MLB Player News
-
Jeferson Quero C | MIL
Brewers' Jeferson Quero: Suffers apparent shoulder injury
Quero was removed from Triple-A Nashville's game Friday with an apparent shoulder injury, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
The 21-year-old suffered the injury diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt and subsequently exited the contest. The specifics of the injury are unclear, but it's a discouraging development for Quero in the first game of the season.
-
Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: On bench Friday
Fortes is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Fortes received the nod Opening Day and went 0-for-3 with a hit-by-pitch. Christian Bethancourt is starting behind the plate Friday, and the pair is set to split catching duties this season.
-
Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Marlins' Christian Bethancourt: Behind plate Friday
Bethancourt is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Friday's game versus the Pirates, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.
Nick Fortes started at catcher on Opening Day, but it will be Bethancourt behind the dish Friday with A.J. Puk on the mound. It will likely be a fairly even split in playing time this season between the two, limiting the already low fantasy upside of each.
-
Curt Casali C | ATL
Cubs' Curt Casali: Inks minors deal with Cubs
The Cubs signed Casali to a minor-league contract Friday.
Casali was released by the Marlins earlier this week after failing to crack their Opening Day roster. The veteran backstop will head to Triple-A Iowa for now, where he will be the third catcher on the organizational depth chart behind Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya.
-
Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Knocks in three runs in rout
Moreno went 2-for-5 with a double, two runs and three RBI against the Rockies in Thursday's 16-1 Opening Day victory.
All of Moreno's production came in Arizona's 14-run third inning, during which the backstop recorded a run-scoring single and a two-run double. The 24-year-old dealt with a back injury in spring training but appears back to full health to begin the regular season. He's locked in as the Diamondback's primary catcher after slashing .284/.339/.408 with seven homers, 50 RBI and six steals during his first full big-league campaign last year.
-
Joey Bart C | PIT
Giants' Joey Bart: Makes Opening Day roster
Bart (hamstring) made the Giants' Opening Day roster but didn't appear off the bench in Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Padres.
Bart tweaked his right hamstring in a March 22 Cactus League game, but he was able to play in both of the Giants' Bay Bridge Series exhibition games against the Athletics on Monday and Tuesday to guarantee his availability for the start of the season. He's opening the season as the Giants' No. 3 catcher and is unlikely to see much playing time behind Patrick Bailey and Tom Murphy.
-
Yasmani Grandal C | PIT
Pirates' Yasmani Grandal: Hits IL to begin season
The Pirates placed Grandal (foot) on the 10-day injured list Thursday.
Grandal hasn't yet resumed running since experiencing plantar fasciitis in his left foot earlier this month, but once he's able to do so, he should be ready to head out on a rehab assignment. Manager Derek Shelton suggested early in spring training that Grandal would begin camp atop the depth chart at catcher, but the skipper's comments came before the 35-year-old was slowed by the foot injury. With that in mind, Grandal may not be guaranteed the No. 1 catching gig once he's activated from the IL, especially if Henry Davis gets off to a hot start to the season.
-
Eric Haase C | SF
Brewers' Eric Haase: DFA'd by Crew
The Brewers designated Haase for assignment Thursday.
Haase turned a lot of heads during camp this spring, slashing .395/.465/.868 with five homers and 14 RBI across 43 plate appearances. However, the Brewers didn't want to carry a third catcher behind William Contreras and Gary Sanchez, so the team will instead attempt to pass Haase through waivers. The 31-year-old backstop only managed a .201 average and .528 OPS with the Tigers and Guardians last season, but other organizations may be willing to take a chance on him after his monster spring.
-
Rafael Marchan C | PHI
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Opens season on IL
The Phillies placed Marchan on the 10-day injured list Thursday with lower-back pain.
The back issue cropped up early in spring training and was initially expected to be a day-to-day concern, but Marchan was never able to show enough improvement to play in any Grapefruit League games. With Marchan opening the season on the injured list, Garrett Stubbs is locked in as the No. 2 backstop behind JT Realmuto.
-
Ali Sanchez C | BOS
Pirates' Ali Sanchez: DFA'd by Bucs
The Pirates designated Sanchez for assignment Thursday.
Sanchez signed a one-year deal with the Pirates in the offseason but will fall short of the Opening Day roster after going just 2-for-16 during spring training. The 27-year-old catcher slashed .311/.375/.492 over 267 plate appearances at Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks organization last season, so he could draw interest from teams on the waiver wire.