MLB Player News

Susac went 3-for-3 with a walk Thursday in a 7-2 win against the Mets.

Susac won the Giants' backup catcher role in spring training, but this was the first time he had an opportunity to start (he did enter as a defensive replacement Wednesday). Susac singled in his first MLB plate appearance in the second inning and went on to reach three more times on two additional singles and a walk. Patrick Bailey is entrenched as San Francisco's starting catcher, so Susac probably isn't going to see extensive playing time.

Murphy (hip) caught three innings of a simulated game with High-A Rome on Wednesday, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

Murphy has been on the shelf since the beginning of spring training while recovering from right hip surgery, but Wednesday's sim game was a step in the right direction. The catcher will have to work up to nine innings behind the plate and then do so on consecutive days before he'll be considered ready to be activated from the 10-day injured list. The plans for Murphy's upcoming rehab assignment are expected to be announced soon, but he appears to be on track to return at some point in late April or early May.

Bailey isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Mets, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bailey will take a seat Thursday after going just 2-for-18 (.111) with six strikeouts through his first six games of the year. Daniel Susac will catch instead for left-handed starter Robbie Ray, batting eighth.

Hicks went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, two additional RBI and an additional run scored in Wednesday's win over the White Sox.

Hicks is enjoying an excellent start to the season, hitting safely in four of his first five games while already leaving the yard on three occasions. With three homers, 12 RBI and eight runs scored in 19 plate appearances through five games, Hicks should cool down sooner rather than later. However, it wouldn't be a stretch to call him one of the hottest bats in the National League over the first week of the regular season.

Haase signed a minor-league contract with the Giants on Wednesday.

Haase parted ways with the Giants after posting a .911 OPS over 18 games in the Cactus League, but he'll now return to the organization and provide depth at Triple-A Sacramento. He'd likely be called up to work as a backup in San Francisco if Patrick Bailey or Daniel Susac has to miss time.

Baldwin went 2-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and four RBI in Wednesday's 5-1 win over the A's.

The second-year backstop continues to swing a hot bat, fueling Atlanta's offense Wednesday with a two-run single in the second inning and a two-run double in the fourth. Baldwin has started all six games in the season's first week, four at catcher and two at DH, and he's hit second in the order against both lefties and righties. During that hot streak, he's batting .318 (7-for-22) with three homers, six runs and seven RBI.

Ramirez is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox.

Liam Hicks will handle catching duties for the Marlins while Ramirez receives his first breather of the season. While starting in each of Miami's first five games, Ramirez went 3-for-16 with a double, four walks, two runs and a stolen base.

Ballesteros is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's game versus the Angels.

The Cubs are facing a lefty in Yusei Kikuchi for the first time this season, so the left-handed-hitting Ballesteros will receive his first day off. Miguel Amaya will occupy the designated-hitter spot in Wednesday's rubber match.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.

The Nationals have divvied up the work evenly between their two catchers to begin the season, with both Ruiz and Drew Millas drawing three starts apiece. Ruiz has gotten on base in just two of his first 12 plate appearances, though he delivered a two-run home run in Sunday's 6-3 win over the Cubs.

The Rockies optioned Fulford to Triple-A Albuquerque on Wednesday.

After being recalled from Triple-A on Friday, Fulford didn't make any starts but appeared in three of the Rockies' ensuing five games, going 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBI and an additional run. He'll cede his spot on the active roster to utility man Tyler Freeman (back), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list.