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  • Ben Rortvedt C | NYM

    Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Held out again Tuesday

    Rortvedt (finger) was unable to return to workouts as hoped Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

    The 25-year-old is still having his finger injury evaluated by a specialist and the Yankees hope to have more clarification Wednesday. Rortvedt -- who missed much of 2022 with a knee injury -- is competing this spring to be the backup behind Jose Trevino.

  • Ben Rortvedt C | NYM

    Yankees' Ben Rortvedt: Managing finger issue

    Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rortvedt is tending to a finger injury, but the catcher is expected to return to camp Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

    Boone didn't elaborate on the extent of Rortvedt's finger injury, though it's believed to be only a minor concern. The injury may nonetheless keep Rortvedt from being ready to go when the Yankees open their Grapefruit League schedule Saturday versus the Phillies. Rortvedt looks like he'll get the chance to compete for the No. 2 catcher role in spring training, but Kyle Higashioka presumably has the inside track on the gig after handling those duties for much of the 2022 season.

  • Cal Raleigh C | SEA

    Mariners' Cal Raleigh: Looks good for spring camp

    Raleigh (thumb) took live batting practice against Mariners reliever Diego Castillo on Monday and appears to be fully healthy for spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

    Raleigh had already been catching bullpen sessions during the first couple weeks of camp in Arizona, but his ability to add batting practice to his workout regimen suggests that he's been cleared for full baseball activities after undergoing surgery in the fall to address a broken left thumb and a torn ligament in his hand. Coming off a 2022 campaign in which he hit just .211 but led all backstops with 27 home runs, Raleigh is likely to be drafted as a starting catcher in nearly every fantasy league.

  • Mitch Garver DH | SEA

    Rangers' Mitch Garver: Looks healthy for spring

    Garver (forearm) took batting practice Monday and appears to be healthy for spring training, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

    Garver, who agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal in January to avoid arbitration, is back in Texas for a second season. After heading into Opening Day last season as the Rangers' top backstop, Garver ended up making just 14 starts behind the plate before a right flexor sprain limited him strictly to designated-hitter duties until he underwent season-ending surgery on his forearm shortly before the All-Star break. Though his ability to take batting practice at the start of spring training suggests he's at or close to 100 percent, Garver may have to settle for more of a part-time role at catcher and DH in 2023. Even before having forearm surgery, Garver graded out poorly behind the plate. Jonah Heim, meanwhile, is a superior defensive option who also showed some pop and decent bat-to-ball skills while serving as Texas' primary backstop last season. The righty-hitting Garver thus looks like a better candidate for a short-side platoon gig at catcher or DH.

  • Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Not yet in camp

    Kirk has yet to report to spring training as he awaits the birth of his child, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

    "We're still on baby watch," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday. "I thought it was going to be (Thursday). My last update this morning was, 'Not quite yet.' " Kirk is going to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, so after he does report he might only get in a couple weeks work before departing for the tournament in early March.

  • White Sox's Yasmani Grandal: Focusing on catching, not DH

    White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Friday that he wants Grandal to primarily focus on catching this year, per Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com.

    Grandal was limited to DH duties for stretches last season due to back and knee injuries, but he entered camp at full health, and the hope is that he can be a near-everyday presence behind the plate throughout the 2023 campaign. "I haven't really thought about him as a DH," said Grifol. "That doesn't mean he's not going to. But he's our catcher."

  • Astros' Martin Maldonado: Fully healthy for spring

    Maldonado (hernia) confirmed Thursday that he is fully healthy leading into the spring, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

    Maldonado required hernia surgery in mid-November, but he's now healthy after having three full months to recover. He used the period of rehab and recovery to drop 17 pounds and is preparing to be something close to an everyday presence at catcher this year for the reigning World Series-champion Astros. The 36-year-old hit a career-high 15 home runs over 113 regular-season games in 2022, though his .600 OPS was still below average.

  • Jake Rogers C | DET

    Tigers' Jake Rogers: No restrictions expected in 2023

    Tigers manager A.J. Hinch doesn't believe that Rogers (elbow) will have any restrictions to begin 2023, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

    Rogers has already been able to catch bullpens in Florida, and Hinch told reporters that the backstop sent him photos making throws at a variety of angles. He missed the 2022 season while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery that occurred in 2021. Assuming continued good health, Rogers should be the primary backup for Eric Haase during the 2023 campaign.

  • Jake Rogers C | DET

    Tigers' Jake Rogers: Looks healthy for spring training

    Rogers (elbow) was spotted catching Matthew Boyd's bullpen session at Monday's spring training workout and appears to be at full health ahead of the 2023 season, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

    Though Rogers missed the entire 2022 season while rehabbing from September 2021 Tommy John surgery, he was cleared to resume full hitting last summer. However, he wasn't able to start a throwing progression until the fall, but the 27-year-old backstop appears to be in sound health at the start of spring training. He'll be competing in camp for a spot on the Tigers' Opening Day roster as the top backup to presumptive No. 1 catcher Eric Haase.

  • Zack Collins C | CLE

    Guardians' Zack Collins: Inks MiLB deal with Cleveland

    Collins signed a minor-league contract Thursday with the Guardians which includes an invitation to major-league spring training.

    Collins struggled to a .155/.231/.320 batting line in 36 major-league games last season between the Blue Jays and Pirates. The 28-year-old catcher seems unlikely to make the Cleveland's Opening Day roster since he sits firmly behind Mike Zunino and Bo Naylor on the depth chart.

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