MLB Player News

Garver (groin) could begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul next week, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.

Garver has been out since the start of June due to a groin injury which required surgery. He's been ramping up activities recently, catching a bullpen Thursday, but his exact return date remains unclear.

Maldonado is not starting Friday against the Yankees, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado went hitless across nine at-bats while starting all three games behind the plate during the recently completed series against Oakland. He'll get a rest Friday as Jason Castro bats eighth and catches Jake Odorizzi.

Perez will be on the bench for Friday's game against the Royals.

Perez will sit for the second time in three games despite homering Thursday. Austin Hedges takes over behind the plate in his absence.

Jeffers will sit Friday against the Tigers.

Jeffers homered Thursday, but that was just his fifth hit in his last 11 games. Ben Rortvedt will start behind the plate in his absence.

Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester on Friday, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

The young catcher has spent the past couple weeks in the majors, but he'll head back to Triple-A with Christian Vazquez and Kevin Plawecki both healthy. Wong went 3-for-11 with a double, two runs and seven strikeouts in his first taste of big-league action.

Plawecki (hamstring) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday's game against the Phillies, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Plawecki hasn't played since June 20 due to a left hamstring strain. The backstop resumed baseball activities last week and was ultimately able to avoid a rehab assignment. He'll rejoin Boston on Friday as the backup catcher behind Christian Vazquez. Connor Wong was optioned to Triple-A Worcester in a corresponding move.

Haase went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in a 5-3 loss to the Twins on Thursday.

Haase took Minnesota starter J.A. Happ 408-feet deep to left to open the game's scoring in the fourth and later singled as part of a rally in the sixth. It was his second homer in his past three contests, and the backstop now has 13 home runs and a .250/.297/.568 slash line in 41 games in 2021.

Jeffers went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, walk and strikeout as Minnesota defeated Detroit, 5-3 on Thursday.

Jeffers got the Twins on the board with his solo home run off Detroit starter Tarik Skubal in the fifth and later walked in the eighth to reach base eight times in his last 21 plate appearances. During those five games, the backstop has raised his OBP from .262 to .281.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run Thursday against the Royals.

Perez took Scott Barlow deep with two out in the eighth inning to give Cleveland a 4-3 lead, the fourth homer of the year for Perez. The veteran catcher returned from a two-month injury absence July 4 and, after going hitless in his first game back, has managed a hit in each of his last three games (3-for-12). It's at least a small measure of progress for Perez, who was slashing just .131/.274/.295 in 73 plate appearances at the time of his injury.

Gallagher (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Omaha on Thursday.

Gallagher has been sidelined since mid-June due to a right shoulder impingement, but his recovery progress has gone smoothly so far, and he participated in catching drills while dressed in full gear Wednesday. The 28-year-old will return to minor-league game action Thursday, and he could rejoin the major-league club in the near future.