MLB Player News

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has been turning heads throughout spring training. Saturday, he continued to do damage at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.

"I always like to drive the ball the other way. In the offseason, that's what I worked on a lot instead of jumping at the ball right away," said Grandal to MLB.com. "A lot of my power is the other way."

Manager Don Mattingly said after the game that this is what they envisioned coming to the roster as a part of the Matt Kemp trade.

"That's what we saw late in the year last year," Mattingly said.

Eight catchers are in Major League camp with the Diamondbacks, and manager Chip Hale said that any combination of them could make the final roster. 

24-year-old Peter O'Brien is a former second-round draft pick of the Yankees, who was dealt to the D-Backs last season. He's one of the top prospects in the organization and will get extensive playing time, either at the Major League level or in the minors until he's ready to take the starting job on the big club.

35-year-old Gerald Laird is a non-roster invitee. He'll likely serve as a backup if he makes the roster. 

"We know what Gerald can do," Hale told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "We just need to make sure that he's ready. If and when he makes the team, he'll have to catch. How much can he catch for us? We'll have to figure that out."

Tuffy Gosewisch has the most experience with the team and is likely to take one of the roster spots. 

Rule V pick Oscar Hernandez needs to make the big club or be returned to the Rays. Hale praised his defense. ""He's really looked good behind the plate," Hale said. "He kind of makes it hard on the coaches and the manager because every ball he catches looks like a strike. ... He's got great hands back there and he blocks it."

Jordan Pacheco could make the squad based on his versatility at other positions. 

Blake Lalli , Matt Pagnozzi and Mark Thomas will have a tough time beating out the five players ahead of them on the depth chart. 

Tigers catcher James McCann, who is vying for a spot on the roster as a backup to Alex Avila, allowed a passed ball during Thursday's spring game against the Braves. After the game, McCann was very critical of his play and vowed to make sure no more pitches skip by him. 

McCann's relentless work ethic is one trait that manager Brad Aumus likes about the 24-year-old catcher.

"I don't have to worry about him working," Ausmus said Thursday, per the Detroit Free Press. "I think Mac does an excellent job. He is very alert. His head is into the game at all times. He understands that his value is greater on the defensive side of the game than it is when he is standing in the batter's box. That's not to say he doesn't take his hitting seriously.

"I think he has a chance to be a very good major-league catcher. I'm more concerned about how he handles a staff, how he calls a game, how he blocks balls in the dirt (than his ability to throw out runners)."

Indians catcher Yan Gomes' first hit of the spring came on a two-run home run during Cleveland's 9-3 Cactus League win over the Reds. 

Gomes went yard in the fifth inning off of Reds pitcher Burke Badenhop. 

Thursday's showing was a good sign that Gomes is picking up where he left off in 2014, when he recorded a batting average of .278 and hit 21 home runs. 

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has impressed at Camp Boomer, presided over by Dodgers coach Steve "Boomer" Yeager, MLB.com reports.

"I like what I see and what I hear from him," Yeager said. "It takes time to gain the respect of the pitching staff and teammates whenever a catcher comes from somewhere else, but some of them already know him. In the old Dodger tradition, we've welcomed him with open arms. He has come in with a good attitude; you don't have to go looking for him. He's right there, ready to go to work."

Grandal was acquired this offseason as the centerpiece in the trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

"In a short time, I've already learned a lot," Grandal said. "Getting to know the guys, catching bullpens, I'm getting a feel for how they throw. Everything comes with time. Once the games start [on Wednesday], it'll definitely come a little faster. I need to get to know what guys are looking for in a catcher, what their mentality is. Some guys like you to give them a pat on the back. With others, it's a different approach."

Grandal is expected to share time behind the plate with incumbent starter A.J. Ellis this season.

The Phillies know Carlos Ruiz will be their opening day starter behind the plate. However, manager Ryne Sandberg is unclear as to who will backup Ruiz when the season begins, reports Philly.com.

"That's one of the areas in camp I think there's some competition," Sandberg said. "[I] need some game reps and game situations to really see them. I like the way that they're all going about it as a group. To get them into games and see how that goes, that will play big in that decision."

Cameron Rupp, Koyie Hill and John Hester are all vying for the position. Rupp is considered the favorite, according to the report, with the most pro experience, hitting .183 with six RBI and four runs scored in 60 plate appearances last season.

"Nothing's handed to anybody," Rupp said, "so I come out every day looking to get better, work on things that I need to improve on, and put my best foot forward."

The Dodgers aren't sure how they'll platoon their two catchers, according to the Orange County Register.

A.J. Ellis has been the team's primary option the past few seasons, but the club brought in Yasmani Grandal during the offseason. While Grandal has a much higher offensive upside, it's unclear how much he'll play once the regular season begins. 

"There’s nothing going to come out of this camp where we’re going to say, ‘OK, this guy is going to start 72 percent of the time’" general manager Andrew Friedman said. "It’s going to be much more about Donnie (Mattingly) writing the lineup each and every day for what gives us the best chance to win that day."

Mattingly admitted that Grandal has "tremendous upside offensively," so it's possible he could lead that way more often. While Mattingly has indicated that he doesn't want to assign any personal catchers yet, there's a sense Ellis could be used when Clayton Kershaw is on the mound. 

Grandal hit .225/.327/.401 over 377 at-bats last year. Ellis hit .191/.323/.254 over 283 at-bats. 

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez seems to be very happy with the lessons he is learning from former Red Sox catcher and captain Jason Varitek.

"Great, great teacher," Vazquez said of Varitek, per MLB.com. "I call him the Google of baseball. It's so great to have somebody like him. It's a pleasure.

"Right now, we're working on receiving and getting the ball to travel more and just let it breathe. That's helped me. Varitek tells me I need to talk to each pitcher about what he likes, what he doesn't like. It's very important to get that trust. I'm like a manager now. I need to be in charge, calling games.

"I'm ready to help this team to win and help my teammates. We have a great group of pitchers here and we're trying to win this year and get to the playoffs. I'm here to win and helping the team. I'm excited to be here."

Padres catcher prospect Austin Hedges spent some time this offseason working with hitting coach Mark Kotsay and the progress he made has left the team encouraged about his future, per MLB.com.

"This year, I notice more maturity. He's still young, but he's getting closer to the big leagues. I think he is starting to understand our message of the pitcher-catcher relationship," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's doing a lot of things very well in camp."

Hedges, who was the Padres' No. 1 prospect last season (per MLB.com), will likely start the season in Triple-A. For now, he will just work on getting better while he is in major-league camp.

"This is exactly where I want to be," Hedges said. "I'm lucky to be here. You start to feel like you belong. You feel like you can make a difference in a big-league game. The coaches have done a great job making me feel comfortable and preparing me."

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was forced to have a bone spur in his throwing elbow surgically removed last September, but he's not allowing that to be an excuse for his struggles behind the plate last season.

"My arm feels looser. I have more range of motion in my elbow," d'Arnaud said Saturday, contrasting the end of last season with how he feels now. "I don't want to make excuses. I still should have made clean throws. You never know, though. It could have cut range of motion, so I couldn't extend all the way."

d'Arnuad finished near the bottom of the league in throw out attempts of would-be base stealers in 2014, tossing out just 19.4 percent.