Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) has progressed to hitting soft toss in the batting cage. It's worth noting that Vierling is also doing defensive drills and conditioning daily. It's a step in the right direction for Vierling who is working his way back from a shoulder strain. The organization is hopeful to get Vierling back by the end of April. That would be great for the Tigers who are quickly running out of options in the outfield due to injuries. The Tigers are already without Wenceel Perez (back) and Parker Meadows (arm) to begin the season.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones (elbow) will be shut down from throwing for the next six weeks. The good news is, Jones won't require surgery, so it doesn't appear he's in jeopardy of having a season-ending injury. The right-hander will need to build up his arm strength and stamina, so fantasy managers might not see Jones until June. Honestly, it's too early for a set timetable, but fantasy managers should prepare to be without Jones for at least a month and a half. The Pirates haven't said who will take his spot in the rotation, but Bubba Chandler and Thomas Harrington could possibly get the call to the big leagues early in the season.

Minnesota Twins outfield prospect Walker Jenkins (ankle) is "tracking well," according to general manager Jeremy Zoll. The Twins' GM stated that MLB's No. 3 overall prospect has been working on the back fields, and althoughJenkins may not be assigned to an Opening Day roster, they do expect him to participate in games in the not-too-distant future. The 20-year-old is expected to begin the seasonat Double-A Wichita which is where he finished last season. The left-handed slugger slashed .283/.394/.450 between Single-A and High-A in 2024, but went just 4-for-25 (.160) during his six-game audition at Double-A. Still, the former first-round draft pick has one of the best hit tools in the minors and should make his way to Triple-A by season's end. Redraft managers may want to consider stashing him later in the season if it looks like he could make his debut; otherwise, expect the 20-year-old to have an impacton the 2026 campaign and beyond.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Valente Bellozo has made the team's Opening Day roster, per manager Clayton McCullough, locking down the final rotation spot. The Marlins are dealing with a rash of pitcher injuries again, with Ryan Weathers (forearm) and Edward Cabrera (blister) both expected to begin the season on the injured list, so after being optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on March 14, the right-hander will instead get another shot to prove himself. The 5-foot-10 hurler got a taste of the majors last year, making 13 starts and posting a 3.67 ERA (5.73 FIP), 1.31 WHIP, and a 7.8 percent K-BB% across 68 2/3 innings of work. Bellozo recorded a gaudy 9.45 ERA this spring after allowing 14 earned runs on 19 hits and five walks while striking out 13 batters in 13 1/3 frames. Unless in desperate need of pitching help, most redraft managers may want to see the Mexican pitcher have some success before rostering him.

Houston Astros infielder Zach Dezenzo has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Joe Espada. Houston's fifth-ranked prospect made his major league debut for the club last season, slashing .242/.277/.371 with a pair of home runs in 65 plate appearances, even making the postseason roster, although the Astros will want to see improvement on the 33.8 percent strikeout he owned during his short stint. The 6-foot-5 slugger performed better this spring, slashing .391/.440/.630 with two home runs and a stolen base in 50 plate appearances with a 28.0 percent strikeout rate. The 24-year-old earns a bench spot for the big league club, with first baseman Christian Walker and third baseman Isaac Paredes blocking his path to playing time at his primary positions. There is potential for big power numbers if he were to get an opportunity for regular at-bats, but without a full-time role, his fantasy relevance is limited to extremely deep and AL-only leagues.