MLB Player News
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Nick Fortes C | TB
Marlins' Nick Fortes: Connects on fourth home run
Fortes went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Monday's 8-1 loss to Seattle.
Fortes continues to operate as Miami's top catcher, but he's appeared in just 45 of the team's first 67 games. His offensive production has been sporadic, and he had just three hits over his first seven June games before hitting his fourth homer of the season Monday. Overall, he's slashing .231/.280/.328 with 13 RBI and 16 runs scored, but his effort on defense will presumably keep him locked into semi-regular starts.
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Shea Langeliers C | ATH
Athletics' Shea Langeliers: Bases-clearing double in win
Langeliers went 1-for-3 with a three-run double and a run in a win over the Rays on Monday.
The young backstop set the table for the Athletics' season-high sixth straight win with his timely fifth-inning, base-loaded two-bagger, which snapped a scoreless tie. Langeliers has now reached safely in eight straight games, a stretch during which he sports a .280 average and .899 OPS across 29 plate appearances.
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Chad Wallach C | ATH
Angels' Chad Wallach: Extends lead in 12th
Wallach went 1-for-1 with a two-run home run during Monday's victory over the Rangers.
Wallach didn't start the game but entered in the 10th inning as a defensive replacement. He got his first at-bat in the 12th and took advantage, smashing a two-run home run to extend the Angels' lead to 9-5. With Max Stassi (personal) and Logan O'Hoppe (shoulder) unavailable, Wallach continues to serve as the primary backup to Matt Thaiss and has seen sporadic playing time, slashing .273/.324/.515 with five home runs and 10 RBI across 27 games (71 plate appearances).
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Tom Murphy C | SF
Mariners' Tom Murphy: Launches second homer
Murphy went 2-for-4 with a double, a solo home run and an additional run scored in an 8-1 win over the Marlins on Monday.
Drawing his second start in three games with left-hander Jesus Luzardo on the mound for the Marlins, Murphy continued the extra-base-hit barrage that's been his trademark during his sparse opportunities this season. The veteran's eighth double of the season came off Luzardo, while his 408-foot shot to center in the eighth provided the final run of the game for either club. Ten of Murphy's 17 hits on the season have gone for extra bases, and his current .233 average represents his highest figure in the category since May 20.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Hits for cycle in loss
Realmuto went 4-for-4 with a home run, a triple, a double, three RBI and two additional runs scored in Monday's 9-8 loss to the Diamondbacks.
Realmuto broke out of a minor slump by having his best game of the season, hitting for the cycle while setting new single-game highs in hits and RBI for the 2023 campaign. Even after the big night, Realmuto's batting average is still sitting at .256, which would be his lowest since his rookie season in 2014. He's tied with Daulton Varsho for the lead in steals (nine) among catcher-eligible players.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Sitting Monday
Moreno is not in the starting lineup Monday versus the Phillies.
Moreno will take a seat after he went 2-for-7 with a double and a run scored while striking out twice over the final two games of the team's series in Detroit. Carson Kelly (forearm) was activated from the 60-day injured list Monday and will start at catcher, batting seventh in the series opener with Philadelphia. Moving forward, Moreno seems likely to get the lion's share of reps behind the plate, though that could change if he cools down or Kelly goes on a heater.
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Blake Sabol C | BOS
Giants' Blake Sabol: Heads to bench Monday
Sabol is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Cardinals, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
Sabol went 3-for-15 with three walks, two RBI and a run while starting in each of the past five games. Four of those starts came as a catcher, though Sabol's increased usage behind the dish may have been in some part due to the fact that Patrick Bailey had been dealing with neck tightness. Bailey is expected to operate as the Giants' primary backstop for the foreseeable future, but Sabol should still see semi-regular playing time against right-handed pitching while moving between catcher, designated hitter and the corner outfield.
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Jose Herrera C | TEX
Diamondbacks' Jose Herrera: Moves down to Triple-A
The Diamondbacks optioned Herrera to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Herrera broke camp with the Diamondbacks out of spring training as the No. 2 catcher behind Gabriel Moreno while Carson Kelly was shelved with a fractured forearm. Though Moreno has dominated the playing time behind the dish, Herrera has been serviceable when called upon, compiling a .255/.344/.327 slash line over 68 plate appearances. With Kelly returning from the 60-day injured list Monday and ready to handle duties as Moreno's top understudy, the Diamondbacks didn't have room on the active roster for Herrera as a third catcher. The 25-year-old should get the opportunity to play on a more frequent basis in Reno.
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Eric Haase C | SF
Tigers' Eric Haase: Day off Monday
Haase is not in the starting lineup Monday versus Atlanta, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Haase will take a seat after he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in Sunday's loss to the Diamondbacks. Jake Rogers will take over behind the plate and bat ninth in the series opener with Atlanta.