MLB Player News
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James McCann C | ARI
Orioles' James McCann: Back from IL
The Orioles reinstated McCann (oblique) from the 10-day injured list Sunday.
McCann spent just over the minimum 10 days on the shelf due to the left oblique strain he suffered back on March 20 in the latter stages of spring training. He'll settle in as the primary backup to standout catcher Adley Rutschman, though McCann doesn't project to play more than a couple times per week. The Orioles also have a third catcher (Anthony Bemboom) on the 26-man active roster for the moment, as Baltimore chose to option outfielder Kyle Stowers to the minors to make room for McCann.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Ties game with three-run homer
Perez went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 6-5 victory over the Giants.
Perez turned a 5-2 deficit into a 5-5 game with a three-run homer off Ross Stripling in the eighth inning. The backstop has shown off his impressive power to start the year with two homers along with a .533 slugging percentage over 30 at-bats in eight games. As long as he's able to stay on the field, there's no reason to think Perez won't continue to be a supplier of long balls in 2023.
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James McCann C | ARI
Orioles' James McCann: Could return Sunday
McCann (oblique) will catch Saturday for High-A Aberdeen and could return to the Orioles on Sunday, Roch Kubatko of MASN Sports reports.
McCann begin his rehab assignment with Aberdeen on Friday and singled twice. The backup backstop has been on the shelf since the start of the year with his oblique strain, and even if he doesn't return Sunday, he should be back with the club early in the next week if there are no setbacks.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Not starting Saturday
Bethancourt is out of the lineup for Saturday's game versus Oakland, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 31-year-old and Francisco Mejia have alternated starts every game this season, and Mejia will get the nod Saturday after Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored during Friday's contest. Assuming the trend continues, Bethancourt should be back in the lineup for Sunday's series finale.
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Reese McGuire C | CHW
Red Sox's Reese McGuire: Not in Saturday's lineup
McGeuire is out of the lineup for Saturday's game at Detroit, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.
McGuire is 4-for-13 to begin the season and will continue splitting time behind the plate with Connor Wong. With Wong starting Saturday, each catcher has started four games this season.
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Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Starting Saturday
Rogers is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Saturday's game against the Red Sox.
Rogers takes over as the backstop with Eric Haase getting the day off. The former already has two home runs in just 12 at-bats this season, so it makes sense that the Tigers are looking to get his bat in the lineup more frequently. Moving forward, Haase can also play in left field, so Rogers may be able to secure more regular playing time at catcher if he keeps hitting well.
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Eric Haase C | SF
Tigers' Eric Haase: Day off Saturday
Haase is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Red Sox.
Haase started the past four games -- two at catcher, two in left field -- and will receive a breather Saturday after starting the year 3-for-23 with eight strikeouts. Jake Rogers has clubbed two early home runs and will take over behind the plate.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Belts first homer
Langeliers went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run in a loss to the Rays on Friday.
The young backstop unleashed a monstrous 440-foot shot to left field in the seventh inning for his first homer of the season. After opening the campaign hitless over his first seven plate appearances, Langeliers has hit safely in four straight games, going 6-for-16 with Friday's homer and walk and three total runs.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Rays' Christian Bethancourt: Homers for first hit of season
Bethancourt went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and two runs scored Friday against the Athletics.
Bethancourt took Ken Waldichuk yard in the third inning to tally both his first hit and home run of the campaign. He's alternated starts with Francisco Mejia behind the plate to begin the season, though neither player has produced early on to separate themselves in the competition for playing time. Overall, Bethancourt has gone 1-for-12 with four strikeouts and two walks across four games.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Goes yard in win
Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 3-1 win over the Giants.
Perez has actually been one of the Royals' most consistent hitters so far, batting .259 (7-for-27) across seven games. His homer Friday came in the eighth inning to give the Royals a bit more breathing room. Three of the catcher's seven hits have gone for extra bases (one homer, two doubles), but he has just one RBI and two runs scored, as the lineup around him has struggled with run production.