MLB Player News

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Rortvedt is tending to a finger injury, but the catcher is expected to return to camp Tuesday, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.

Boone didn't elaborate on the extent of Rortvedt's finger injury, though it's believed to be only a minor concern. The injury may nonetheless keep Rortvedt from being ready to go when the Yankees open their Grapefruit League schedule Saturday versus the Phillies. Rortvedt looks like he'll get the chance to compete for the No. 2 catcher role in spring training, but Kyle Higashioka presumably has the inside track on the gig after handling those duties for much of the 2022 season.

Raleigh (thumb) took live batting practice against Mariners reliever Diego Castillo on Monday and appears to be fully healthy for spring training, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

Raleigh had already been catching bullpen sessions during the first couple weeks of camp in Arizona, but his ability to add batting practice to his workout regimen suggests that he's been cleared for full baseball activities after undergoing surgery in the fall to address a broken left thumb and a torn ligament in his hand. Coming off a 2022 campaign in which he hit just .211 but led all backstops with 27 home runs, Raleigh is likely to be drafted as a starting catcher in nearly every fantasy league.

Garver (forearm) took batting practice Monday and appears to be healthy for spring training, Jeff Wilson of RangersToday.com reports.

Garver, who agreed to a one-year, $3.9 million deal in January to avoid arbitration, is back in Texas for a second season. After heading into Opening Day last season as the Rangers' top backstop, Garver ended up making just 14 starts behind the plate before a right flexor sprain limited him strictly to designated-hitter duties until he underwent season-ending surgery on his forearm shortly before the All-Star break. Though his ability to take batting practice at the start of spring training suggests he's at or close to 100 percent, Garver may have to settle for more of a part-time role at catcher and DH in 2023. Even before having forearm surgery, Garver graded out poorly behind the plate. Jonah Heim, meanwhile, is a superior defensive option who also showed some pop and decent bat-to-ball skills while serving as Texas' primary backstop last season. The righty-hitting Garver thus looks like a better candidate for a short-side platoon gig at catcher or DH.

Kirk has yet to report to spring training as he awaits the birth of his child, Gregor Chisholm of The Toronto Star reports.

"We're still on baby watch," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Friday. "I thought it was going to be (Thursday). My last update this morning was, 'Not quite yet.' " Kirk is going to play for Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, so after he does report he might only get in a couple weeks work before departing for the tournament in early March.

Alvarez will likely begin the season with Triple-A Syracuse, Abbey Mastracco of The New York Daily News reports.

The Mets have two more experienced catchers ahead of him on the depth chart in Omar Narvaez and Tomas Nido, so the club figures to send Alvarez back to the minors to work on his defense and gain some confidence. The 21-year-old is fully recovered from October ankle surgery however, and a big spring could force the organization to re-consider its plans for the top prospect. "You always want players to make you think about what if?" manager Buck Showalter said Friday. "Not everybody in camp can make the club, that's just how it is. But we know Nido and Omar are going to be our catchers and we'll see where Francisco fits in that mix." Even if he isn't on the Opening Day roster, Alvarez figures to be back in the majors at some point this season, potentially seeing at-bats at DH in addition to his work behind the plate.

White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said Friday that he wants Grandal to primarily focus on catching this year, per Vinnie Duber of AllCHGO.com.

Grandal was limited to DH duties for stretches last season due to back and knee injuries, but he entered camp at full health, and the hope is that he can be a near-everyday presence behind the plate throughout the 2023 campaign. "I haven't really thought about him as a DH," said Grifol. "That doesn't mean he's not going to. But he's our catcher."

Amaya (foot) said Thursday he has yet to be fully medically cleared, though he has resumed some baseball activities, Maddie Lee of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

Amaya suffered a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot last season with Double-A Tennessee. There is no word yet on whether he'll be ready for the start of the minor-league season, but he has begun catching bullpen sessions, throwing to bases and is cleared to hit -- all good signs. The 23-year-old catching prospect slashed .278/.379/.485 in Double-A last season and will likely be bumped up to Triple-A in 2023.

Maldonado (hernia) confirmed Thursday that he is fully healthy leading into the spring, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado required hernia surgery in mid-November, but he's now healthy after having three full months to recover. He used the period of rehab and recovery to drop 17 pounds and is preparing to be something close to an everyday presence at catcher this year for the reigning World Series-champion Astros. The 36-year-old hit a career-high 15 home runs over 113 regular-season games in 2022, though his .600 OPS was still below average.

Bart is not guaranteed to make the Giants' camp out of spring training, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Bart had a rough year in 2022, logging a paltry .215/.296/.364 slash line with 11 home runs and 25 RBI in 97 games. He'll need to show some growth in the spring to maintain his place this season. Veterans Roberto Perez and Austin Wynns are in the mix to make the Opening Day roster, as is Rule 5 pick Blake Sabol -- a strong spring from two of those players could see Bart open the campaign at Triple-A Sacramento.

Sabol is being viewed as a catcher in Giants' camp, manager Gabe Kapler told Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesday.

Sabol played all over the diamond in college and has split time pretty evenly between catcher and the outfield in the minors, but the Giants plan to use him exclusively behind the plate, at least for now. The 25-year-old was taken by the Reds in the Rule 5 Draft this winter before being flipped to the Giants. He must be carried on the Giants' roster or be offered back to the Pirates.