MLB Player News
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Sitting out early game
Jeffers is not in the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader in Baltimore.
Jeffers will likely start behind the plate in the second game of the twin bill. Christian Vazquez will handle catching duties and bat ninth in the first game of the day.
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Danny Jansen C | TEX
Rays' Danny Jansen: First homer since April 11
Jansen went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored Tuesday against the Blue Jays.
Jansen has picked up the majority of his playing time against left-handed pitching of late, but he's now made consecutive starts against righties. He delivered with the opportunity Tuesday, slugging a leadoff homer in the seventh inning -- his first long ball since April 11. It's a small sample, but Jansen has gone 7-for-27 with only an 11.8 percent strikeout rate across his last 10 starts.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Passes concussion tests
Kirk (head) is not in the Blue Jays' starting lineup against the Rays on Tuesday.
Kirk was removed from Sunday's game against the Mariners after suffering a blow to the helmet on a Julio Rodriguez backswing. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Kirk "passed every concussion test" and will likely be available off the bench for Tuesday's contest, per Mitch Bannon of The Athletic. With Kirk on the bench, Tyler Heineman will start behind home plate and bat eighth.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Returns from 10-day IL
The Rangers activated Higashioka (intercostal) from the 10-day injured list Tuesday.
Higashioka has been out for all of May with a mild left intercostal strain but is ready to go after playing in two rehab games. Tucker Barnhart remains on the roster, so the Rangers will carry three catchers for the time being.
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Beginning rehab assignment
Rogers (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Rogers has been shelved for more than a month with a left oblique strain, but he's been upping his workouts lately and is ready to try things out in games. The veteran catcher should be ready to rejoin the Tigers' active roster within the next week or so.
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Cal Raleigh C | SEA
Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Launches homer in loss
Raleigh went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Monday's 11-5 loss to the Yankees.
Raleigh had gone 5-for-21 (.238) with one double and two RBI, as well as a 9:7 BB:K, over eight games since his two-homer effort versus the Rangers on May 2. The catcher delivered a two-run blast in the eighth inning Monday to cut the deficit to three runs, but the Yankees answered with a three-run ninth. Raleigh sits second in the American League with 13 long balls while adding 27 RBI, 27 runs scored, seven doubles, four stolen bases and a .241/.368/.559 slash line over 40 games.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: Drives in four Monday
Wells went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run and an additional RBI in Monday's 11-5 win over the Mariners.
Wells finished off a six-run fifth inning for the Yankees with his homer. He added a sacrifice fly to pad the lead in the seventh. The catcher has just one multi-hit effort over nine games in May, going 6-for-27 (.222) with three homers and 11 RBI this month. Overall, he's batting .215 with a .760 OPS, eight homers, 28 RBI, 15 runs scored and a stolen base across 139 plate appearances. He's not always consistent at the plate, but he has been impactful with his hitting lately.
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Freddy Fermin C | SD
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Could lose catching opportunities
Fermin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Astros.
Before sitting out Sunday's 3-1 loss to the Red Sox while Luke Maile received the nod behind the dish, Fermin had made three straight starts at catcher. Fermin will remain on the bench again Monday, and his brief run as the Royals' No. 1 backstop could be over. Salvador Perez had been limited to playing designated hitter or first base since returning to the lineup May 4 following a two-game absence due to a hip injury, but he'll resume catching Monday. If Perez checks out fine Monday, he could see his catching workload pick up in the games to come.
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Jonah Heim C | TEX
Rangers' Jonah Heim: Getting breather Monday
Heim is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.
Heim will hit the bench for Monday's series opener while Tucker Barnhart starts behind the plate and bats eighth. Heim went 1-for-12 with a solo home run while starting all three games at catcher during the Rangers' weekend series against the Tigers.
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Upping activities
Rogers (oblique) could be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment at some point this week, MLB.com reports.
Rogers has been steadily increasing his baseball activities as he works his way back from a left oblique strain, which has kept him on the injured list since April 8. In addition to taking regular batting practice, Rogers was able to catch a bullpen session Friday, then ran the bases and did some throwing Saturday. Dillon Dingler has been serving as the Tigers' primary option behind the plate since Rogers landed on the shelf.