MLB Player News

Royals catcher Salvador Perez was 3 for 5 with a two-run home run in a losing effort against the Tigers on Friday night.

A huge hit, Perez erased a 3-1 Tigers lead with a two-out, two-run home run in the ninth inning. Unfortunately, after the Royals took the lead in the 12th inning, Greg Holland gave up a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame to fuel a walk-off Tigers' win. Perez has provided solid numbers from the catcher slot all season with 20 home runs and 66 RBI to go with a respectable .258 average.

Rays catcher Curt Casali (hamstring) hit in simulated games Thursday and could take on live batting practice soon, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

There are less than two weeks remaining in the season, so it's unlikely Casali returns in time for him to get significant at-bats. A week of action might be a reasonable expectation for the remainder of the season.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez (elbow) has reported to Florida for the Fall Instructional League, which runs from Sept. 22 through Oct. 13, MassLive.com reports. The 25-year-old catcher will continue a throwing program, perform some isolated non-throwing catching drills, and serve as a designated hitter.

The Red Sox are expecting Vazquez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, to be fully ready for spring training next year. After the instructional league, he'll continue with a normal offseason program to get his arm strong and then report to winter ball in Puerto Rico.

Tigers catcher James McCann went 3 for 4 Tuesday with one run scored and a double. He has now hit safely in his last six games (12 for 23) and in eight of his last nine.

He continued to get regular time during a recent slump and his confidence seems to have grown, at least as far as at the plate. He has one double, one triple, one home run and three RBI in those last six games and has struck out just three times. His OBP is now .312 and his slugging percentage is .411.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in Tuesday's 2-0 victory over the Indians.

Perez's two-out hit opened the scoring in the ballgame, plating Mike Moustakas in the second inning. The 25-year-old backstop now has a modest five-game hitting streak, and had recorded three consecutive multi-hit efforts prior to tonight's contest. Although 15 of his 19 homers came before the All-Star break, Perez continues to provide overall solid offensive production from the catcher position for a Royals club heading to the postseason once again in 2015.

Rays catcher Curt Casali and left fielder Desmond Jennings  both did some running prior to Friday's game, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Jennings is out with a knee injury while Casali is nursing a hamstring injury.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes has been struggling since coming off the disabled list in late May. But he wasn't struggling Tuesday night in Toronto.

Gomes blasted two solo home runs, including one in the ninth that sent the game into extra innings. It marked his multi-hit game in nearly three weeks.

He has 11 home runs in 280 at-bats on the year.

Blue Jays right-hander Drew Hutchison has been recalled to start Saturday's game against the Tigers. Hutchison was sent down to Triple-A Buffalo following his most recent outing, a start on August 16. The Blue Jays did not need a fifth starter up until now, so they moved the young pitcher to the minors to keep him fresh.

Hutchison is 12-2 this year, but he does own a 5.06 ERA over 24 starts with the Jays--a testiment to Toronto's offensive prowess.  

Hutchison did make a start for the Bisons since his demotion, allowing two runs on three hits over four innings on Sunday.

To clear room for him on the roster, catcher Josh Thole has been optioned to Triple-A. He is expected to return to the club shortly after rosters expand on September 1.

Rays catcher Curt Casali has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain. Casali had been dealing with a tight hamstring for a few days. He aggrivated the injury while circling the basepaths following his home run on Tuesday. The Rays are hopeful he will only miss the minimum time.

To replace him on the roster, catcher J.P. Arencibia has been recalled from Triple-A Durham.

Rays catcher Curt Casali went 1 for 3 with his 10th home run in Tuesday's 11-7 loss to the Twins. And as if the loss wasn't bad enough, Casali was injured during his trot around the bases following his fifth-inning solo blast.

"Curt, strained [left] hamstring," Rays manager Kevin Cash said, per MLB.com. "He'll be looked at by doctors tomorrow. We won't have any real information until tomorrow morning."

As Casali rounded the bases, he was seen favoring his left leg.

"It was weird, it was really weird," Casali said. "...I felt fine going to first base. I was going pretty fast and it just started getting tight on me as soon as I hit the bag it didn't go very good going around the bases.

"I didn't want to injure it worse than it already was," Casali said. "I tried to take it as slow as I could. I knew I had to get around the bases somehow. Just unfortunate timing."