MLB Player News
-
Austin Hedges C | CLE
Indians' Austin Hedges: Back on bench Friday
Hedges is not starting Friday against the Brewers.
He'll get a breather for the second time in three games as Ryan Lavarnway handles the catching duties and bats eighth.
-
Gary Sanchez C | MIL
Yankees' Gary Sanchez: Launches 21st homer
Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a hit-by-pitch in Thursday's 6-4 loss to Toronto.
The catcher tried to spark a ninth-inning rally with his long ball, and Luke Voit followed up with a pinch-hit blast, but the comeback effort fell short. Sanchez has clubbed three homers in six games in September, but he has just one other hit in that span. He's slashing .213/.315/.446 with 21 homers, 50 RBI, 50 runs scored and 13 doubles across 384 plate appearances.
-
Ryan Jeffers C | MIN
Twins' Ryan Jeffers: Riding pine Thursday
Jeffers isn't starting Thursday's game against Cleveland.
Jeffers went 1-for-3 with a double, a run and a strikeout Wednesday, but he'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Ben Rortvedt will start at catcher and bat eighth.
-
Yan Gomes C | CHC
Athletics' Yan Gomes: Not starting Thursday
Gomes isn't starting Thursday's game against the White Sox.
Gomes had started each of the last three games, and he went 3-for-9 with two runs, an RBI and three strikeouts. Sean Murphy will start at catcher and bat eighth.
-
Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Launches 42nd homer
Perez went 1-for-4 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 9-8 loss to the Orioles.
The 31-year-old continued a power surge that has seen him slug four homers in the last five games and 10 in his last 16. Perez's 42 homers and 104 RBI on the year have shattered his prior career highs, and the latter mark leads the majors while being just one long ball behind Shohei Ohtani for the HR crown. It's been half a century since a catcher led the league in home runs (Johnny Bench in 1972) and three decades since one led MLB in RBI (Darren Daulton in 1992), but Perez has a legitimate chance to make history in both categories.
-
Jose Trevino C | CIN
Rangers' Jose Trevino: On a roll
Trevino went 1-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's 8-5 win over the Diamondbacks.
Trevino was in the middle of a three-run eighth inning that rendered Arizona's two-run ninth meaningless. He drove in two with a single then scored on Jason Martin's ground-rule double. Earlier, he drove in a run on a fielder's choice. While Jonah Heim has surged ahead of Trevino on the depth chart, the 28-year-old veteran is not going away quietly. Over the last 13 games, Trevino is batting .313 (15-for-48) with an .857 OPS and 10 RBI.
-
Sean Murphy C | ATL
Athletics' Sean Murphy: Shifting to reserve role
Murphy is out of the lineup Wednesday against the White Sox, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
The 26-year-old finds himself on the bench for the third consecutive game and for the eighth time in the past 10 contests. Murphy is 3-for-28 with a 40 percent strikeout rate in his past nine appearances, paving the way for Yan Gomes to take over as Oakland's primary catcher.
-
Francisco Mejia C | TB
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Overcomes shoulder issue
Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mejia (shoulder) will be available off the bench for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.
Though top backstop Mike Zunino will remain behind the dish Wednesday, the Rays' decision not to add another catcher to the 28-man active roster for the series finale in Boston implies confidence in Mejia's health. A bruised right shoulder has kept Mejia on the bench for two straight games, but Cash said the 25-year-old could re-enter the lineup Friday in Detroit.
-
Francisco Mejia C | TB
Rays' Francisco Mejia: Remains on bench
Mejia (shoulder) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Mejia will take a seat for a second straight game with Mike Zunino starting at catcher and batting ninth. However, the 25-year-old said he felt better Tuesday, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him available off the bench in Wednesday's series finale.
-
Jake Rogers C | DET
Tigers' Jake Rogers: Undergoes Tommy John surgery
Rogers (forearm) underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Manager A.J. Hinch indicated in late August that Rogers would likely miss the remainder of the season due to a right forearm strain, but it wasn't until Wednesday that it was revealed that the young backstop would require surgery. Rogers is now officially out for the remainder of the 2021 campaign, and he'll likely need most or all of the 2022 season to complete his rehab from the procedure. The 26-year-old appeared in 38 games prior to his injury and slashed .239/.306/.496 with six homers, 17 runs, 17 RBI and a stolen base.