate surrounding the pivotal play at the plate in Game 7 of the 2025 World Series. The report confirms that Blue Jays runner Isiah Kiner-Falefa was out by three feet when Dodgers catcher Will Smith secured the ball. The play, which occurred in the bottom of the ninth inning of a 4-4 game, had been heavily scrutinized by fans and analysts for months. The official data confirms the out was made well before Kiner-Falefa reached home plate.

MLB Report Confirms Will Smith's Crucial Game 7 Out at the Plate

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A newly released MLB report provides a definitive verdict on the controversial 2025 World Series Game 7 play at the plate. Analysis confirms that Dodgers catcher Will Smith had the ball in his glove and his foot on the plate to record the out on Isiah Kiner-Falefa three feet before the runner arrived. The play, which had been the subject of intense debate, is now officially settled by the data, confirming the out that helped keep the Dodgers in contention for their eventual championship win.

Eric Lauer Struggles in Spring Start Against Yankees

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Left-hander Eric Lauer faced a difficult outing against the New York Yankees, allowing four earned runs on four hits over 3.1 innings of work. Lauer, who walked one and struck out three, surrendered a home run during the 8-1 loss. His spring ERA has climbed to 8.64. Despite the rough exhibition performance, Lauer is expected to secure a spot in the Blue Jays' starting rotation as he works to refine his command and consistency before Opening Day.

Cam Schlittler Sharp in Second Spring Start

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Cam Schlittler delivered a dominant 3.2-inning outing against the Blue Jays, allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts. The 25-year-old righty retired the first 10 batters and generated eight swing-and-misses, topping out at 99.8 mph. Despite early camp back issues, Schlittler feels he is in a good position for Opening Day. He threw 46 pitches and is focused on building up his workload, aiming to provide quality innings despite a likely reduced pitch count early in the season.

Julio Rodriguez Leads Team D.R. While Investing in Hometown

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Julio Rodriguez is starring for Team Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic, contributing to a 3-0 start with a potent lineup. Off the field, Rodriguez continues his philanthropic efforts in his hometown of Loma De Cabrera. He recently invested $1.3 million to transform a local field into a state-of-the-art, public astroturf complex, hosting a star-studded softball game with teammates to celebrate the opening of the facility for his community.

Corbin Carroll Returns to Action Following Hamate Surgery

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Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll returned to the lineup for Wednesday's spring training game, marking his first action since undergoing surgery to repair a hamate bone fracture in his right hand on February 12. While he went hitless in his debut, his return comes just over a month after the procedure, a recovery timeline significantly faster than the 61-day average for similar injuries. The team is utilizing spring training to monitor his progress in a controlled environment.

Matt McLain Dominates Cactus League With .607 Batting Average

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Reds second baseman Matt McLain is enjoying a historic spring training, leading all MLB players in several offensive categories. Through 10 games, he is hitting .607/.667/1.179 with five home runs and only two strikeouts. After a 3-for-3 performance on Wednesday that included a home run and a stolen base, McLain appears to have fully recovered from last year's shoulder issues, establishing himself as a key offensive force for Cincinnati heading into the regular season.

Kyle Teel Out 4-6 Weeks With Grade 2 Hamstring Strain

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White Sox catcher Kyle Teel will miss 4-6 weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 right hamstring strain while running the bases during a World Baseball Classic game for Team Italy. Teel, who hit a home run and double in the tournament, is expected to start the season on the injured list. GM Chris Getz confirmed the timeline, noting that Edgar Quero will take over primary catching duties, with Korey Lee seeing increased reps. Manager Will Venable reported that Teel remains optimistic about his recovery.

Pedro Ramirez Impresses with Grand Slam Against Royals

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Pedro Ramirez delivered a grand slam in the second inning of the Cubs' 9-8 win over the Royals. The 21-year-old infielder has impressed throughout spring training with his defensive play and hitting ability. Ramirez's grand slam helped stake the Cubs to an early lead in a game that saw both teams combine for seven home runs. He remains a player to watch as he continues to develop within the Cubs' system.

Nico Hoerner Homers in Cubs' 9-8 Spring Win

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Nico Hoerner rebounded from a first-inning error to hit a home run in the Cubs' 9-8 walk-off victory over the Royals. The game featured seven total home runs and unusual batting sequences, including the Cubs batting out of order in the seventh and eighth innings. Hoerner's contribution was part of a productive offensive day for Chicago, which saw Matt Halbach drive in the winning run in the ninth inning at Sloan Park.

Braves Reassign Veteran Pitcher Carlos Carrasco

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The Atlanta Braves reassigned veteran starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to their minor league camp. Carrasco, who made his MLB debut in 2009, returned to the organization on a minor league deal following a difficult 2025 campaign where he made three starts for Atlanta. The move is part of a broader roster shuffle that saw the Braves reassign multiple pitchers to minor league camp, bringing the current camp roster to 50 players.

Braves Reassign James Karinchak to Minor League Camp

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The Atlanta Braves reassigned reliever James Karinchak to their minor league camp. Karinchak has pitched well this spring, striking out nine batters across four innings while attempting to return to the majors after missing time due to injuries. Mark Bowman of MLB.com suggests Karinchak could be a candidate for a big-league call-up by early April, as the team prioritizes carrying long-relief options during the season's opening stretch.

Braves Option Standout Reliever Hayden Harris

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The Atlanta Braves optioned reliever Hayden Harris to Triple-A following a strong spring performance where he struck out 12 batters in five innings. Despite his success, the team's roster constraints and the need for multi-inning relief options early in the season led to the move. Harris remains a candidate for a future call-up as the Braves navigate a schedule featuring 13 consecutive games to open the regular season.