MLB Player News

The Reds are not planning to play Mesoraco in spring training games in the immediate future. "Until we're getting closer with workload, I'd hate to try and target a date because then it's disappointing if we don't reach it by playing by a certain date," manager Bryan Price said. "He's certainly getting closer."

The Reds are treating Mesoraco with supreme caution, which doesn't hurt because spring training is extended this year due to the WBC.

Bethancourt will make his first Cactus League pitching appearance Wednesday, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

After lots of work in the offseason to develop him as a pitcher, the right-handed fireballer will finally get to strut his stuff against major league competition. He's also scheduled to DH later in the week, showing that the Padres want to keep all options open for the future, but if his spring debut goes well, Bethancourt could work his way into more consistent bullpen work throughout the season.

X-rays on Plawecki's left knee came back negative following his departure from Saturday's Grapefruit League game, James Wagner of the New York Times reports.

It appears that Plawecki, who was on the receiving end of a brutal collision Saturday, is fortunately dealing with little more than a contusion and some soreness with the knee, which likely takes a long-term absence off the table. Plawecki will presumably miss at least a few Grapefruit League games while he recovers from the injury, but he appears at limited risk of missing Opening Day.

Plawecki left Saturday's Grapefruit League game after he was upended in a home plate collision with Rafael Bautista.

In a scary moment, Plawecki needed assistance getting off the field after he was knocked off his feet when Bautista slid into home. The initial reports suggest that he suffered a left knee contusion, though he will receive X-rays this afternoon to confirm the severity of the injury. The 25-year-old is competing with Rene Rivera for a backup catching spot this spring.

D'Arnaud went 2-for-2 in Friday's Grapefruit League opener against the Red Sox.

After retooling his swing in the offseason, this was exactly the kind of start d'Arnaud was looking for this spring. He's locked in as the starting catcher to begin 2017, but will need to stay healthy and continue hitting to keep Rene Rivera and Kevin Plawecki from cutting into his playing time.

Jackson will be given a try at catcher this season, Braves general manager John Coppolella said during a Twitter question and answer session.

Coppolella previously has admitted that catcher is a significant area of need for the future, and Jackson's bat hasn't lived up to an outfielder billing. Still, the Mariners' 2014 first-round pick could find new life at the position that made him a strong high school prospect. He'll restart that trek in 2017, likely with Atlanta's High-A Brevard County, and is worth watching or stashing in fantasy dynasty leagues.

Grandal worked on hitting right-handed in the offseason, having fully recovered from knee and shoulder injuries that have hindered his ability to conquer left-handed pitching in recent years, Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register reports.

The switch-hitter, who also adopted a meatless diet this offseason, said he was struggling to "sit back (on his right leg) and turn on it" when he was in the righty box, and after his 2013 knee injury, he hit just one home run in his next 126 at-bats from that side. According to Plunkett, the 28-year-old's launch angle as a right-handed hitter last year was 7.7 degrees, nearly half of the 14.0 he generated as a lefty, and it produced a 53.6 percent groundball rate. Already one of the most intriguing fantasy hitters among catchers, Grandal, who cranked 27 home runs last year, could soar into elite territory if he can refine that part of his plate work, which could help give him a useful batting average (unlike his career .238 mark). He'll be in high demand during the middle rounds of a mixed draft, especially in OBP variations.

Sanchez fouled a ball off his foot Wednesday, but X-rays were negative, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

The Friars' backup catcher likely will rest for a few days before re-entering workouts. He's not set for much fantasy value this year as long as Austin Hedges occupies the starting role.

Rupp played through much of last season with an undisclosed arm injury, Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

The injury didn't seem to impact Rupp at the plate as his .447 slugging percentage put him among the top catchers in baseball. It did hurt his ability to slow down the run game, however, as he threw out just 27 percent of possible base stealers after averaging 38 percent his previous two seasons. The Phillies want to see Rupp improve on his game calling and pitch framing this season after he struggled in both areas last year. Phillies' bullpen coach John McLaren, who also works with the catchers, said Rupp needs to improve his focus during games. It will be important for Rupp to further develop defensively this season with top prospect Jorge Alfaro in Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year. He could start pushing for Rupp's job as soon as midseason if he gets off to a strong start in the minors.

Diaz has recovered from the cellulitis which ended his 2016 campaign early and is taking part in spring training activities.

The 26-year-old missed a golden opportunity to see his first significant action at the big league level in 2016 due to a host of ailments. He enters 2017 with a chance to eventually get that playing time he missed last year, essentially because of the fragile nature of the two catchers ahead of him, Francisco Cervelli and Chris Stewart. Diaz's prospect status dimmed a bit last year but it seems as though he's finally set to show what he can do in the majors.