MLB Player News

Marlins manager Skip Schumaker said he's hopeful that Fortes (knee) will be ready to return to the Grapefruit League lineup Friday versus the Astros, Christina De Nicola of MLB.com reports.

Fortes has been sidelined since March 17 with right knee tendinitis, but he already seems to have made significant progress in his recovery. He took batting practice and was involved in all defensive drills Tuesday, with Schumaker revealing that Fortes is feeling good a day later. The Marlins will check back in with Fortes following Thursday's off day, but if he continues to feel well, the 26-year-old will likely be back behind the dish Friday.

Pineda (finger) was spotted catching Patrick Corbin's bullpen session Wednesday at Nationals camp, Jesse Dougherty of The Washington Post reports.

Pineda hasn't played in any Grapefruit League games since March 4 while he recovers from a right pinkie finger displacement, but the Nationals haven't shut him down from baseball activities. However, Pineda has yet to resume hitting and appeared to be tossing the ball lightly back to Corbin during the bullpen session, so the catcher doesn't look as though he's fully moved past the injury. Expect Washington to option Pineda to Triple-A Rochester in the coming days.

Moreno (hand) is expected to take on a larger role after Carson Kelly suffered a fractured forearm, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Moreno, who was the key piece in the Daulton Varsho trade, was expected to share catching duties with Kelly. That situation could serve as a "good runway" -- the words of general manager Mike Hazen -- for Moreno to eventually take on a greater role. Kelly's injury, which will sideline him for months, moves up the timetable for Moreno, whose hand injury is considered a minor one. Jose Herrera could slot in as the backup.

The Mets optioned Alvarez to Triple-A Syracuse on Wednesday.

Though Alvarez remains the Mets' long-term plan at catcher, he had been splitting time behind the plate and at designated hitter this spring while easing his way back from the ankle surgery he underwent last October. Alvarez is expected to see the bulk of his starts at catcher early in the season at Triple-A, and if he's able to acquit himself well defensively while continuing to draw walks and hit for power, he may not have to wait long for a call-up to the big leagues. The Mets brought in Omar Narvaez in free agency on a two-year deal over the winter, but he took a major step back with the bat in 2022 and is viewed as a placeholder until Alvarez is deemed ready for the full-time catching job.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said there is a chance Nola avoids spending time on the injured list after he suffered a slight fracture in his nose Sunday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic reports.

Melvin also noted that Nola could resume baseball activities as soon as Wednesday. No decisions on Nola's status for Opening Day have been made yet, but the possibility of him playing still being on the table is a good sign. If he is unable to play, Luis Campusano would likely get the majority of the reps behind the plate for San Diego.

Narvaez went 1-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.

The hit was just his second of the spring for the Mets in 15 at-bats, with both of them being singles. Narvaez also went 1-for-4 in his only start for Venezuela during the WBC. The 31-year-old catcher signed a one-year deal this offseason to be the Mets' No. 1 catcher to begin the year largely on the strength of his defense and pitch-framing, and he could work in a platoon with Tomas Nido. The team will be hoping Francisco Alvarez plays well enough at Triple-A Syracuse to push Narvaez aside at some point in 2023, however.

Fortes (knee) took batting practice on a back field Tuesday at Marlins camp, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Fortes came out of a split-squad game last week due to tendinitis in his right knee, but it doesn't seem to be an overly serious issue. If healthy, he projects to open the 2023 regular season in a timeshare at catcher in Miami with Jacob Stallings.

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.