Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez (triceps) is dealing with right-triceps soreness and is being evaluated in camp, according to manager Brandon Hyde. The Orioles are expected to have more of an update on Rodriguez after the tests come back. The 25-year-old's velocity was notably down during his Grapefruit League outing on Wednesday against the Minnesota Twins, but he said he was not injured. While there's no need to panic just yet, it isn't great news, and Rodriguez could need a stint on the injured list to begin the 2025 season. We should have a better timetable on his return by the end of this week, but until then, expect Rodriguez's draft stock to fall. If Rodriguez were to open the year on the IL, either Cade Povich or Albert Suarez would likely take his rotation spot. A lat strain in August prematurely ended Rodriguez's sophomore season in 2024 after a great start to the year.

Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (ankle, foot) left Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the New York Yankees after making a nice play on a slow chopper near the foul line. Matthews' right ankle/foot slipped as he was making the play, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power. We'll have an update on the 24-year-old's injury once the Twins provide an update. The former eighth-round pick in 2022 out of Western Carolina University made his major-league debut in Minnesota last year and struggled to a 1-4 record, 6.69 ERA (5.71 FIP), 1.65 WHIP, 43 strikeouts and 11 walks in 37 2/3 innings in his first nine starts. Matthews began the year all the way down in High-A but rose quickly through the farm system, but he was unable to duplicate his strong control and high strikeout rates in his small sample size. He's a young arm to watch, though, given his combination of control and batt-missing stuff.

Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg (back) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates and is starting at second base and batting fifth, according to The Baltimore Sun's Matt Weyrich. This will be Westburg's first game in spring training since dealing with lower-back soreness last Wednesday. It was a minor issue and shouldn't put the 26-year-old in jeopardy of missing Opening Day later this month, barring another setback with his bat. Although he's at the keystone on Thursday, Westburg is expected to be Baltimore's starting third baseman in 2025 after he hit .264/.312/.481 with 18 homers, 63 RBI and six stolen bases in just 107 games to earn the first All-Star selection of his career. A broken hand late in the second half put a damper on Westburg's season as a whole, but he should be considered a top-10 fantasy third baseman heading into his second full season.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter, the second overall pick in 2021, had an extra two mph on his four-seam fastball when he arrived to spring training this year, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. Leiter sat at 98 mph and touched 100 mph in his first Cactus League outing. The former Vanderbilt star's fastball was demolished in his first taste of the big leagues in 2024, but evaluators see his extra velocity this year as a potential game-changer since the pitch has well-above-average vertical break. Leiter is also getting plenty of depth on his new kick changeup. There's no guarantee that he'll break camp in Texas' Opening Day starting rotation, but the improvements that Leiter has made could help him bounce back considerably in his second major-league season whenever he gets his chance. There's opportunity for fantasy managers here after Leiter had a rough 8.83 ERA and 1.71 WHIP in his first nine outings a year ago.

ESPN's Jeff Passan writes that the Chicago White Sox, who set an MLB record for most losses in a single season in 2024, ended last season believing that pitching prospect Sean Burke would be part of their starting rotation in 2025. The 25-year-old right-hander, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds has also looked good in spring training, using a high-octane fastball and what can be a devastating curveball. In two Cactus League starts, he's allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits (one homer) while walking three and striking out three in five innings. Passan believes Burke will be able to hold his own while the White Sox wait for top pitching prospects Noah Schultz and Hagen Smith. Burke is Chicago's No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and impressed in his small sample size to close 2024. Shoulder issues in the past put his durability in question, but Burke's four-pitch mix make him intriguing in AL-only leagues.