MLB Player News

Mets catcher John Buck's wife is slated to give birth in the coming days, so a paternity leave is likely. If that happens, manager Terry Collins said prospect Travis d'Arnaud, who is rehabbing a broken foot in the minors, could be promoted to fill in while Buck is gone for a few days.

The Padres promoted catcher prospect Austin Hedges from Class A Lake Elsinore to Double-A San Antonio, MLB.com reported Wednesday. Hedges, who is considered the Padres' No. 2 prospect by MLB.com, hit .263 with one triple, three home runs, 21 doubles and 26 RBI in 65 games for Lake Elsinore.

Mets catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud is expected to move his rehab to Double-A Binghamton this week, manager Terry Collins told MLB.com Tuesday. d'Arnaud finished 1 for 4 with a double Tuesday for the Gulf Coast Mets. He is hitting .318 through six rehab games.

Reds manager Dusty Baker will not use Devin Mesoraco as the full-time starter at catcher when Ryan Hanigan returns from the disabled list, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

"Hanigan is still going to get in there," Baker told the Enquirer Thursday. "There are certain teams that don't run when Hanigan's in there. There are certain guys that throw well to him. I'm fortunate to have a veteran guy and a guy that's on the way and learning. Someday, the job is going to be Meso's. It's just not now."

Mesoraco has hit .354/.396/.542 with two home runs and nine RBI in 48 at-bats in July.

Mets catcher prospect Travis d'Arnaud (foot) and outfielder Lucas Duda (intercostal strain) increased their workloads to seven innings in their second rehab game for the Gulf Coast League Mets (rookie) Thursday, according to ESPN. d'Arnaud went 1 for 3 with one double and two RBI, while Duda went 0 for 3 with a walk and two strikeouts. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco managed his third multi-hit game in his last four appearances Wednesday against the Giants. It was also his third multi-RBI game in that span.

Mesoraco had a productive four-game series at San Francisco. He hit .500 (8 for 16) with one double, two home runs and seven RBI. He's now batting .354 (17 for 48) with two home runs, three doubles and nine RBI in 14 July games (12 starts).

The Reds announced Wednesday catcher Ryan Hanigan will not return Thursday against the Dodgers after having a minor setback with his wrist injury. Mesoraco will remain the primary starting catcher until Hanigan returns.

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez has been added to the roster of Triple-A Fresno, where he will continue his rehab assignment, the San Jose Mercury News reports. He is rehabbing from a right shoulder strain that sent him into the disabled list in early July.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is arguably having his best month of the season, batting .349 (15 for 43) with two home runs, three doubles and seven RBI in 13 July games (11 starts). He's certainly benefited from playing regularly with Ryan Hanigan on the disabled list.

Unfortunately, Mesoraco's time as a stopgap Fantasy option is running out. Hanigan is due back Thursday, which means the duo will return to a timeshare situation, with Hanigan catching three times during a turn through the rotation.

Mesoraco continues to have more upside than Hanigan, but as long as Hanigan remains a strong defender, then manager Dusty Baker will continue to keep him in the lineup.

Mets catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud collected a hit during his first rehab game.

The catcher was able to play the field for five innings. He finished the game 1 for 3 before he was pulled. It marked d'Arnaud's first game since mid April. He's recovering from a foot fracture. 

Mets catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud is back in action Wednesday.

The catcher got the start behind the plate for the Mets' Gulf Coast League. He's been out since mid April with a broken foot. Entering the season, d'Arnaud was considered the team's top prospect.