White Sox the right hand Mike Vasil He left today’s Spring Training game with a sore elbow, the team said. He is about to be re-examined. Vasil started the game with 3 2/3 scoreless innings before issuing two walks, calling the trainer, and eventually leaving. That continued his effort to establish himself as a starter after a major relief effort in 2025. In 101 innings over 47 appearances (three starts), he posted an excellent 2.50 ERA, albeit with less-than-stellar peripherals including a 4.32 FIP. On the other hand, Vasil made ground balls 51.4% of the time and provided a lot of value by eating innings. Although he proved himself in the fold last year, he was shot outside when he joined the game in 2026, according to the manager. Will Venable.
The Sox open their season on March 26 on the road against the Brewers, so Vasil may not have time to fully build if anything more than day-to-day. If he misses time, the club will roll with it Davis Martin, Sean Burke, Anthony Kayagain Erick Fedde in the rotation after the 2025 All-Star Shane Smith. Given his extended innings, Vasil could return to long relief at first and then join the rotation later in the event of an injury.
A few more injury updates from around the league:
- Angels shortstop Zach Neto He injured his left hand when he was hit in the head by a home run in today’s game against the Mariners. He was to be tested after the game, according to Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Neto finished the 2025 season on the injured list with a left hand injury, and underwent surgery in 2024 to repair a right shoulder injury sustained in a head-first slide. Today’s injuries don’t seem that bad, for the manager Kurt Suzuki saying “it was a little optimistic” after he talked to Neto in the pit. If Neto misses time, one of the Vaughn Grissom or Oswald Peraza can draw a morning start at the Halos stop.
- The guards the third domain Josh Jung took six plate appearances in the backfield today, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. He’ll take a few more tomorrow, then play against the white Sox on Monday. Jung has been sidelined since February 24 with a Grade 1 adductor strain, although the manager. Skip the Schumaker reduce the severity of the injury. Jung hit .251/.294/.390 with a 91 wRC+ in 131 games in 2025. He’s been healthy despite a subpar IL early in the year, but it was his first below-average campaign since his 26-game debut in 2022. Both the original manufacturer of Open Shung seems to be ready that Open Shung will be patient.
- Phillies the ace Zack Wheeler took live batting practice today, his first time facing hitters since undergoing chest surgery in September. He will throw a bullpen session on Tuesday, manager Rob Thomson told reporters including Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer. That would get him to appear in at least one game before the end of Spring Training, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Granted, this is an expected progression in Wheeler’s rehab rather than a sign of an early return. Wheeler himself stressed that “We still have a long way to go,” while Thomson said last month that Wheeler could return to action “as soon as possible” on Opening Day.
Photo courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas, Imagn Images
