MLB Player News

Herrera could figure into the catching mix for Arizona after Carson Kelly (forearm) was removed from Monday's Cactus League game, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Kelly, projected as Arizona's primary catcher, was hit by a pitch Monday, and the prognosis is pending. He joined presumed backup Gabriel Moreno (hand) on the shelf, although recent reporting suggests it's a minor injury. That leaves Herrera as the healthiest catcher on the 40-man roster. He appeared in 47 games last season, posting a .189/.250/.207 line over 124 plate appearances.

Gomes is batting .286 in Cactus League action with three home runs across 12 games.

Gomes is having a productive spring, while fellow catcher Tucker Barnhart has gone just 2-for-21 to date. The veteran backstops figure to split catching duties this season with Willson Contreras now in St. Louis, though Gomes may be pulling ahead slightly with his superior performance at the plate. He won't be the most exciting fantasy option, but Gomes has had his moments in the past when he's seen consistent playing time, including hitting 14 home runs as recently as 2021.

Moreno (hand) is not dealing with a serious injury, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Piecoro notes that Moreno was "doing fine" as of Sunday. The backstop was hit in the hand by a pitch during Saturday's Cactus League game, but he didn't go in for X-rays, and he should be returning to the lineup shortly. The injury takes on more gravity after primary catcher Carson Kelly was plunked on the forearm in Monday's spring game. Pending results of Kelly's examination and diagnosis, Moreno could be a big part of the Arizona lineup in 2023 after being dealt from the Blue Jays in the deal for Daulton Varsho.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said Sunday that he "can't imagine it's not broken" in reference to Nola's nose after the catcher was hit in the face during a Cactus League contest, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Nola was carted off the field after getting hit by a pitch in the face during the fourth inning of Sunday's exhibition game against the Cubs. The extent of the injury is unclear, but if Nola isn't ready to return in time for Opening Day, Luis Campusano would likely open the campaign as San Diego's primary backstop.

Nola was carted off the field in the top of the fourth inning during Sunday's Cactus League game against the Cubs after being hit in the face by a pitch, Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Nola was down for several minutes after being hit by the pitch, and he had to be helped to the cart while pressing a towel to his face. The Padres have a day off Monday, but the severity of the catcher's injury isn't yet clear. If Nola is forced to miss any time, Luis Campusano and Pedro Severino would see additional playing time behind the dish.

D'Arnaud went 0-for-3 in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.

The veteran catcher has gone just 3-for-17 (.176) this spring with only one extra-base hit, a double, but his 1:2 BB:K shows there's little cause for concern. The offseason addition of Sean Murphy pushes d'Arnaud into a backup role this year, but he should also see some action at DH after slugging 18 homers and posting a .791 OPS over 107 games in 2022, especially if Marcell Ozuna's struggles continue.

Realmuto went 2-for-3 with a double and scored a run Saturday for Team USA in a victory over Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic.

Realmuto has been on a tear in the WBC for Team USA, as the pair of hits raised his average to .625 with an .875 slugging percentage in the tournament. Even with an influx of talent at the position, Realmuto is still being drafted as the top catcher in most fantasy formats, and justifiably so.

Moreno (hand) doesn't believe his injury is serious, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Moreno was hit in the hand by a 95.5 mph pitch during Saturday's Cactus League game, but the backstop said the pitch got him in the knuckles. He also said that he doesn't believe that he will undergo X-rays, but that could change if the hand swells up on him. Moreno should be considered day-to-day for now, and he appears to have avoided a serious injury.

Moreno left Saturday's Cactus League game against the Guardians after being hit by a pitch in the left hand/wrist area, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Moreno was plunked by a 95.5 mph offering and immediately left the contest. The 23-year-old backstop will likely undergo testing, and there should be further updates on his status before Sunday.

Fortes left Friday's split-squad game against the Cardinals after two innings due to tendinitis in his right knee, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Per manager Skip Schumaker, the Marlins will re-evaluate Fortes on Saturday, but at this point his removal from the game seems precautionary. If the catcher ends up requiring an IL stint to begin the regular season, Austin Allen could break camp on the 26-man roster as the backup to Jacob Stallings.