MLB Player News

Indians catcher/infielder Yan Gomes went 3 for 4 with a run and an RBI at catcher Thursday against the Reds. It was Gomes's second three-hit performance in his last five games.

Gomes doesn't have a clear path to playing time in Cleveland, seeing action in 12 games in May, but when he's played, he's hit. He has a .319 batting average and five home runs in 69 at-bats this season.

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal made his season debut Tuesday at Seattle. Grandal, who was activated from the restricted list after serving a 50-game suspension, batted sixth in the lineup and finished 1 for 3 with a single and a run scored in a 6-1 win.

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal was activated from the restricted list Tuesday, as his 50-game suspension has come to an end. The team optioned John Baker to Triple-A Tucson, and designated infielder Edinson Rincon for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster. 

Let's not mince words here: If you're starting Buster Posey, Carlos Santana, Joe Mauer, Yadier Molina, Matt Wieters, Mike Napoli, Brian McCann or maybe Wilin Rosario at catcher, you're probably not picking up the Padres' Yasmani Grandal in anticipation of his return from a 50-game suspension Tuesday. If you're starting anyone else, you probably are.

Or at least, you probably should. The .863 OPS he compiled over the three months or so that he was in the big leagues last year would have ranked fourth among full-time catchers if he had done it over a full season, placing him ahead of Santana and Mauer, among others. Now, you could argue the OPS was artificially enhanced by the PEDs he was using, and maybe it was. But it's not like he was some out-of-nowhere minor-league journeyman putting up those numbers. He was the 12th overall pick in 2010 -- a legit prospect with big-time potential.

Plus, his batting eye was as responsible for his impressive debut as anything else. As long as that wasn't a fluke, I'd bank on the reduced fences at PETCO Park allowing Grandal to produce at near the level he did last year.

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart was back in action Monday night against the Mets.

Stewart, who missed seven of his previous eight games with a groin injury, recorded a single in the seventh inning for his only hit of the night. He finished 1 for 3 in a 2-1 defeat. He is hitting .276/.313/.395 with three home runs and seven RBI in 76 at-bats.

The Padres are set to activate catcher Yasmani Grandal Tuesday, as his 50-game performance-enhancing drug suspension has come to a close. The team plans to option John Baker to Triple-A Tucson to make room for Grandal.

Grandal appeared in nine minor-league games prior to his activation, batting .306 without a home run. He is expected to be the team's primary catcher. 

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal 's 50-game drug suspension is nearly over, and the team expects him back in the next few days. Grandal could return as early as Tuesday in Seattle, according to U-T San Diego.

He has been playing at Triple-A Tucson, where he has a .731 on-base plus slugging percentage in nine games. 

Yankees catcher Chris Stewart returned to the starting lineup Monday against the Mets despite a lingering groin injury. Stewart sat out Sunday after returning Friday and missing seven of the previous eight games due to the issue. 

Stewart entered Monday batting .274 with seven RBI over 26 games. 

Yankees catcher Austin Romine was behind the plate for the seventh time in eight games Sunday at Tampa Bay because starting catcher Chris Stewart continues to deal with a groin injury, according to MLB.com. Stewart returned to the lineup Friday after missing five straight games, but he hasn't started the last two games.

The Royals placed catcher Salvador Perez on the bereavement list Saturday. He is expected to be out for a minimum of three to a maximum of seven games.

Perez is hitting .419 with five RBI in his last nine games played.