MLB Player News
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Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Lofts ninth homer
Jeffers went 1-for-5 with a three-run homer in Monday's win over the Tigers.
The 26-year-old catcher launched a three-run shot off Joey Wentz in the first inning to extend Minnesota's early lead. Jeffers now has four long balls in his last four games played, further bolstering his case for more playing time behind the dish.
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Ben Rortvedt C | NYM
Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Gets fourth start in six games
Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's game against the White Sox.
Rortvedt is behind the plate for the fourth time in six games and may have inched ahead of Kyle Higashioka on the depth chart at catcher. Since getting called up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on July 21, Rortvedt has drawn walks at a 15 percent clip, but he's managed just one hit in 17 at-bats.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Yankees' Kyle Higashioka: Losing work to Rortvedt
Higashioka is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox.
Higashioka is sitting for the fourth time in six games and may be falling into the weak side of a timeshare at catcher with Ben Rortvedt. Since top backstop Jose Trevino (wrist) went down with a season-ending injury shortly after the All-Star break, Higashioka has produced a .537 OPS while striking out at a 32.4 percent rate over 12 games.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Heads to bench Monday
Kirk is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Guardians.
Kirk will hit the bench for the series opener after he had started in each of the last four games, with the most recent two coming at catcher while Danny Jansen (wrist) dealt with an injury. Jansen is back behind the plate Monday, but Kirk has made the case to remain part of a timeshare on the days he's not being used as a designated hitter. Though Kirk has been disappointing on the whole in 2023, he's in the midst of one of his best offensive stretches of the season. Dating back to July 20, Kirk has slashed .395/.500/.651 with three home runs and 8:4 BB:K in 13 games.
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Danny Jansen C | TEX
Blue Jays' Danny Jansen: Back behind dish Monday
Jansen (wrist) will start at catcher and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Guardians.
Jansen will check back in behind the plate after an inflamed right wrist kept him out of the lineup the past two days. With Jansen back in the fold, Alejandro Kirk will head to the bench for the series opener in Cleveland.
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Freddy Fermin C | SD
Royals' Freddy Fermin: Running hot at plate
Fermin went 2-for-4 with a double in Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies.
Fermin closed out the weekend with a fourth consecutive two-hit game, and he's now slashing a blistering .388/.404/.714 with four home runs, eight RBI and 11 runs in 13 games since the All-Star break. An injury to Nick Pratto (groin) along with his own hot bat has allowed Fermin to take hold of a regular spot in the lineup alongside veteran catcher Salvador Perez, who has been seeing more time at first base and designated hitter of late. Perez is out of the lineup Monday in Boston due to what appears to be a minor hand injury, so Matt Beaty will fill in at first base while Fermin bats sixth and settles in behind the plate for what will be his fifth consecutive start.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Sitting out Monday
Perez (hand) is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Though he'll be on the bench for the series opener at Fenway Park, Perez appears to have avoided a major injury scare after he was removed from Sunday's 8-4 loss to the Phillies when he was hit in the left hand by a pitch. X-rays later cleared Perez of any structural damage, so he'll be viewed as day-to-day while he heals up from the hand contusion. With Perez on the bench Monday, Freddy Fermin will start behind the plate while Matt Beaty gets the nod at first base.
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Matt Thaiss C | BOS
Angels' Matt Thaiss: Goes deep Sunday
Thaiss went 1-for-3 with a solo home run against Seattle in Sunday's extra-inning loss.
Thaiss hit a big solo shot in the seventh inning to tie the game 2-2, but the Mariners ended up pulling out the win in the the 10th frame. The long ball was Thaiss's first since July 18, a span of 13 games. The catcher struggled mightily during that stretch, slashing .103/.200/.103 with no extra-base hits and a 33.3 percent strikeout rate over 45 plate appearances. Thaiss has held onto the primary catcher role since Chad Wallach hasn't hit any better, but both will likely see their playing time reduced when Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) is ready to return, likely near the end of August.
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Twins' Christian Vazquez: Sitting Monday
Vazquez is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Vazquez will give way to Ryan Jeffers behind the dish for the series opener. The two backstops have now alternated starts at catcher over the last eight games.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Notches two hits
Bethancourt went 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Tigers.
Bethancourt tallied his first multi-hit effort since June 30 and had just his second extra-base hit in his last 20 games. The 31-year-old has had a rough go at the plate this year, slashing .218/.251/.368 with seven homers, 23 RBI, 33 runs and an 11:63 BB:K in 248 plate appearances. Despite his struggles, Bethancourt faces little competition for starts behind the dish since Francisco Mejia (knee) went down with a sprained knee July 20.