Sam Hentges: Everything you need to know

Hentges (knee/shoulder) struck out one in a scoreless inning during Triple-A Sacramento's 7-6 win over Tacoma on Wednesday. After tossing a scoreless inning for Single-A San Jose on Sunday, Hentges advanced to Sacramento for the next step of his rehab assignment and threw eight of his 13 pitches for strikes. The 29-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in a big-league game since 2024 but appears to be trending in the right direction after undergoing left shoulder surgery in September 2024 and arthroscopic right knee surgery in August 2025.

Hentges threw one scoreless inning in Single-A San Jose's 3-2 win over Visalia on Sunday. Hentges returned to game action following a long layoff while recovering from left shoulder surgery he underwent in September 2024 and arthroscopic right knee surgery in August 2025. He threw five of his 10 pitches for strikes in a scoreless first inning. The left-hander may require a lengthy ramp-up period after the extended absence, though he is expected to return at some point during the first half of the season.

Hentges (shoulder/knee) threw live batting practice in Arizona on Wednesday and is nearing a rehab assignment, per MLB.com. Hentges continues to ramp up after undergoing left shoulder surgery in September 2024 and arthroscopic right knee surgery in August 2025. The southpaw appears to be nearing a return to game action after being placed on the 15-day injured list March 25 (retroactive to March 22), and he's expected to come back during the first half of the season. The 29-year-old hasn't pitched in a game since 2024, when he recorded a 3.04 ERA, 0.97 WHIP and 27:5 K:BB across 23.2 innings in 25 relief outings for Cleveland.