MLB Player News

Jeffers went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer, a walk and two runs in Tuesday's win over the Orioles.

The 24-year-old walked and scored in the top of the fifth inning on a Jorge Polanco single before launching a three-run home run in the top of the sixth frame, scoring Gary Sanchez and Trevor Larnach. The long ball was his third of the season and it gave the Twins a 5-2 lead. Jeffers has operated as Minnesota's main option behind the plate this year, producing a .228 batting average with nine RBI over 57 at-bats. With Sanchez finally healthy again, however, it will be interesting to see how the playing time gets divvied up.

Heim went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored during Tuesday's 6-4 win at Philadelphia.

The 26-year-old started behind the plate and took Ranger Suarez deep during the fourth inning, and he also singled and scored in the sixth. Mitch Garver is clearly operating as Texas' No. 1 catcher, but Heim has still started 10 games with Garver also seeing regular time at designated hitter. Heim has taken advantage of those early opportunities and has a .364/.475/.697 slash line to go with three home runs, 10 RBI and 10 runs.

Garver went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 6-4 win over the Phillies.

Garver started the scoring Tuesday with a 400-foot shot to left center field with a runner on during the first inning, but he was unable to produce in his other three at-bats. It's his second homer in his past five games, and he's gone 5-for-20 during that stretch. Overall, it's been tough going early in the season for Garver with a .183/.272/.310 slash line through 20 games.

Higashioka is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Blue Jays.

After picking up three starts in a four-game stretch to close out the weekend, Higashioka now finds himself on the bench for the second day in a row. The Yankees are expected to ride the hotter bat between Higashioka and Jose Trevino at catcher, though neither is doing much to separate himself from the other. Higashioka owns a .386 OPS on the season, while Trevino's mark sits at a similarly feeble .463.

Vazquez is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Angels, Bill Koch of The Providence Journal reports.

Vazquez will retreat to the bench after going 2-for-10 with a double while catching in three of the Red Sox's previous four games. Kevin Plawecki will be behind the dish for Tuesday's series opener.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Sunday that Rortvedt (oblique) is a "full-go" for batting practice and defensive work, Jordan Wolf of MLB.com reports.

Rortvedt recently had imaging performed that showed no sign of the right oblique strain that has kept him out of game action so far this season, and he appears ready to start increasing his baseball activity in anticipation of a return. Boone noted that the backstop isn't yet prepared to face live pitching or embark on a rehab assignment, but the manager also suggested that Rortvedt could be "getting close to that." Primary catcher Kyle Higashioka is batting only .136 this season, and Jose Trevino hasn't done much better at .208, so Rortvedt could get a shot to show what he can do with the Yankees when he's able to return.

Perez went 0-for-4 in Monday's 1-0 loss to the Cardinals.

Over his last seven games, Perez has struggled, going 2-for-29 with 12 strikeouts and just one walk in that span. The catcher showed some early power this season, but he's been unable to contribute much of anything lately. Overall, the 31-year-old is slashing .185/.233/.420 with five home runs, nine RBI, nine runs scored and four doubles in 21 games.

Jansen (oblique) took part in live batting practice session Monday, Mitch Bannon of SI.com reports.

Jansen relayed that he "felt great" after the hitting session, which was highlighted by an opposite-field home run. The 27-year-old is expected to continue his hitting progression while partaking in additional baseball activities over the next few days, and a minor-league rehab assignment could soon follow. Jansen has been on the shelf since April 11 with a left oblique strain.

Higashioka isn't starting Monday against Toronto.

Higashioka went 0-for-2 in Sunday's win over the Royals, and he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Jose Trevino will start at catcher and bat ninth.

Bethancourt entered Sunday's loss to the Guardians as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning and laced an RBI double, subsequently scoring a run.

The reserve backstop put the first run of the game on the board for the Athletics with his timely two-bagger in the final frame that plated Sean Murphy. Bethancourt hasn't logged a start since Wednesday, and he's expected to head back to the minors once veteran Stephen Vogt (knee) returns from the injured list.