MLB Player News

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (finger) and catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) are not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Cozart sustained a finger injury while misplaying a groundball Sunday. It's the first time this season that the Reds haven't used him at shortstop to start the game. Kris Negron, who replaced Cozart Sunday, will bat seventh and play the position. Manager Bryan Price did say that Cozart is available to play Tuesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mesoraco hasn't been in the starting lineup since the fifth game of the season but could see some starts later this week at designated hitter when the Reds play in an American League park.

The Reds are underdogs (+135) in Pittsburgh Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal expressed hope after slugging a homer Sunday that his slump was over.

Apparently it is.

Grandal mashed three more hits Monday night in Milwaukee, including a double. He has seven hits in his last nine at-bats as his average has skyrocketed from .179 to .262, its highest point of the season. He has an extra-base hit in each of his last three games.

Bud Black confirmed Tuesday that newcomer Austin Hedges will receive a significant opporunity to play behind the plate for the Padres.

"I think he makes our roster better," Black told MLB Network Radio. "Derek Norris is our catcher but Austin is going to get playing time."

Norris has certainly not done anything at the plate to warrant a decrease in work. He owns a slash line of .323/.343/.500 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Hedges has been equally impressive in Triple-A with a .343 mark and two homers in 67 at-bats.

Black offered that Norris could be moved on occasion to first base when Hedges catches.

The Angels have recalled catcher Carlos Perez from Triple-A Salt Lake and designated Drew Butera for assignment, the team announced Monday.

Perez appeared in 17 games for Salt Lake with a .361 average and 12 RBI in 72 at-bats. Butera is hitting .190 in 21 at-bats this season. 

The Mets will promote catcher Johnny Monell prior to Tuesday's game against the Orioles. It is unknown what the corresponding move will be.

The 29-year-old Monell is batting .397 (23 for 58) with a .455 on-base percentage, .638 slugging percentage and 1.092 OPS in 17 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. He also has two doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI.

Blue Jays catcher Russell Martin received the day off Monday against the Yankees after catching the last four games. Martin has been a nice addition for Toronto, both offensively and defensively. He has five home runs and 15 RBI through his first 23 games of the season.

Josh Thole replaced Martin behind the dish on Monday, as he typically does when knuckleballer R.A. Dickey is on the mound. Expect Martin to return to action on Tuesday. 

The Padres have officially called up catching prospect Austin Hedges from Triple-A El Paso and designated catcher Wil Nieves for assignment, the team announced Monday.

Hedges hit .343 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 67 at-bats in Triple-A. He has spent the first four-plus seasons of his career in the Padres' farm system and is considered the No. 4 prospect in the organization, according to Baseball America.

Manager Bud Black said Monday Hedges will make a start during their series against San Francisco.

Nieves was hitting just .077 with one home run and four RBI in 13 at-bats this season.

Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart is out of the starting lineup, with Sandy Leon slotted behind the plate, according to the Boston Herald.

Swihart started the last two games after being called up when Ryan Hanigan went down with an injury. Christian Vazquez didn't think Swihart would get the call Monday to catch Clay Buchholz because of his independence on the mound, according to the report.

"I think he's the tough one to get on the same page with because he runs his game," Vazquez said. "He likes to run his game. But we talk a lot about that and get on the same page to not shake too much last year. It got better."

Leon will make his seventh start and is hitting .200 with two RBI in 20 at-bats. The Red Sox are currently the favorites (-134) against Tampa Bay.

After hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal said he hopes recent changes to his approach are starting to pay off, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"I've been trying to be more aggressively lately," he said.

Along with a shoulder issue, Grandal said his approach at the plate also led to his batting average dropping to .179 before raising it to .230.

"You have to look behind and who's hitting behind you," he said. "If you just get on first and you let the guy do his job, we're going to be good."

The Padres are set to call up their top prospect catcher Austin Hedges, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Hedges was hitting .343 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 67 at-bats for Triple-A El Paso. Hedges was one of the final cuts for San Diego in spring training, going 2 for 13 with a walk.