MLB Player News
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Blake Mitchell C | KC
Royals' Blake Mitchell: Playing at extended spring training
Mitchell (wrist) has started playing in extended spring training games, MLB.com reports.
Mitchell broke his right hamate bone in February and was originally expected to miss just four-to-six weeks. It's not clear when he'll make his minor-league season debut. Mitchell was the eighth overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and spent most of last year at the Single-A level, slashing .240/.375/.443 with 18 home runs, 50 RBI and 24 stolen bases before finishing the campaign with five games at High-A.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Smacks go-ahead double
Kirk went 2-for-4 with a two-run double in Friday's 4-2 win over the Yankees.
Kirk's double in the ninth inning off Devin Williams brought home Andres Gimenez and George Springer and gave the Blue Jays a 3-2 lead. It was Kirk's sixth multi-hit game of the season, and the 26-year-old catcher is slashing .227/.263/.307 with four runs scored, one home run and eight RBI in 80 plate appearances.
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Edgar Quero C | CHW
White Sox's Edgar Quero: Taking seat Friday
Quero isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against the Athletics.
Quero will get a chance to rest Friday after going 8-for-24 with four RBI and a run scored through his first eight career MLB games. Matt Thaiss fill in behind the plate and bat sixth.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Back in action at Triple-A
Basallo (hamstring/elbow) is starting at designated hitter Friday for Triple-A Norfolk.
As expected, Basallo is back off the injured list as the DH, with the expectation he will be ready to get back behind the plate in May. He had a .250/.318/.550 slash line with two home runs and four strikeouts in seven games before landing on the IL.
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Diego Cartaya C | SF
Twins' Diego Cartaya: Booted from 40-man roster
The Twins outrighted Cartaya to Triple-A St. Paul on Friday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.
The transaction frees up a spot on the 40-man roster. Cartaya was acquired via trade from the Dodgers over the offseason and is just 2-for-25 with an 18:4 K:BB in his first 29 plate appearances with St. Paul this season.
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Twins' Christian Vazquez: Heading for reduced role
Manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday that Ryan Jeffers will take on a larger role, which will result in fewer starts for Vazquez, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
The catching duo has split playing time fairly evenly across the past two seasons, and Jeffers has made 14 starts to Vazquez's 11 early in 2025. The Twins are changing their strategy behind the plate, however, with Vazquez's career .581 OPS with the club finally catching up to him. The veteran backstop still brings plenty of defensive value and is a good fit as a backup catcher, but it should be Jeffers that receives the lion's share of the starts from now on.
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Set for heavier workload
Manager Rocco Baldelli said Thursday that Jeffers will operate as more of an everyday catcher going forward, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Jeffers and Christian Vazquez each made 81 starts behind the plate last season, and they've had a fairly even split of playing time early in 2025 with 14 and 11 starts, respectively. Vazquez's continued offensive struggles (career .581 OPS with Minnesota) will finally prompt a strategy change, with Jeffers now poised to operate as more of a clear No. 1 catcher. The 27-year-old hasn't been particularly productive through 67 plate appearances himself with a .254/.343/.339 slash line, but he had a .732 OPS in 2024 and carries more upside than Vazquez.