MLB Player News

Realmuto (back) got six at-bats as a DH in Tuesday's extended spring training game Tuesday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

It was his first game action since being shut down March 11 with a bone bruise in his back. Once Realmuto is able to catch in extended spring, expect him to spend a couple of games with a full-season affiliate to complete his rehab assignment before joining the Marlins sometime next week.

Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Rockies.

Hedges tied the game at two with a solo blast off of Tyler Anderson in the fifth inning, opening the door for Hunter Renfroe to put the game away with a three-run shot in the seventh. The free-swinging catcher is living up to his pre-draft expectations, providing power (two homers) for his owners to go along with an ugly batting average (.188 through 32 at-bats). Hedges has started six of the Friars' last seven contests, putting his minor back ailment in the rearview mirror.

Herrera has been suspended for 50-games without pay after testing positive for Methylhexaneamine and Oxilofrine, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic Arizona reports.

Herrera will begin serving the suspension immediately, keeping him sidelined through May. The 21-year-old is currently on Low-A Kane County's roster. He hit a lackluster .208/.261/.290 across 58 games with the affiliate in 2017.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a run scored in Tuesday's loss to the Pirates.

Although Contreras has posted a .333 batting average since the start of the season, his consistent hitting has yet to translate into much run production. Over nine games he's driven in just one run and scored four. Strikeouts have also given him some trouble, as he's fanned in 23.8 percent of his plate appearances.

Grandal is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the A's.

Grandal will head to the bench for Tuesday's series opener against the Athletics as he continues to split time behind the dish with Austin Barnes. Barnes will pick up his fourth start of the season at catcher -- Grandal has started six -- and hit eighth.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Marlins, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

The Mets plan on divvying up playing time between d'Arnaud and Kevin Plawecki evenly this season -- the former will take a turn on the bench for the second game in a row. D'Arnaud is 3-for-15 on the season and will look to get back on the field in the series finale Wednesday.

Realmuto (back) could return Tuesday for the beginning of the Marlins' next road trip, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports. "He's feeling great, and kind of champing at the bit," manager Don Mattingly said.

The catcher hasn't started a rehab assignment yet, but the training staff has had to hold Realmuto back from doing too much in his drills. He likely won't need to much time in the minors once he's cleared for game action. A realistic date for his return to the big-league lineup still appears to be April 19 in Milwaukee.

D'Arnaud is not in the lineup Monday against the Marlins, Tim Healey of Newsday reports.

D'Arnaud started the past two games for the Mets, but he only managed to collect one hit in nine at-bats. The Mets timeshare behind the plate will continue Monday, as Kevin Plawecki takes a turn as the catcher for starter Noah Syndergaard.

Wallach is not in the Marlins' lineup Monday against the Mets, Andre Fernandez of the Miami Herald reports.

Wallach has been the primary catcher for the Marlins while J.T. Realmuto (back) remains on the disabled list. Bryan Holaday will start at catcher Monday, the third time in four games that he's done so. Wallach could be losing his temporary starter role, though that likely won't have much fantasy impact; his light bat is irrelevant in most formats, and J.T. Realmuto is approximately 10 days from returning.

Barnes got a rare start at second base Sunday, going 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in an extra-inning win over the Giants.

Manager Dave Roberts got his backup catcher in the lineup against the left-handed Ty Blach, but he was lifted in favor of Chase Utley when the southpaw was pulled after six innings. Barnes' stock rose heading into the season after he broke out to the tune of a .289/.408/.486 slash line in 262 plate appearances in 2017, but Yasmani Grandal's hot start at the plate has limited the versatile catcher to occasional starts against lefties.