MLB Player News

Kirk was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup against the Rays due to a non-COVID-19 illness.

Kirk was penciled in to start behind the plate and bat cleanup, but an ailment will prevent him from taking the field. The 24-year-old's status for Opening Day shouldn't be affected by the illness, and he'll likely return to the lineup within the next few days.

Grandal has a .902 OPS across 30 plate appearances during Cactus League action.

Grandal is coming off a disastrous 2022 season, during which he slashed just .202/.301/.269 across 376 plate appearances. While it's difficult to make the case for a 34-year-old catcher to bounce back, Grandal has had a promising spring performance that is highlighted by three doubles and a home run. He should head into the season as Chicago's starting backstop.

Rortvedt (shoulder) began running last week, but he's not close to being able to swing a bat, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media reports.

Rortvedt underwent surgery on his left shoulder in late February. He was expected to be held out of baseball activities for at least a month, and he'll presumably need considerable time to ramp up once he's able to start swinging again. Rortvedt isn't expected to return to game action until at least May.

Stassi appears set to win the starting catcher job for the Angels despite hitting just .231 with a .615 OPS in 13 at-bats this spring, MLB.com reports.

Stassi looks set to begin the season as the starter with Matt Thaiss and Logan O'Hoppe battling for the backup role, though Stassi could split time or platoon with Thaiss. While Stassi may begin the season as the starter, it seems just a matter of time before O'Hoppe takes over as the starter. O'Hoppe had a breakout season last year by hitting .283 with 26 home runs and a .961 OPS at Double-A which earned him a 14-game late-season call-up with the Angels.

Thaiss appears as a slight favorite to begin the season in the majors over Logan O'Hoppe, MLB.com reports.

Thaiss is hitting .389 with a 1.060 OPS in 18 at-bats this spring. He's competing with Logan O'Hoppe for the backup role to Max Stassi. O'Hoppe is a top prospect and the Angels may want him to play every day in the minors initially. Still, this job battle may come down to the final days of spring training.

O'Hoppe appears as an underdog to begin the season in the majors with Matt Thaiss (1.060 OPS) having a good spring, MLB.com reports. O'Hoppe is hitting .250 (5-for-20) with a home run this spring.

O'Hoppe is one of the team's top prospects, but the Angels may start him out in the minors. He's drawing good reviews overall this spring, so a decision on him making the Opening Day roster may come down to the wire. Either way, O'Hoppe seems like a candidate to be in the majors earlier rather than later this season. O'Hoppe had a breakout season last year by hitting .283 with 26 homers and a .961 OPS at Double-A which earned him a 14-game late-season call-up with the Angels.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters Saturday that Trevino (wrist) will catch Tuesday and Thursday, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Trevino has been sidelined with a right wrist sprain, but the backstop told reporters that he was confident he'd be ready for Opening Day, and the Yankees scheduling their starting backstop to play this early makes it all but a foregone conclusion. If there are any setbacks, New York will likely push back the right-handed hitter, but for now there should be no concern that Trevino will be ready to roll when the games matter.

Heim went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's spring game against Milwaukee.

The homer was Heim's second Cactus League blast. Heim, who started at catcher Friday, is expected to share the job with Mitch Garver in 2023. Garver is coming back from forearm surgery and is expected to serve as the primary designated hitter, which means Heim could approach or surpass the career-high 450 plate appearances he had in 2022. Whether he can sustain production over the course of a long season remains an issue. Heim batted .181/.279/.311 following the All-Star break after a productive first half.

Rogers is expected to be fine after being lifted from Friday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Yankees due to getting hit by a pitch on his left elbow, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Rogers is sporting a bruise following the hit by pitch, but he was removed as a precaution and should be available to play as soon as Saturday. He's slated to back up Eric Haase at catcher for the Tigers this season.

Rogers was removed from Friday's Grapefruit League matchup against the Yankees after getting hit by a pitch on his left elbow, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Rogers was having a very solid spring before leaving Friday's game, slashing .333/.364/.857 with three home runs over 22 plate appearances. Getting plunked on the elbow likely means swelling, and at least a couple missed days, but the Tigers should provide an update shortly.