MLB Player News

Higashioka is absent from the lineup for Monday's game in Miami.

Higashioka will get a breather after starting at catcher the previous two days. Elias Diaz will be behind the dish and bat eighth for the Rangers in the series opener.

Feduccia is absent from the lineup for Monday's game versus the Royals.

Righty Michael Wacha starts for the Royals and is better against lefties, which at least partly explains why the lefty-swinging Feduccia is not in the lineup. Nick Fortes will do the catching for the Rays.

Leon elected to become a free agent Monday, Lindsay Crosby of BravesToday.com reports.

Leon has decided to test out free agency rather than accept Atlanta's outright assignment. The veteran catcher could wind up back in the organization on a minor-league contract, though he now has the ability to negotiate with all clubs.

Jensen went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, two additional runs scored and two walks in Sunday's 12-10 loss to the Cardinals.

Jensen's hot stretch continued Sunday, as he came around to score a season-high three times and went the opposite way for his 10th homer of the campaign in the sixth inning. The 22-year-old is in the midst of a 12-game hitting streak, during which he's slashing .375/.407/.708 with three homers, seven doubles, 11 RBI, 12 runs and a stolen base. His recent production has helped him settle into the leadoff spot against right-handed pitching.

The White Sox optioned Quero to Triple-A Charlotte on Monday.

Rather than Quero, Chicago will keep Drew Romo on hand as its backup catcher after the team reinstated top backstop Kyle Teel (knee/hamstring) from the 60-day injured list in a corresponding move. Though he had a clear path to earning the bulk of the starts behind the plate while Teel was on the shelf for the first three months of the season, Quero quickly fell into a timeshare with Romo while slashing a lowly .187/.253/.233 with a 23.8 percent strikeout across 172 plate appearances. The switch-hitting Quero had been making most of his starts against left-handed pitching in recent weeks, but he should get the chance to play more frequently versus righties at Charlotte.

The White Sox activated Teel (knee/hamstring) from the 60-day injured list Monday.

Teel is finally ready to make his season debut after missing nearly three months, first due to a right hamstring strain and then a right knee LCL sprain. The young catcher was very productive on his rehab assignment with Triple-A Charlotte, slashing .387/.441/.613 with two home runs and a 3:7 BB:K in eight contests. Teel will serve as Chicago's primary catcher, and he is starting behind the plate and batting cleanup Monday against the Guardians in his season debut.

Stephenson went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Sunday's 4-1 win over the Yankees.

Stephenson erased New York's early lead and then some with a three-run blast in the fourth inning. It was the sixth homer of the season for the catcher, who is having a sub-standard season at the plate overall but is showing life in June. Stephenson, who entered June with a .199 average and .625 OPS, is batting .250 with .707 OPS this month.

White Sox manager Will Venable said Sunday that Teel (knee/hamstring) is a "possibility" to return from the 60-day injured list ahead of Monday's series opener versus the Guardians, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

Teel has been on the shelf all season while recovering from a right hamstring strain and a right knee LCL sprain, but he finally looks to be on the cusp of making his 2026 debut. The 24-year-old catcher restarted a rehab assignment at Triple-A Charlotte last week, appearing in four games while going 8-for-16 with one home run, one double and one walk. He was able to catch a full nine-inning game Friday, so assuming his knee and hamstring aren't causing any issues for him, he should be ready to take over as Chicago's top backstop. The White Sox have been getting by with a timeshare of Drew Romo (.591 OPS in 29 games) and Edgar Quero (.486 OPS in 55 games) behind the dish, though neither has been especially productive.

Jansen (forearm) was able to throw out to 60 feet Saturday, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Saturday marked the first time that Jansen was able to do any throwing since landing on the 10-day injured list June 6 due to a right forearm strain. Jansen had already been hitting and catching bullpen sessions, so working his way through a throwing progression will be his main objective before the Rangers send him out on a rehab assignment. Kyle Higashioka has been serving as the Rangers' primary backstop while Jansen has been on the shelf.

Atlanta outrighted Leon to Triple-A Gwinnett on Sunday.

Leon cleared waivers after being designated for assignment Thursday, and he'll wind up sticking around in the organization as catching depth at Triple-A. Before being pushed off the 40-man roster, the 37-year-old slashed .091/.091/.182 in 44 plate appearances with Atlanta.