MLB Player News

Nola flied out in a pinch-hit appearance during Wednesday's 12-3 victory over the Diamondbacks.

After spending the Padres' first 25 games on the shelf with a fractured left middle finger, Nola finally made his 2021 debut Wednesday. He came on in the ninth inning for his first plate appearance of the campaign and stayed in the game for the bottom of the frame, taking over at second base -- a position he has plenty of experience at in both the minors and majors. Nola figures to function as the Padres' primary catcher moving forward, but his ability to play the infield could certainly help him get some extra at-bats over the course of the long season.

Grandal isn't starting Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Tigers.

Grandal was initially slated to sit out Wednesday's contest before it was rained out, but he'll take a seat for Thursday's matinee instead. Zack Collins will start behind the dish and bat seventh.

Maldonado isn't starting Thursday's game against Seattle, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

Maldonado has gone hitless with a walk and two strikeouts in nine at-bats across the last three games. Jason Castro will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

Stallings went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Wednesday's 9-6 loss to the Royals.

The catcher appears to be coming out of a recent slump, collecting five hits in his last 13 at-bats. In addition to his home run Wednesday, Stallings has hit a pair of doubles and walked twice in four games. Overall, he's slashing .246/.370/.393 with a 12:16 BB:K that suggests his batting average may have room to rise.

Vazquez went 1-for-3 with an RBI double in Wednesday's 1-0 win over the Mets.

In an old-fashioned pitching duel, Vazquez's run-producing double in the fourth inning was the game's only offense. Though he entered Wednesday's game with no extra-base hits and a .143 average (7-for-49) over a span of 13 games, Vazquez drove a Jacob deGrom fastball the opposite way to score Xander Bogaerts. He's now hit safely in three of his last four games.

Perez went 3-for-5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Wednesday's win over the Pirates.

Perez extended his hitting streak to three games, but he drove in a run and recorded his first multi-hit performance since April 21. The star catcher is hitting .266 with five homers and 13 RBI across 23 games this season.

Hedges has gone 2-for-20 (.100) in his first seven games.

Hedges hasn't seen much playing time as a backup to Roberto Perez. The 28-year-old Hedges has one home run, two RBI and two runs scored this season. He's also struck out in nine of his 23 plate appearances. Perez is a solid defensive backstop whose consistent presence in the lineup leaves Hedges with little opportunity to make an impact.

Campusano won't start Wednesday against the Diamondbacks and was optioned to the alternate training site.

The 22-year-old was penciled in to start behind the plate in Wednesday's series finale, but he'll instead head to the alternate site with Austin Nola (finger) returning from the injured list. Campusano worked as San Diego's secondary catcher for the first month of the season and went 3-for-34 with four walks, one RBI and 11 strikeouts in 11 appearances. He figures to remain at the alternate site while Nola and Victor Caratini remain healthy.

Caratini will start at catcher and bat seventh Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.

The 27-year-old was originally positioned on the bench for Wednesday's series finale, but he'll end up receiving the start with Luis Campusano optioned to the alternate site to make room on the roster for Austin Nola (finger). Caratini has a .236/.317/.327 slash line and 34.9 percent strikeout rate through 20 games this season, and he should see a decrease in playing time with Nola back from the injured list and slated to take over primary catching duties.

Nola (finger) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

The 31-year-old has been sidelined for the first month of the season from a fractured middle finger on his left hand, but he'll join the major-league roster ahead of Wednesday's series finale in Arizona. Nola is poised to take over as San Diego's primary catcher, though he could make his season debut off the bench with Victor Caratini starting behind the plate versus the Diamondbacks.