MLB Player News

Sabol announced Sunday via a story posted on his personal Instagram account that he has clinched a spot on the Giants' Opening Day roster.

Sabol joined San Francisco as a Rule 5 selection over the winter and entered spring training expected to compete primarily for a backup catcher role behind Joey Bart. While Sabol will offer another depth option at the position behind Bart and veteran Roberto Perez, the 25-year-old is expected to see most of his action as a rookie in the corner outfield. With injuries having tested the Giants' outfield in spring training, Steven Rissotto of SFBay.ca notes that Sabol could draw the start in left field in Thursday's season opener at Yankee Stadium. As a left-handed hitter, Sabol may get the opportunity to carve out steady playing time until the Giants are back to full strength, making him an interesting speculative pickup late in NL-only drafts. He's coming off a huge showing in spring training in which he slashed .349/.474/.651 with three home runs, two stolen bases and an 11:13 BB:K in 19 Cactus League contests.

Wong clinched a spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster after the team reassigned Jorge Alfaro to minor-league camp Monday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.

Though he missed much of the Red Sox's Grapefruit League slate while managing a left hamstring injury, Wong drew back into the spring lineup Monday versus Atlanta and appears to be back to full health as Opening Day approaches. Despite Wong's lack of at-bats and innings behind the dish this spring, manager Alex Cora said he felt comfortable enough with the 26-year-old to keep him on hand as the understudy to Reese McGuire. Since McGuire bats from the left side of the plate, the righty-hitting Wong could end up filling the short side of a platoon at catcher.

Nola (hand/nose) will start at catcher and bat sixth in Monday's Cactus League game against the Mariners.

Assuming he comes out of Monday's exhibition finale without aggravating the left hand injury he suffered Saturday or the fractured nose he suffered March 19, Nola should be on track to serve as the Padres' Opening Day catcher Thursday versus the Rockies.

McCann (oblique) said his hitting session Sunday merely went "OK," and he remains uncertain whether he'll be available for Thursday's season opener in Boston, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

McCann hit off a tee in the batting cage in an attempt to gauge how much he had progressed in his recovery from left oblique discomfort, an issue that cropped up a few days earlier. While McCann didn't suggest that he experienced any sort of setback, he didn't come away encouraged that he took any major steps forward either as he aims to put the injury in the rear-view mirror. The Orioles will likely wait and see how McCann feels over the next couple of days before deciding if he's fit to serve in a backup role behind No. 1 backstop Adley Rutschman on Opening Day. If McCann requires a stint on the injured list, however, the Orioles could add Anthony Bemboom to the 26-man roster to work as Rutschman's understudy.

Wong will start at catcher and bat ninth in Monday's Grapefruit League game versus Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

After being sidelined for much of camp with a left hamstring strain, Wong was able to catch in a minor-league game over the weekend and is now set to enter the Grapefruit League lineup for the first time since March 2. Wong is competing with non-roster invitee Jorge Alfaro for the No. 2 catcher spot on the Opening Day roster behind projected No. 1 option Reese McGuire.

Perez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in the Athletics' 9-5 Bay Bridge Series exhibition loss to the Giants on Sunday.

Perez was an in-game replacement at catcher following Shea Langeliers' time behind the dish. The 32-year-old is slated to serve as early-season depth behind Langeliers while Manny Pina (wrist) remains sidelined, and although he just signed last Sunday, he's gone 3-for-8 with Sunday's homer and three RBI across his first four games.

Hedges has had a positive influence on the Pirates' pitching staff this spring, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports.

Hedges has failed to post an OPS above .563 in any of the last four seasons, so he's unlikely to make much of an impact offensively. However, his biggest influence could come from his work with the pitching staff, particularly with younger starters such as Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras and Johan Oviedo. Hedges could also help Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis acclimate to the big leagues upon their potential call-ups in the middle of the season.

Pineda (finger) won't break camp with the Nationals and will instead remain at the organization's extended spring training in Florida to begin the season, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Since the Nationals are likely keen on giving the 22-year-old backstop regular playing time, Pineda never seemed to be a good bet to be included on the Opening Day roster while Keibert Ruiz is installed as the big club's clear No. 1 catcher. The displaced right pinkie finger that Pineda suffered in early March essentially ended any small hope he might have had of joining the Nationals for Opening Day, so it's no surprise that he'll continue to conduct his rehab in Florida before likely reporting to Triple-A Rochester. Washington has yet to announce whether Pineda will be formally optioned to Triple-A or placed on the big club's 10-day injured list.

Padres manager Bob Melvin said Nola (hand/nose) is slated to play in Monday's Cactus League finale versus the Rockies, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.

Nola had been expected to play Sunday versus the Mariners, but the Padres decided to err on the side of caution and hold him out for the day after he took a foul ball off his left (non-catching) hand while playing in a minor-league contest Saturday. The backstop had already been recovering from a fractured nose stemming from being hit in the face by a pitch March 19, but neither injury looks as though it'll prevent him from being ready to go for Opening Day. Provided Nola plays Monday as expected, he should head into the regular season as the Friars' top option behind the dish.

Moreno (hand) is starting behind the plate and batting eighth in Sunday's spring game against the Brewers.

The 23-year-old has been dealing with a minor hand injury since he was hit by a pitch March 18, but he'll return to the lineup Sunday with spring training in its final stages. Moreno is poised to open the season as Arizona's primary backstop with Carson Kelly sidelined by a fractured forearm. Jose Herrera currently tracks to fill the backup job, though the club may look to add a more veteran option.