MLB Player News

Escarra went 2-for-3 with a solo home run and three total RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League loss to Minnesota.

Escarra drove in three of the Yankees' four runs in the contest, notching a two-run single in the seventh inning and a solo shot to right-center field in the ninth. The 29-year-old made noise at Triple-A last season with a .930 OPS, eight home runs and 34 RBI over 52 games, and he's competing in camp for the backup catcher job behind Austin Wells in the Bronx. Escarra has hit well this spring with a .294/.333/.471 slash line, four RBI and just three strikeouts over 18 plate appearances. His path to a roster spot could be helped by the fact that he is on the 40-man roster, unlike Alex Jackson, who is also in the running for New York's backup catcher role.

Ruiz went 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals.

Neither blast came against a particularly noteworthy pitcher -- he took Tekoah Roby deep for a two-run shot in the fourth inning before lofting a solo homer off Leonardo Taveras in the sixth -- but it was still a strong showing from Ruiz. The 26-year-old backstop may have worn down last season, stumbling to a .229/.260/.359 slash line with 13 homers in 127 regular-season games, but the Nats made no move to add a backup in the offseason who could potentially take some of the workload off him.

Ramirez went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.

Liam Hicks got the start at catcher for Miami, but Ramirez's first long ball of the spring still came against a reliever with a good chance of breaking camp on Atlanta's 26-man roster in Angel Perdomo. Ramirez is expected to begin the campaign back at Triple-A Jacksonville, where he slashed .270/.368/.461 in 39 games last season after being acquired from the Yankees in the Jazz Chisholm trade, but Nick Fortes (groin) has been banged up early in camp and offers very little with his bat even when he's healthy. If Ramirez has a quick start to the year in Jacksonville, he should make his big-league debut this summer, and a more serious injury for Fortes could accelerate that timeline even further.

Smith went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Thursday in a Cactus League win over the Rangers.

Smith got a late start to spring action due to a lingering ankle issue, and he exited Tuesday's game against Cincinnati after being hit in the knee by a pitch. However, the All-Star backstop appears to have avoided a significant injury on the HBP, as he started at catcher Thursday and took Caleb Boushley deep to left field in the fourth inning. Smith posted a career-worst .760 OPS over 544 regular-season plate appearances last season, but he contributed 20 home runs and 75 RBI and continues to be regarded as one of fantasy's most reliable catchers.

Perez (eye) is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup in Friday's Cactus League game against the Angels.

The veteran catcher departed Wednesday's spring game due to a laceration under his left eye but will return to action after sitting out just one game. After posting a .786 OPS with 27 homers during the regular season last year, Perez has gone just 2-for-11 through five Cactus League games.

Naylor went 2-for-3 with two home runs and four RBI in Thursday's spring game against the Diamondbacks.

Naylor accounted for all of Cleveland's scoring with a solo homer in the second inning and a three-run shot an inning later. All the positives for Naylor's bat in 2023 (67 games, .809 OPS) reversed in 2024 (123 games, .614 OPS), as he appeared to wilt under the mantle of being the team's primary backstop. The Guardians could use the 2023 version of Naylor after losing a couple of productive hitters during the offseason, including his brother Josh Naylor.

Alfonzo was reassigned to minor-league camp Wednesday, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.

Alfonzo went 3-for-8 with a double and two RBI in Grapefruit League play. The 25-year-old spent the entire 2024 season with Double-A Erie and could be headed there again this year, unless he gets the call up to Triple-A. Alfonzo is likely nothing more than organizational depth for the Tigers at the moment.

Perez has bruising under his left eye Thursday, but he said that he is "all good," Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Perez was removed from Wednesday's Cactus League game versus Seattle due to a laceration. According to the catcher, he will still practice Thursday and play in Friday's spring training game against the Angels.

Sanchez (illness) will start at catcher and bat seventh in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Sanchez has been out since Monday due to an illness, but he seems to have recovered ahead of Thursday's contest. The 32-year-old backstop is 2-for-10 with two walks and five strikeouts so far this spring, and he still projects to make the Opening Day roster as Adley Rutschman's backup.

Kirk went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Pirates.

The backstop supplied the Blue Jays with their only run off Mitch Keller through the first four innings, lofting a hanging curve to straightaway center field. It was Kirk's first homer of the spring, but he's been making strong contact so far, going 5-for-15 (.333) through seven appearances. His line-drive swing probably won't ever provide consistent power numbers, but Toronto would be happy if Kirk can supply something close to the .285 batting average and .372 OBP he produced in 2022 over 541 regular-season plate appearances.