MLB Player News

Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wong (hamstring) will be a "full go" for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

Wong has missed most of March with a left hamstring strain but appears to have put the injury behind him. He is competing with Jorge Alfaro for the backup catcher job behind Reese McGuire.

The Rays optioned Pinto to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Christian Bethancourt and Francisco Mejia have both made it through spring camp unscathed, so Pinto will be stationed at Durham as the likely No. 3 catcher on Tampa Bay's organizational depth chart. The 26-year-old batted just slashed .213/.241/.325 over his first 83 major-league plate appearances in 2022.

Kansas City optioned Fermin to Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday.

With Kansas City expected to go with Salvador Perez and MJ Melendez as its lone options at catcher to begin the season, Fermin will miss out on a spot on the Opening Day roster. Fermin performed well in the Cactus League with a .906 OPS in 25 plate appearances before the demotion, and if either Melendez or Perez is to miss time at any point, Fermin will likely be the first catcher called on as a replacement.

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.