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.

Kirk (illness) is starting behind the plate and batting fifth in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.

The 24-year-old was scratched from Sunday's lineup due to a non-COVID-related illness, but he'll return to action Wednesday after a couple days of rest. Kirk remains on track to work behind the plate for Toronto on Opening Day next week.

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.

Trevino (wrist) is in the Yankees' Grapefruit League linup against the Tigers on Tuesday, Greg Joyce of the New York Post reports.

Trevino was scratched from the lineup after initially being listed but is now back in there. It's the first game since March 9 for the catcher, as he's been battling a sprained wrist.

Jansen went 0-for-3 in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Tigers, dropping his spring batting average to .156 (5-for-32).

The 27-year-old catcher is locked into a spot on the big-league roster and will split time behind the plate with Alejandro Kirk (illness) this season, so his spring numbers don't mean a whole lot. Jansen set new career highs with 15 homers and an .855 OPS in 2022, giving him plenty of appeal as both a later-round catching option and a DFS play on days he gets the start.

Wong (hamstring) has a chance to be part of the Red Sox's Opening Day roster, manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com.

Wong has been out nearly all month with a left hamstring strain, but his last step before returning to games is running the bases and he'll do that Tuesday. With Jorge Alfaro appearing likely to make the club along with Reese McGuire, it's possible the Red Sox will carry three catchers.