MLB Player News

Mesoraco (hip) has resumed taking batting practice, Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

After some starts and stops to his recovery from season-ending hip surgery last year, Mesoraco has taken another step in the right direction recently by logging some batting practice sessions. There is still no timetable for when he'll begin playing in games, but stringing some batting practice sessions together without any incident will put him on the right path toward his exhibition debut.

Pentecost (shoulder) threw a ball back to the pitcher Monday and is optimistic about his progress in recovering from shoulder surgery, Gare Joyce of Sportsnet reports.

Pentecost reportedly feels significantly healthier than in the past, and even took part in soft toss Monday. As far as a timetable goes, the catching prospect is still a ways away from getting back to game action, but he personally believes that he'll be able to do more than just therapeutic throwing by the time the minor league season gets into full swing. There has also been some speculation that the 22-year-old could convert to one of the corner infield positions to save his arm a bit and get him more at-bats during the spring, but Pentecost insists that he wants to stay behind the plate in the long run. Regardless, it's good to hear that he's finally feeling significantly better, although it'll still be a waiting game to see when he'll return to game action.

Maldonado is 3-for-9 with a double and run scored through four games this spring.

This is a good start for a player who hit just .210/.282/.293 in 2015. However, the only way he sees significant playing time this year will be if Jonathan Lucroy suffers another injury-plagued season, or if Lucroy is traded to another squad.

The Diamondbacks optioned Hernandez to High-A Visalia on Monday, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports.

Hernandez spent all of last season with the big club as a Rule 5 pick, but he appeared in just 18 games with the big club, and his assignment to High-A indicates the team still believes he has plenty of developing to do.

Vazquez (elbow) will make his spring training debut in a game Tuesday, the Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez cleared a hurdle Saturday throwing with 100 percent intensity while catching David Price in a simulated game. The young catcher had been held back last week after he experienced some soreness in his surgically repaired right elbow, but he said he felt fine Sunday after Saturday's activity. The Red Sox are non-committal when talking about Vazquez's chances of heading north with Boston, but it looks like the organization is in favor of having him begin the season in Triple-A.

Mesoraco's spring debut will be delayed due to a minor groin injury, MLB.com reports. "I would say we've slowed things down a little bit. It's not anything alarming," Mesoraco said Saturday. "It's a little bit slower just to give me a little more time to do everything a little more. I would say within the next seven to 10 days, I will be out there."

The 27-year-old tried his best to ease any concern, describing the discomfort as "a very small minimal amount of groin and hip flexor tightness, soreness" and adding that it's something doctors said would probably happen. Now more than eight months removed from surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip, Mesoraco has been able to hit and catch on the side and participate in team drills throughout the early stages of camp.

Vazquez (elbow) threw at 100 percent intensity during a simulated game Saturday, Sean McAdam of CSNNE reports. "I feel great, no pain, no nothing. I let it go today 100 percent. I feel like I'm ready to play in games," said Vazquez afterwards.

Saturday marked another step forward in Vazquez's recovery from Tommy John surgery as he made it through the simulated game with no pain in his surgically repaired elbow. He even made two strong throws down to second base to catch baserunners. According to McAdam, the Red Sox will likely decide Sunday when Vazquez will be cleared for game action.

Perez agreed to a five-year, $52.5 million contract extension with the Royals on Tuesday, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports.

The new contract overrides the previous deal Perez signed with the Royals in 2012 -- a very team-friendly pact -- and locks him up through 2021. His offensive performance slipped the last couple seasons, but he played in an average of 143 games over the last three years and figures to remain a workhorse behind the plate in 2016.

Vazquez (elbow) threw to bases at about 90 percent intensity Monday, CSN New England reports. He'll throw to bases again on Wednesday, then catch David Price in a simulated game Saturday.

The Red Sox have been extremely careful with Vazquez this spring, holding him back from going all out, but if all goes well Saturday, Vazquez could see his first spring-training game early next week. It's plausible he could be ready to roll Opening Day, but it's more likely he starts the year at Triple-A Pawtucket.

Murphy is positioned to begin the season as the Rockies' backup catcher behind Nick Hundley.

As Hundley's backup, Murphy could eventually see a significant share of the playing time, but Hundley's Coors Field driven resurrection at the plate last season may ultimately enable the Rockies to make a slow transition to making Murphy their eventual starter behind the plate. Murphy hit 23 homers across three levels last season, including three in 35 at-bats in the big leagues. In deeper leagues that require two starting catchers, Murphy may offer cheap pop even with Hundley in the fold in 2016.