MLB Player News

Rutschman hit .314/.411/.525 with four homers, 16 RBI, 19 runs and 19:24 BB:K across 33 games for Triple-A Norfolk after being promoted in August.

The minor-league season is now over, and it was a strong one for the 2019 draft's No. 1 pick. His composite line for the season: .283/.398/.513 with 22 homers and a 74:81 BBB:K. At this point, there's no doubt that Rutschman is ready for the majors, with his power and plate discipline putting him in strong position to make an instant impact. The only question is whether he'll break camp with the O's next year or get held back for some more Triple-A action in an attempt to manipulate his service time -- although that may become a moot point depending on what happens in baseball's ongoing collective-bargaining negotiations. Either way, there's not much standing in front of Rutschman's ascendance.

Rortvedt was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul on Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Rortvedt had served as extra catching depth since late August while Mitch Garver was out with a back injury. He went 6-for-19 with a homer in his latest stint with the team. With Garver now healthy, he's no longer needed, so he'll head back to the minors.

Garver (back) was activated off the injured list Tuesday, Brandon Warne of Access Twins reports.

Garver missed nearly a month with a lower-back strain but is ready to go after appearing in three rehab games. He should return to the primary catcher role over the last two weeks of the season and will look to build on his strong .242/.352/.527 slash line.

Maldonado went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in Monday's win over the Angels.

Maldonado has hit safely in each of his last three games, but perhaps more importantly, he snapped a homer drought that dated back to Aug. 25, when he blasted a solo shot against the Royals. The veteran backstop is hitting just .170 this month while striking out 15 times in 47 at-bats, so he hasn't been very productive over the last couple of weeks.

Perez went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 7-2 win over Cleveland during the first game of Monday's doubleheader.

The veteran catcher took Triston McKenzie deep in the fifth inning, wrapping up the scoring for the Royals in the matinee. Perez is now tied with Vladimir Guerrero for the major-league lead in homers at 46 -- a total that sets a new MLB record for most home runs in a season by a catcher, breaking the mark set by Johnny Bench in 1970.

Stassi is not in the lineup Monday against the Astros.

Stassi started the past two games and will receive a day to reset after going 0-for-7 with a walk and six strikeouts. Kurt Suzuki will work behind the plate for the Halos.

The Astros promoted Lee from Double-A Corpus Christi to Triple-A Sugar Land on Monday.

Houston's top catching prospect will advance to his third affiliate of the season after beginning the campaign at High-A Asheville. Since receiving a promotion to Double-A in mid-June, Lee hit .254 with eight home runs and three stolen bases while walking at an 8.4 percent clip.

Kirk will start at catcher and bat sixth Monday against the Rays.

Kirk was on the bench for each of the past three games, but he'll step back in behind the dish to catch Cy Young candidate Robbie Ray in Monday's series opener. Though Kirk remains Toronto's top hitting catcher, Danny Jansen's superior defense may make him the more useful asset for a Blue Jays lineup that already boasts plenty of quality bats. Expect the two to remain part of a timeshare the rest of the way.

Hedges will start at catcher and bat eighth in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals.

Since Cleveland brought back Roberto Perez from the injured list last week, Hedges has fallen back into a near-even timeshare at catcher. The two backstops have now alternated starts across the last seven contests, and that trend should continue in the nightcap, when Perez presumably gets the nod over Hedges.

Perez is out of the lineup for the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals.

Perez and Austin Hedges have been alternating turns behind the dish since the former was activated from the 10-day injured list last week, and the pattern will likely continue as Cleveland opens a nine-game week with a doubleheader. Hedges will form a battery with Triston McKenzie in the opening contest, but look for Perez to start at catcher in Monday's nightcap.