MLB Player News
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Korey Lee C | CHW
Astros' Korey Lee: Doesn't make roster
The Astros optioned Lee to Triple-A Sugar Land on Tuesday, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Yainer Diaz appears to have earned the second catching spot over Lee, who tallied four hits and four RBI in his 12-game MLB debut last season. The 2019 first-round pick will presumably see big-league action at some point this season, whether due to an Astros injury or Diaz's performance.
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James McCann C | ARI
Orioles' James McCann: Likely to need IL stint
McCann (oblique) is "likely" to need a stint on the injured list, Orioles general manager Mike Elias told MLB.com on Monday.
McCann tweaked his left oblique back on March 20 and hasn't played since. While the catcher considered it to be a "minor" strain, it doesn't look like he'll be well enough to avoid a trip to the IL. Anthony Bemboom looms as the likely roster replacement.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Makes Opening Day roster
O'Hoppe has been informed he's made the Opening Day roster, Sarah Valenzuela of the Los Angeles Times reports.
O'Hoppe was a strong candidate regardless, but he is at least in part going to make the Angels out of spring training because Max Stassi (hip) will open the year on the injured list. The backstop has been solid in spring play with a .799 OPS over 36 plate appearances, and he likely will see the majority of the reps behind the plate while Stassi is on the shelf.
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Max Stassi C | SF
Angels' Max Stassi: Headed to injured list
Stassi was placed on the 10-day injured list with a hip injury by the Angels on Monday, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
Stassi hurt his hip during an appearance in a minor-league game Sunday. It's not clear at this point how much time he might miss. With Stassi on the shelf, Logan O'Hoppe now rejoins the big club to share time at catcher with Matt Thaiss.
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Logan O'Hoppe C | LAA
Angels' Logan O'Hoppe: Looks poised for roster spot
O'Hoppe now appears to be on track to open the season as a member of the Angels' 26-man active roster after manager Phil Nevin acknowledged Sunday that Max Stassi (hip) will likely begin the campaign on the injured list, FieldLevelMedia.com reports.
Given that the Angels want the 23-year-old to play regularly along with the fact that his primary competition for the No. 2 catcher role, Matt Thaiss, was out of minor-league options, O'Hoppe looked in line to open the season at Triple-A Salt Lake as recently as two weeks ago. However, with Stassi recently missing time in camp due to a personal matter before hurting his hip in a minor-league game Sunday, O'Hoppe looks like he could get the chance to see regular reps with the big club. O'Hoppe demonstrated impressive power-hitting and on-base skills at the Double-A level and in his brief taste of the majors in 2022, so he may be worth rostering in two-catcher leagues while he has a fairly clear path to playing time in the big leagues. Stassi took a big step back offensively in 2022 and likely didn't enter the season with much job security, so O'Hoppe could get the chance to stake a permanent claim to the No. 1 catching gig if he thrives early on in the campaign.
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Max Stassi C | SF
Angels' Max Stassi: Injures hip Sunday
Angels manager Phil Nevin said Sunday that Stassi is unlikely to be included on the Opening Day roster after experiencing hip soreness while playing in a minor-league spring training game, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.
The Angels may not have a full picture of Stassi's injury until after he presumably goes through more extensive tests Monday, but the hip issue coupled with an unspecified personal matter that has recently kept him away from camp looks as though it'll prevent him from opening the season on the 26-man active roster. Stassi's expected absence to begin the campaign will pave the way for both Logan O'Hoppe and Matt Thaiss to make the Opening Day roster, with O'Hoppe representing the higher-upside fantasy option of the two.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Secures backup catcher role
Wong clinched a spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after the team reassigned Jorge Alfaro to minor-league camp Monday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Though he missed much of the Red Sox's Grapefruit League slate while managing a left hamstring injury, Wong drew back into the spring lineup Monday versus Atlanta and appears to be back to full health as Opening Day approaches. Despite Wong's lack of at-bats and innings behind the dish this spring, manager Alex Cora said he felt comfortable enough with the 26-year-old to keep him on hand as the understudy to Reese McGuire. Since McGuire bats from the left side of the plate, the righty-hitting Wong could end up filling the short side of a platoon at catcher.
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James McCann C | ARI
Orioles' James McCann: Status for Opening Day in question
McCann (oblique) said his hitting session Sunday merely went "OK," and he remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Thursday's season opener in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.
McCann hit off a tee in the batting cage in an attempt to gauge how much he had progressed in his recovery from left oblique discomfort, an issue that cropped up a few days earlier. While McCann didn't suggest that he experienced any sort of setback, he didn't come away encouraged that he took any major steps forward either as he aims to put the injury in the rear-view mirror. The Orioles will likely wait and see how McCann feels over the next couple of days before deciding if he's fit to serve in a backup role behind No. 1 backstop Adley Rutschman on Opening Day. If McCann requires a stint on the injured list, however, the Orioles could add Anthony Bemboom to the 26-man roster to work as Rutschman's understudy.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Back in Grapefruit League lineup
Wong will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's Grapefruit League game versus Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.
After being sidelined for much of camp with a left hamstring strain, Wong was able to catch in a minor-league game over the weekend and is now set to enter the Grapefruit League lineup for the first time since March 2. Wong is competing with non-roster invitee Jorge Alfaro for the No. 2 catcher spot on the Opening Day roster behind projected No. 1 option Reese McGuire.