Right-handed pitcher Juan Nunez is returning to the Baltimore Orioles. The Padres selected Nunez in the Rule 5 draft back in November. However, during camp, Nunez allowed two runs across six innings of work while striking out five batters and was unable to make the major league roster. Fantasy managers should expect Nunez to likely open the season at the lower levels of the Baltimore system. Last season, the 24-year-old logged 29 1/3 innings at the High-A level and held a solid 2.45 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP. He tallied 38 punchouts and allowed 10 free passes. This was a nice improvement compared to the 3.99 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 49 2/3 innings he posted across his first taste of High-A during the 2023 season. Dynasty managers should expect Nunez to open the season at High-A and could push for his Double-A debut later in the summer.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitching prospect Yoniel Curet (undisclosed) was placed on the 60-day injured list at Double-A. Curet likely suffered this injury during spring training and will now be several months away from returning to the bump. He logged only two innings during camp and tallied one punchout while allowing one run. Curet is ranked as the No. 14 best prospect in the system on MLB.com. Last season, the 22-year-old opened the campaign at the High-A level and logged 93 1/3 innings with a 3.28 ERA and a 1.24 WHIP. He tallied 122 punchouts while serving up 49 free passes. He was then promoted to Double-A, where he tallied 37 punchouts across just 25 2/3 innings. He posted an impressive 1.75 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP. When he is cleared to return, he will likely begin his season at Double-A.

Left-handed pitcher Jose Quijada has been designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Angels. Quijada was competing for a spot in the bullpen but fell short. During camp, the southpaw posted a high 13.50 ERA with a 2.45 WHIP across seven 1/3 innings. He tallied six punchouts and served up five free passes. Last summer, Quijada logged 19 1/3 innings out of the Los Angeles bullpen and posted a 3.26 ERA with a 1.50 WHIP. He tallied 24 punchouts and served up walks at a high 20.2 percent rate. However, he did generate an impressive .214 xBA. Across 128 career innings in the major leagues, the southpaw has posted a 4.64 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP. While the 29-year-old has flashed high strikeout upside in the past, he has been unable to enjoy similar production over the previous year. If he can return to form at Triple-A, he may push for a return to the big leagues.

Per MLB.com's Brendan Samson, Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect Chase Burns is expected to start the 2025 season at High-A Dayton. The Reds selected Burns with the second overall selection in last year's draft out of Wake Forest, but he didn't pitch anywhere in the minors last summer. The hard-throwing 22-year-old Italian native threw one inning in relief in a Cactus League game in spring training and walked a batter while striking out the side. Burns, who regularly hits triple digits on the radar gun with his fastball, is expected to be a fast riser through Cincy's minor-league system and is already ranked as their top prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. It shouldn't be long before Burns is pitching in the upper levels of the minors in 2025, and he has a chance to make his MLB debut later this year thanks to his fastball-slider combination that generates plenty of whiffs.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (calf), who was expected to be in the team's starting lineup while batting cleanup on Tuesday for an exhibition game against minor-leaguers, was absent due to a calf injury, according to the team's radio broadcast. It's unknown if the injury will keep him out for Opening Day on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants. Hays went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI in the team's final Cactus League game on Sunday and also hit .310 during spring training. It's unclear when he my have picked up the injury, but with Spencer Steer (shoulder) opening on the injured list, Hays should see plenty of playing time in left field for the Reds to open the year as long as he's healthy. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal for $5 million with Cincy in the offseason. Hays spent time on the injured list last year with Baltimore due to a strained left calf, so this injury will be worth watching.