New York Yankees starting pitcher prospect Will Warren turned in his second consecutive strong outing to open the spring season, tossing three innings of perfect baseball in Wednesday's 7-0 Grapefruit League win over the Cardinals. The righty didn't allow a hit or a walk while striking out four batters, utilizing a four-pitch mix that included a nasty sweeper and a four-seamer that coaxed three whiffs on its own. The 25-year-old debuted with the Yankees last season, but the results weren't nearly as stellar, however, with a strong spring, he could be one of the first options to be called upon to fill a rotation spot if necessary. Despite a high ERA and WHIP last year at Triple-A, the 6-foot-2 hurler struck out 136 batters in 109 2/3 IP (11.16 K/9). As he's not expected to break camp with the club, the former eighth-rounder is not on the 2025 fantasy draft radar, but is certainly giving redraft managers reason to take notice.

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar blasted his first home run of the spring in Wednesday's 7-1 Cactus League win over the Brewers. The two-run home run was the only hit of the day for the 22-year-old, who is now 2-for-8 this spring. While it is always a welcome sight when your players perform well, the D-backs are probably even more thrilled just to see their former first-round draft pick and top prospect on the field this spring. Last year was a lost season for Lawlar, who battled injuries throughout the campaign and managed to play in only 23 games all year. With Arizona signing Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year extension this month, there isn't a need to rush Lawlar back to the big leagues, so he'll likely get more reps at Triple-A to begin the year. At some point, due to injury or underperformance on the part of one of the regulars, we'll see Lawlar back in the Show in 2025, and he offers 20/20 potential if given the proper opportunity. MLB's 11th-ranked prospect won't be drafted in most leagues but will be a strong stash candidate early on for managers who have extra room on their bench.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher prospect AJ Smith-Shawver made his spring debut on Wednesday, yielding zero runs on two hits while striking out three in two innings of work in a 9-4 Grapefruit League win over the Pirates. Smith-Shawver made 21 starts at Triple-A last season, posting an uninspiring 4.85 ERA and 1.24 WHIP, but also struck out 108 batters in 89 IP. The righty has been promoted to the majors twice so far in his career, making five starts in 2023 and one start in 2024, although the results have been mixed. The former seventh-round pick owns a 3.64 ERA (6.11 FIP, 5.20 SIERA), 1.11 WHIP, and an 8.9 percent K-BB% over 29 2/3 major league innings. He's battling for a spot in the rotation with Grant Holmes and Ian Anderson, but unless one of them falters, Smith-Shawver is likely to begin the season at Triple-A. If somehow he were to earn a rotation spot, the 22-year-old could make for an intriguing fantasy option as pitching for the Braves should provide a decent chance to rack up some Ws alongside decent strikeout totals.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Taj Bradley unveiled a new pitch during Tuesday's spring training contest against the Philadelphia Phillies. Bradley's new pitch is a modification of his cutter that moves like a slider. Bradley noted that this pitch will look to limit hard contact. Last season, the right-hander showed flashes of potential times but struggled to find consistency as he struggled to keep the ball in the park. He allowed a high 10.2 percent barrel rate with a 42.9 percent hard-hit, which placed him in the ninth and 15th percentile, respectively. The 23-year-old also allowed a high 1.4 HR/9, which was one of the worst marks among starting pitchers last season. However, he was able to generate strikeouts at a strong 26.6 percent rate and whiffs at a 27.4 percent rate. If this new pitch finds him success during camp, he could become an intriguing late-round target when looking for an upside starting pitcher.

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery (finger) is expected to throw his next bullpen session on Friday. The southpaw completed a session on Tuesday and will look to continue his recovery process later in the week. If this session goes well, the 32-year-old could be cleared to face hitters sometime next week. Montgomery was diagnosed with a strain on his left index finger earlier in February. He was sidelined from throwing for a few days but was quickly cleared for action. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could be approaching his spring debut. Last summer, Montgomery had the worst season of his career as he held a high 6.23 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP across 117 innings. If Montgomery can return to form during camp, he could compete for one of the final spots in the starting rotation.