
Cleveland Guardians right-handed pitcher Trevor Stephan (elbow) completed a bullpen session on Friday. Stephan is working his way back from the UCL reconstruction surgery he underwent in March 2024. This was his first time throwing off a mound and a significant step in his recovery process. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as he could see his workload begin to increase. The 29-year-old last appeared in an MLB game during the 2023 season. During this campaign, the right-hander held a 4.06 ERA with a 1.30 WHIP. He tallied 75 punchouts across 68 2/3 innings. He generated whiffs at a strong 30.6 percent rate but struggled to command his pitches as he held a below average 8.8 percent rate. When Stephan is eventually cleared to return, he should have a middle-relief role in the Cleveland bullpen.


Kansas City Royals infielder Maikel Garcia will see time in center field during spring training. In the offseason, the Royals acquired Jonathan India from the Cincinnati Reds, which added another bat to their infield. General manager J.J. Picollo noted that the way the team is currently set up, Garcia's "next best spot" is to shift to center field. As a result, this suggests that the team is considering giving Michael Massey the starting nod at second base. Garcia has only seen one start in the outfield throughout his MLB career. However, given the crowded infield, his best option to find consistent playing time may be shifting to the outfield. Last season, Garcia made 157 starts and held a .231/.284/.332 line with 27 doubles and 37 stolen bases. If the 24-year-old were to adjust well to center field in camp, he could push Kyle Isbel to a depth role.



Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitcher Devin Sweet (triceps) returned to action on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers. The reliever tossed a shutout inning. He allowed just one hit and tallied one punchout. Sweet was battling a triceps injury throughout the week, but seeing him return a few days later suggests the injury was not serious. Fantasy managers should expect the 28-year-old to continue to compete for a low-leverage bullpen role during camp. In 2023, Sweet made his MLB debut but struggled as he posted a 10.38 ERA with a 1.85 WHIP across eight 2/3 innings of work. Last summer, Sweet spent his entire season with the Toledo Mud Hens at the Triple-A level. Across 76 innings, he held a 3.91 ERA with a 1.32 WHIP. If he does make the Opening Day roster, he will not carry much fantasy value as he will not see high-leverage opportunities.


Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello (shoulder) may not be ready in time for Opening Day. Manager Alex Cora said, "He's behind. But I think he's been itching to throw for a while, so we took care of him, and hopefully doing that, he can actually not catch up." The manager noted, "We're still shooting for him to be on the Opening Day roster, but obviously it's March 2 now." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progression during camp as a minor setback could result in him opening the season on the injured list. The right-hander has been battling shoulder soreness during the early part of camp and was shut down for some time. Last season, the 25-year-old logged a career-high 162 1/3 innings and held a 4.49 ERA with a 1.36 WHIP. He tallied 153 punchouts and held a high 9.1 percent walk rate. When healthy, Bello will have a spot in the starting rotation.


San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos (oblique) is expected to return on Tuesday. Ramos suffered an oblique injury last week. The outfielder has begun hitting off a tee and has not faced any setbacks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress leading up to his return. After appearing in just 34 MLB contests during his first two seasons, Ramos logged a career-high 121 games in 2024. During this stint, the slugger launched 22 home runs with a .269/.322/.469 slash line. He swiped six bags and tallied 72 RBI. Under the hood, he generated an elite 14.5 percent barrel rate and a 47.5 percent hard-hit rate. He also placed in the 90th percentile in bat speed. When healthy, fantasy managers should expect Ramos to have an everyday role in left field and typically bat in the top half of the lineup.
