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  • Jonah Heim C | TEX

    Rangers' Jonah Heim: Logs two hits Saturday

    Heim went 2-for-2 with a run scored, threw out a runner attempting to steal and picked off a runner at third base in Saturday's spring game against the Brewers.

    Heim had a strong game after fellow catcher Kyle Higashioka belted two home runs and drove in six a day earlier. The two backstops are expected to have a relatively even share behind the plate, which could help the switch-hitting Heim maintain a strong bat all season and avoid a second-half fade.

  • Twins' Christian Vazquez: Set to reprise catcher role

    Vazquez went 1-for-3 in Saturday's loss to the Red Sox and is hitting 2-for-8 in his first three spring games.

    Vazquez was the subject of trade rumors in the offseason as the Twins were thought to want to offload the $10 million for the final year of his contract. However, he looks set to stay on the roster and repeat sharing catching duties fairly equally with Ryan Jeffers. Vazquez continues to slip at the plate as he had a career-worst .575 OPS and .248 OBP last season, but he is still seen as a strong defender (ninth in baseball with seven Defensive Runs Saved).

  • Alex Jackson C | MIN

    Yankees' Alex Jackson: Competing for backup catcher job

    Jackson went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League win over Toronto.

    Jackson drove in half of New York's runs in the exhibition contest, drilling a solo homer to left field in the fifth inning and adding a two-run double in the sixth. The 29-year-old is trying to secure the Yankees' backup catcher job this spring, with J.C. Escarra and Ben Rice also candidates for the role.

  • Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Homers twice Friday

    Higashioka went 2-for-2 with two home runs and six RBI in Friday's spring game against the Cubs.

    Higashioka belted a two-run homer in the second inning, produced a run on sacrifice fly in the fourth and then launched a three-run shot in the sixth. He blipped the fantasy radar in 2024 when the right-handed hitter knocked 17 home runs in 84 games for the Padres. The catcher's also drawn reviews this spring for his handling of the pitching staff, Shawn McFarland of the Dallas Morning News reports. The Rangers are expected to have a relatively even split behind the plate between Higashioka and Jonah Heim, who had some alarming drops in advanced metrics last season and is no stranger to second-half fades.

  • Connor Wong C | BOS

    Red Sox's Connor Wong: Making spring debut Saturday

    Wong (shoulder) is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

    A sore shoulder slowed Wong at the start of camp, but he is now ready to make his spring debut. The 28-year-old surprised many with his performance last season (.280/.333/.425), and after the Red Sox traded Kyle Teel this winter, Wong looks like the catcher of the present and future in Boston.

  • Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Still in mix as catcher

    The A's are open to Soderstrom serving as their backup catcher this season, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

    Soderstrom has progressively seen his playing time behind the plate dwindle as his professional career has progressed, and he appeared there only once in 61 big-league games last season. He's projected to serve as the A's primary first baseman to begin the season, though the team is considering him as the backup to Shea Langeliers to maximize their roster flexibility. While Soderstrom won't enter the season with catcher eligibility in most formats, his potential to pick it up during the campaign would be a significant boost to his fantasy appeal.

  • Ben Rortvedt C | CIN

    Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Gets injection for sore shoulder

    Rortvedt will not be allowed to throw for 3-to-4 days after receiving an injection Wednesday in his sore right shoulder, MLB.com reports.

    The Rays are hopeful Rortvedt will be ready to return to Grapefruit League play shortly after the brief shutdown period. He's slated to open the season as the team's No.2 catcher behind Danny Jansen.

  • Connor Wong C | BOS

    Red Sox's Connor Wong: Aims for spring debut this weekend

    Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that the club is hoping Wong (shoulder) will be ready to make his Grapefruit League debut this weekend, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

    Wong has been behind schedule due to shoulder soreness, but he will face live pitching Thursday and Friday. If that goes well, Wong will be cleared to play in games. It's not clear whether his initial game action would come as a designated hitter or if he would be allowed to catch right away, but Wong should be ready to serve as Boston's top backstop by the time Opening Day arrives.

  • Austin Wells C | NYY

    Yankees' Austin Wells: Starting Wednesday's exhibition

    Wells is in the lineup for Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, starting at catcher and batting fifth, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.

    The Yankees had previously disclosed a plan to keep Wells out of spring games until March 1, but the catcher will end up making his Grapefruit League debut a bit earlier than expected. In his age-24 campaign, Wells slashed .229/.322/.395 with 13 homers and 55 RBI across 414 regular-season plate appearances, and he should shoulder even more of the workload behind the plate in 2025, if healthy.

  • Ben Rortvedt C | CIN

    Rays' Ben Rortvedt: Nursing sore shoulder

    Rortvedt will be held out of action for a few days with right shoulder soreness, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.

    The Rays do not seem worried that it could be a long-term issue for the catcher. Rortvedt is projected to open the season as the backup behind Danny Jansen.

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