MLB Player News

Hedges is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals.

Hedges has started five of seven games behind the plate entering Friday and is 4-for-13 with two walks and one RBI. Francisco Mejia receives the starting nod Friday for the Padres in his absence.

Bart is opening the year with High-A San Jose, Jim Callis of MLB.com reports.

The No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft demolished short-season pitching after signing, but this will be a much fairer test for the 22-year-old backstop. He will probably rake again in the California League, and his defense is good enough that it won't slow his ascent up the minor-league ranks.

Pindea will open the year with Low-A Hagerstown, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.

One of the top catching prospects who has yet to make his full-season debut, Pineda could be primed for a breakout year. He just turned 19, but hit .273/.341/.388 (118 wRC+) with four home runs last year in short-season ball, so he is much more advanced at the plate than most of his peers at the position.

Herrera will open the year with Low-A Peoria, Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com reports.

Herrera is one of the better catching prospects in the lower levels of the minors, and he will be given an aggressive assignment to Low-A as an 18-year-old. He hit .348/.423/.500 with a 15.4 percent strikeout rate in 28 games in the Gulf Coast League last year, but it would not be surprising if he struggled, at least initially, against Low-A pitching.

Stephenson has been assigned to Double-A Pensacola to begin the 2019 season.

Stephenson was the Reds' first-round pick in 2015 and has battled a slew of injuries in his professional career. He was able to make through most of 2018 unscathed, however, hitting .250/.338/.392 in 109 games at High-A Daytona.

Contreras went 3-for-4 with a two-run home run and two runs scored in Wednesday's 6-4 loss to the Braves.

Contreras hit a two-run shot in the sixth inning that put the Cubs up 3-2, though their bullpen would squander the lead a few innings later. The Chicago catcher had a disappointing 10 home runs and 54 RBI in 2018, but he's off to a solid start with a .429/.556/.786 line through five games in what could be a bounceback season.

Barnes is back in the lineup, catching and hitting eighth for Wednesday's tilt against the Giants, Mike Giovanna of The Los Angeles Times reports.

Barnes yielded catching duties to Russell Martin on Tuesday, but he'll return the lineup for this contest. He's been splitting duties fairly evenly with Martin to start the season.

Diaz (illness) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Bradenton on Thursday, Rob Biertempfel of The Athletic reports.

Diaz has been sidelined all season due to a viral illness, but he's finally ready to get back into game action. It's unclear how long the backstop will spend in the minors before being activated from the IL.

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

Gomes started the Nationals' previous two games behind the plate, so it's no surprise he'll get a reprieve in Wednesday's matinee contest. Kurt Suzuki checks into the lineup as Washington's starting catcher.

Casali is getting his first start of the season Wednesday against the Brewers, batting seventh in the lineup.

With the Reds carrying three catchers right now, it's been harder for Casali to get at-bats. He's 1-for-2 through the first four games so far.