MLB Player News

Rutschman (triceps) has progressed to hitting off a tee from both sides of the plate in addition to doing some light throwing and increasing his receiving drills at catcher, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. "Doing extremely well," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Sunday, when asked for an update on Rutschman's status. "He's right on track for where we want him to be right now, and now it's just about building [reps] and recovering."

Though Rutschman isn't quite fully involved in team workouts and looks on track to miss the start of the regular season due to a right triceps strain, the 24-year-old at least appears to be trending toward an abbreviated absence. Because he's not already on the 40-man roster, the Orioles won't have to place Rutschman on the injured list, so he'll presumably be reassigned to Triple-A Norfolk once he's deemed ready from game action. If Rutschman quickly returns to top form at the plate and behind the dish, an early season call-up to the big leagues could still be in the forecast.

Rortvedt (oblique) is expected to begin the season on the injured list, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.

The catcher was acquired by the Yankees on March 13 in a trade that included Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Josh Donaldson and sent away Gary Sanchez. Once healthy, Rortvedt is expected to compete with Kyle Higashioka for the starting job behind the plate this season. In 39 games with the Twins last season, the 24-year-old Rortvedt slashed .169/.229/.281 with three homers and seven RBI.

Heim will open the year as the Rangers' backup catcher after the team traded Jose Trevino to the Yankees on Saturday, Levi Weaver of The Athletic reports.

Heim didn't do much at the plate in 82 games last season, hitting just .196/.239/.358, but a .210 BABIP suggests he deserved at least a bit better. With above-average defense behind the plate, his bat only needs to improve by a modest amount for him to look like a perfectly serviceable backup, though he's unlikely to move ahead of Mitch Garver on the depth chart.

Trevino was sent from the Rangers to the Yankees on Saturday in exchange for Albert Abreu and Robert Ahlstrom.

Trevino started 81 games behind the plate for the Rangers last season but would have found it tough to repeat that number this season after the team acquired Mitch Garver from the Rangers. His expected playing-time split with new teammate Kyle Higashioka is not yet clear. Both backstops have good gloves but don't do much at the plate. Trevino owns a .634 career OPS in 156 major-league games, while Higashioka owns a similar .619 OPS in 139 MLB contests. Ben Rortvedt could also factor into the picture, but he's currently out with an oblique injury.

Maile (hamstring) will open the season on the injured list, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports.

Maile was in camp on a minor-league deal and seemed to have a shot at the backup catcher job, but the hamstring injury he suffered while running the bases in late March put those plans on hold for now. Sandy Leon has also failed to make the team, leaving rookie Bryan Lavastida as the backup behind Austin Hedges.

With Riley Greene (foot) and Derek Hill (hamstring) both out to begin the regular season, Haase may see more playing time in the outfield, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Haase has been preparing for a versatile role. He can play behind the plate as well as in the outfield and potentially at first base. He should move around plenty this season, but his services may be needed in the outfield in the short term due to the injuries. The playing time should be there no matter where he slots in, so Haase remains a decent fantasy option at the catcher position.

Plawecki hit a two-run home run in his only plate appearance in Friday's spring training game against the Rays.

Plawecki launched his first spring homer in the final inning of a blowout loss. He's expected to once again serve as Christian Vazquez's backup. The 31-year-old backstop hasn't hurt fantasy teams during his two-year stay in Boston, slashing .305/.364/.414 over 262 plate appearances. If an auction/draft strategy involves not having a catcher hurt the fantasy team, Plawecki is a decent choice.

McGuire will likely begin the season on the big-league roster, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

The 27-year-old catcher is out of minor-league options and sits third on the depth chart behind Danny Jansen and Alejandro Kirk, but the decision to allow 28-man rosters through April gives McGuire a reprieve for now and saves him from being placed on waivers. He's gone 2-for-20 (.100) this spring with zero extra-base hits and 0:4 BB:K.

Raleigh, who's hitting .278 with a home run and three RBI in nine Cactus League games, could be one of three catchers to make the Opening Day roster, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old backstop has shown some solid improvement at the plate this spring after producing a .180/.223/.309 slash line across his first 148 big-league plate appearances in 2021. Raleigh does have solid pedigree as an offensive player, highlighted by a stellar season at Triple-A Tacoma a year ago that saw him produce a .324 average and .985 OPS in 199 plate appearances. Kramer also notes Raleigh has worked well with the entire pitching staff this spring and already produced above-average defensive metrics during his first majors stint.

Rortvedt (oblique) isn't expected to be ready to play in any spring training games, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.

Rortvedt was acquired in a trade with the Twins at the start of camp but has battled an oblique strain all spring. He's expected to eventually compete with Kyle Higashioka for starts behind the plate, but Higashioka appears to be penciled in as the primary catcher to start the season, with Rortvedt likely heading to the injured list.