MLB Player News

Barrera won't play for the remained of the Grapefruit League schedule due to knee soreness, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Barrera had a chance to win the backup catcher job in spring training, but he went 2-for-13 with a double, a home run and two RBI over 12 spring games. Andrew Knizner appears set to open the season as the backup catcher, so there's a good chance Barrera is reassigned to Triple-A Memphis soon. He's on a minor-league and will serve as organizational depth at catcher.

Narvaez went 2-for-3 with a walk, a solo home run and a second run scored in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Rays.

The sixth-inning shot off Kyle Crick was the catcher's first homer of the spring. Narvaez will split time behind the plate with Tomas Nido this season -- at least until top prospect Francisco Alvarez is deemed ready. After a slow start to his spring prior to leaving for the WBC, Narvaez is now batting .300 (6-for-20).

Campusano leads San Diego with three home runs in Cactus League play, and he's slashing .231/.333/.654 with a 4:6 BB:K over 31 plate appearances.

Campusano has only two homers through his first 85 big-league at-bats, but he went deep 14 times in 319 bats in Triple-A last season after hitting 15 long balls each of the previous two full minor-league seasons. Austin Nola (nose) projects to be the Padres' primary catcher to begin the campaign, but Campusano should be his backup and could push for more playing time if he swings the bat well.

Wong (hamstring) is scheduled to catch seven innings in a minor-league game Saturday.

Wong has been getting at-bats as a rover in several minor-league games all week. Saturday's activity will be his return to the catching. He remains a possibility to make the Opening Day roster, but Wong would need to win out over non-roster invitee Jorge Alfaro to break camp as the backup catcher to Reese McGuire.

Fortes (knee) will start at catcher and bat eighth in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

As expected, Fortes will return to action after missing a week with tendinitis in his right knee. The plan is for him to catch again Sunday as he looks to make up for lost time. The Marlins' projected backup catcher, Fortes is 4-for-16 in exhibition play this spring.

Wallach was reassigned to minor-league camp by the Angels on Friday.

Wallach was attempting to win a backup spot with the Angels after signing as a non-roster invite in November. The 31-year-old backstop will instead provide organizational depth at Triple-A Salt Lake to open the 2023 campaign.

Fortes (knee) is slated to catch in Grapefruit League games Saturday and Sunday, Jordnn McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

Fortes has been battling some right knee tendinitis, but he's well on track to be available as Jacob Stallings' backup for Opening Day. Fortes caught in a back-field game Friday in Marlins camp and said he felt good.

Rogers was told Friday that he has made the Tigers' Opening Day roster, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News reports.

He will open as the No. 2 catcher behind Eric Haase. Andrew Knapp and Michael Papierski did not make the cut. Rogers missed the entire 2022 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he's recaptured his power stroke this spring, and his defense could encourage Detroit to push Haase to DH or a corner outfield spot more frequently this year.

The Tigers optioned Sands to Triple-A Toledo on Friday, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.

Sands slashed just .214/.241/.250 over 29 plate appearances this spring, so he will return to Triple-A and attempt to right himself in the minors. If he can replicate his .841 OPS in Triple-A from last season, he has a decent shot at returning to the big leagues at some point in 2023.

Sabol is expected to be part of the Giants' Opening Day roster, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Sabol has torched Cactus League pitching with a 1.173 OPS and three home runs. He is in line to operate as the Giants' third catcher and also should see some run in the outfield, especially with the club battling injuries there.