MLB Player News

Nola flied out in a pinch-hit appearance during Wednesday's 12-3 victory over the Diamondbacks.

After spending the Padres' first 25 games on the shelf with a fractured left middle finger, Nola finally made his 2021 debut Wednesday. He came on in the ninth inning for his first plate appearance of the campaign and stayed in the game for the bottom of the frame, taking over at second base -- a position he has plenty of experience at in both the minors and majors. Nola figures to function as the Padres' primary catcher moving forward, but his ability to play the infield could certainly help him get some extra at-bats over the course of the long season.

Stallings went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Royals.

The catcher appears to be coming out of a recent slump, collecting five hits in his last 13 at-bats. In addition to his home run Wednesday, Stallings has hit a pair of doubles and walked twice in four games. Overall, he's slashing .246/.370/.393 with a 12:16 BB:K that suggests his batting average may have room to rise.

Campusano won't start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks and was optioned to the alternate training site.

The 22-year-old was penciled in to start behind the plate in Wednesday's series finale, but he'll instead head to the alternate site with Austin Nola (finger) returning from the injured list. Campusano worked as San Diego's secondary catcher for the first month of the season and went 3-for-34 with four walks, one RBI and 11 strikeouts in 11 appearances. He figures to remain at the alternate site while Nola and Victor Caratini remain healthy.

Caratini will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old was originally positioned on the bench for Wednesday's series finale, but he'll end up receiving the start with Luis Campusano optioned to the alternate site to make room on the roster for Austin Nola (finger). Caratini has a .236/.317/.327 slash line and 34.9 percent strikeout rate through 20 games this season, and he should see a decrease in playing time with Nola back from the injured list and slated to take over primary catching duties.

Nola (finger) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

The 31-year-old has been sidelined for the first month of the season from a fractured middle finger on his left hand, but he'll join the major-league roster ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Arizona. Nola is poised to take over as San Diego's primary catcher, though he could make his season debut off the bench with Victor Caratini starting behind the plate versus the Diamondbacks.

Caratini is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Diamondbacks.

Caratini has been seeing steady playing time and has been productive (.798 OPS) despite an uptick in strikeouts (10) over the last seven games. Luis Campusano is starting behind the dish and batting seventh. Austin Nola (finger) is expected to be activated this weekend.

Knizner, who's set to serve as the primary catcher for the time being with Yadier Molina (foot) on the injured list, went 2-for-4 with a run in a win over the Phillies on Tuesday.

Knizner started both weekend games against the Reds in Molina's stead and provided similarly encouraging results, going 2-for-7 with a double and an RBI in that pair of games. Tuesday's multi-hit effort, his first of the season, pushed his slash to an impressive .304/.360/.391 across his first 25 plate appearances, and with Molina down at least the next 10 days, Knizner should be in for his most extensive big-league starting opportunity yet.

Realmuto isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cardinals.

Realmuto had gone 3-for-7 with a run and one RBI in the first two games of the series against the Cardinals. Andrew Knapp will take over behind the plate and bat seventh.

D'Arnaud isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Cubs.

D'Arnaud went hitless with a strikeout in four at-bats during Tuesday's win over the Cubs, and he'll get a breather Wednesday. Alex Jackson will start behind the dish and bat eighth.

The Mets claimed Grullon off waivers from the Rays on Wednesday, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Grullon will be moving on to his fifth organization in seven months and his third in April after brief stints with the Reds and Rays. He'll get a spot on the Mets' 40-man roster, but since he still has minor-league options remaining, Grullon won't need to be included on New York's 26-man active roster. Instead, expect the 25-year-old catcher to report to Triple-A Syracuse in preparation for the start of the minor-league season, which begins next week.