
Atlanta Braves outfielder Jurickson Profar (wrist) will undergo treatment and limit his on-field activities to standing in the box to track live pitches over the next few days in camp. Profar could be cleared to swing within the next few days, though. When asked about whether he'll be ready for Opening Day, he smiled and said, "very confident," MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports. While most fantasy managers are probably expecting the 32-year-old to take a step back after a career year in 2024 with the San Diego Padres that led to some MVP votes, he's still worth targeting as a No. 3/4 fantasy outfielder in upcoming drafts as long as he doesn't have any setbacks with his wrist once he resumes swinging. Profar doesn't have elite power or speed, but he makes plenty of contact, has great plate discipline and is guaranteed regular playing time in a strong Braves lineup.

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Andrew Kittredge's (knee) initial timetable to return is set between June and the All-Star break. However, the righty is "optimistic" it will be on the earlier side. Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reported the news. Kittredge underwent arthroscopic knee surgery over the weekend to address the cartilage in his left knee. The 34-year-old noted that his knee began ailing him during live bullpen sessions, and doctors thought it'd be better to deal with it now than later. In 2024, the veteran was excellent, pitching to the tune of a 2.80 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 37 holds over 70.2 innings for the St. Louis Cardinals. Fortunately, there's a set timetable for Kittredge's return. However, it will still be some time before he aids Baltimore's bullpen.

According to manager Torey Lovullo, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Kendall Graveman (back) is still fighting a back injury and may not be ready for opening day. Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reported the news. The 34-year-old faced live hitters on Tuesday and experienced more back tightness, jeopardizing his availability for the start of the season. Graveman has been working his way back to health after missing the entirety of the 2024 season due to shoulder surgery he underwent in the offseason. The news is not ideal, as Arizona signed the veteran on a one-year deal just a month ago to bolster their bullpen. Fortunately, the righty's imaging came back clean last week. Still, it's unclear when he'll be ready to go for the 2025 season

Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (hand, wrist) was forced from Wednesday's Cactus League outing against the Seattle Mariners after being hit by a pitch in his hand/wrist area. Anne Rogers of MLB.com reported the news. The severity of the injury is currently unknown, but the former first-round pick is set to undergo further evaluation. This isn't ideal, as the 24-year-old superstar is a consensus top-three pick in fantasy drafts and a candidate to go first overall in some formats. It's possible that the Royals pulled him out of precaution, but any injury to the hand/wrist area is unfavorable. Any missed time by Witt Jr. would be a blow to the team and, depending on the duration could drop him down in fantasy drafts. We'll likely learn more over the next 24 hours. Sit tight.

Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports that Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (forearm) could pitch in a Grapefruit League game as early as next week. The 31-year-old last pitched in big-league action during Game 3 of the 2022 World Series and has just 47.2 regular-season innings of work since the end of 2021. McCullers Jr. underwent surgery in June of 2023 to repair a flexor tendon and had a setback during his rehab in 2024, keeping him out for the entirety of both seasons. It's excellent news for the veteran and a significant step in the right direction. "Yeah, it's exciting, but one day at a time," said McCullers Jr. The lefty is currently just inside the top 400 in ADP regarding fantasy drafts, but that could change over the next few weeks if he pitches well in Grapefruit League action.
