MLB Player News
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Returning to team Saturday
Wong (illness) is expected to return to camp Saturday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Wong, who was scratched from Wednesday's lineup, is feeling better and will rejoin the club. He'll likely need a few days before appearing in a Grapefruit League game.
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Austin Wynns C | TEX
Reds' Austin Wynns: Roster chance improves
Wynns' chances of making the roster improved this week after injuries to Tyler Stephenson (oblique) and Jose Trevino (hand), Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.
In the span of three days, Wynns went from the outside looking in to appearing to have a spot on the Opening Day roster. Trevino's injury is less severe than Stephenson, who is facing a multiple-week absence, so Wynns may be the primary backup. The Reds could also scan the market for veteran catchers.
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Hunter Feduccia C | LAD
Dodgers' Hunter Feduccia: Optioned to Triple-A
The Dodgers optioned Feduccia to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Saturday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.
Feduccia remains with the club in Japan on the 31-man travel roster but has officially been removed from the major-league roster. The 27-year-old made his big-league debut down the stretch last year and went 4-for-12 in five games, but he isn't likely to see much action in 2025 if Will Smith and Austin Barnes stay healthy.
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Ben Rice DH | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Belts second spring long ball
Rice went 2-for-2 with a two-run home run against the Phillies in a Grapefruit League victory Friday.
Rice's long ball was a 405-foot shot to right-center field in the first inning. It was the 26-year-old's second homer this spring, and he's added four RBI along with a .212/.278/.394 lash line. Rice is competing for an Opening Day roster spot as a backup to first baseman Paul Goldschmidt. Yankees manager Aaron Boone mentioned last week that Rice could also see time at DH if he makes the roster since Giancarlo Stanton (elbows/calf) isn't going to ready for Opening Day and could miss an extended period.
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J.C. Escarra C | NYY
Yankees' J.C. Escarra: Swinging hot stick in spring play
Escarra went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's Grapefruit League win against the Phillies.
Escarra went deep in the seventh inning, blasting a 386-foot homer to right field. The 30-year-old has stood out this spring, slashing .355/.394/.645 with three homers, seven RBI and only six strikeouts over 33 plate appearances. Escarra thrived with a .930 OPS over 201 plate appearances at Triple-A last season, and he's competing for an Opening Day roster spot as New York's backup catcher behind Austin Wells.
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Endy Rodriguez C | PIT
Pirates' Endy Rodriguez: Likely odd man out
Rodriguez will likely begin the season with Triple-A Indianapolis because the Pirates want him to get everyday at-bats, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com reports.
Rodriguez is returning from a lost 2024 season caused by an elbow injury. He's performed well enough to secure a roster spot by hitting .381 with three extra-base hits across 21 at-bats in Grapefruit League games, but Joey Bart has earned the top spot on the depth chart after producing well last year. The Pirates have experimented with Rodriguez at different positions in the past, and he may need to regain that versatility or have Henry Davis struggle in order to find his way to the majors early in the campaign.
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Jose Trevino C | CIN
Reds' Jose Trevino: Exits with apparent injury
Trevino was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against Arizona with an apparent hand injury, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Trevino suffered the injury in the fifth inning when a foul tip off the bat of Corbin Carroll struck him in the hand. The severity of the backstop's injury remains unclear, though the Reds can ill afford to be without Trevino with Tyler Stephenson (oblique) slated to begin the regular season on the injured list.
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Patrick Bailey C | CLE
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Remains on track for starting role
Bailey went 1-for 2 with a double and two RBI in Wednesday's 7-3 Cactus League loss to the Rangers. He is now batting .261 (6-for-23) with one home run and three RBI this spring.
Bailey has registered a .261/.292/.435 slash line in nine appearances this spring, not particularly impressive numbers by Cactus League standards. The 25-year-old is set to serve as the club's everyday catcher after winning his first Gold Glove during the 2024 campaign, which was his second season in the majors. Over two seasons with the Giants, Bailey has recorded a middling .234/.292/.348 slash line.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Headed to IL with oblique strain
Stephenson will open the season on the 10-day injured list after being diagnosed with a low-grade oblique strain, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Stephenson underwent tests for what had been described as a back injury, but an MRI revealed a strain to his oblique. That the strain is considered minor gives Stephenson a chance to keep his IL stint brief, but oblique issues can linger. With Stephenson out, Jose Trevino will open the season as the Reds' top catcher. Cincinnati has just two catchers on its 40-man roster, which leaves non-roster invitee Austin Wynns as a good bet to be the No. 2 backstop when camp breaks.
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Chadwick Tromp C | LAD
Braves' Chadwick Tromp: On track for 26-man roster
Tromp will likely back up rookie Drake Baldwin at catcher on Atlanta's Opening Day roster, Justin Toscano of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Sean Murphy (ribs) will begin the season on the IL, opening the door for Baldwin to make his big-league debut. Had Murphy not been injured, Tromp likely would have been the No. 2 backstop anyway, as he's out of minor-league options, but if Baldwin shows he's ready for the majors over the first weeks of the year, Tromp could be squeezed off the roster when Murphy returns.