ImpactGroshans' shoulder was banged up after he made a pair of diving plays on Friday, but it sounds like he's going to be fine. The infielder should be ready to return to Grapefruit League play later this week.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Jordan Groshans - Shoulder feeling betterGroshans reported improvement with his ailing left shoulder Sunday, according to MLB.com.
Lance McCullers Jr. - Throws again MondayMcCullers (forearm) threw for the second time Monday in the batting cage, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
ImpactManager Dusty Baker said Monday that McCullers was once again throwing Monday, his second throwing session in three days as he works back from muscle strain he suffered in his right arm last month. The right-hander is expected to miss the first couple weeks of the season, but is he keeps progressing, it's reasonable to expect him to return to the mound by the end of April. McCullers has struggled with the injury bug over the past couple seasons, only appearing in eight games in 2022 after nursing a forearm injury he sustained in the 2021 playoffs.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Michael Brantley - Returns to campBrantley (shoulder) rejoined the Astros at spring training Monday, but manager Dusty Baker said it "will be close" regarding whether the veteran outfielder is ready to go for Openi...
ImpactBrantley's status for Opening Day was already in question while he continues to recover from the surgery he underwent last August to repair his right labrum, and it didn't help his cause that his rehab program was essentially put on hold when he stepped away from the team just under two weeks ago to tend to a family matter. Now that he's back at camp, Brantley is expected to steadily increase his baseball activities, but he still may have an uphill battle to get fully ramped up by the time Houston opens its season March 30 versus the White Sox. When Brantley is healthy, Baker said that the 35-year-old will likely serve as the Astros' No. 2 hitter while likely sharing time at designated hitter and in left field with Yordan Alvarez (hand).
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Jake Meyers - Working back from hamstring injuryAstros manager Dusty Baker said Meyers has been dealing with a hamstring injury lately, but the outfielder is expected to play in one of the team's split-squad games Tuesday, Chand...
ImpactMeyers has been going through a learning curve this spring with the new pitch clock, but he seems to be getting the hang of it. After struggling to maintain a consistent role down the stretch in 2022, he'll look to prove his worth early in the 2023 campaign as a utility man in the outfield. This spring, Meyers is batting .267 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored over 15 at-bats.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Tanner Scott - Perfect in spring debutScott (biceps) struck out one over a perfect inning of relief in Friday's 7-2 win over the Nationals in Grapefruit League play.
ImpactThe 28-year-old southpaw made his spring debut over the weekend after a bout with left biceps discomfort prompted the Marlins to slow down his throwing progression earlier in camp. Scott looked plenty healthy in his outing against Washington, retiring the side with ease while generating two groundballs in addition to punching out a batter. Assuming he avoids any setbacks heading into Opening Day, Scott should be part of the Marlins' late-inning picture and could even find himself in the mix for saves, given that manager Skip Schumaker has yet to name a designated closer.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
A.J. Puk - Makes spring debutPuk (groin) struck out two over a scoreless inning of relief in Friday's 7-2 win over the Nationals in Grapefruit League play.
ImpactPuk, whom the Marlins acquired in February in a deal that sent outfielder JJ Bleday to Oakland, made his spring debut over the weekend after he had been slowed by left adductor tightness in the early stages of camp. Prior to being dealt to Miami, Puk was expected to compete for a spot in Oakland's rotation, but the lefty's new organization appears to view him as a candidate for a high-leverage role out of the bullpen. The Marlins look set to enter Opening Day without a designated closer, so Puk could quickly enter the mix for saves if he can consistently turn in dominant outings like the one he turned in Friday.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
Hunter Brown - Settles in for solid outingBrown threw three shutout innings without allowing a baserunner while striking out three across three innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Marlins.
ImpactBrown had been roughed up in his first two spring training appearances, allowing four earned runs across two innings while also walking five. He settled in Sunday, however, throwing 26 of 34 pitches for a strike while sitting between 93 and 96 mph with his fastball, per Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. Brown also delivered his longest outing of the exhibition season as he ramps up to occupy the fifth rotation spot once the regular season begins.
MARCH 13, 2023•ROTOWIRE
