MLB Player News

Perez will bat third as the Royals' designated hitter in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Brewers, Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reports.

Perez had tentatively been in line to work behind the plate Thursday for the first time this spring, but manager Mike Matheny ultimately chose to give the backstop another day off of catching after undergoing a dental procedure earlier this week, per Lynn Worthy of The Kansas City Star. The 29-year-old should be ready to make a start at catcher at some point in the next few days.

Kungkuan (oblique) is listed as an available bench option in Thursday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports.

Kungkuan's 2019 season ended on the 7-day injured list at Double-A Akron, but his inclusion on the lineup card Thursday suggests that he's made a full recovery from the left oblique strain. The 25-year-old probably won't see more than a handful of at-bats with the big club during Cactus League play before he's assigned to minor-league camp.

Manager Mike Matheny said Perez would serve as the Royals' starting catcher in Thursday's Cactus League game against Milwaukee, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

Perez had been scheduled to work behind the plate for the first time this spring in one of Wednesday's split-squad games, but the Royals pushed him back a day after he underwent a dental procedure earlier in the week. The 29-year-old had previously made two starts as a designated hitter and one at first base, as the Royals have been conscious about easing up on his catching duties following his March 2019 Tommy John surgery. Perez is still expected to see the bulk of his action as a catcher in 2020, though he may see more exposure to DH and first base compared to previous seasons.

Sanchez is experimenting with a new catching stance in spring training, Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com reports.

Per Caldera, the stance features Sanchez "setting up with his right leg in a slightly lowered position." The catcher is trying out the stance because it puts him in better position to frame low strikes for Yankees pitchers. Naturally, Sanchez will need to get completely comfortable with all aspects of the altered crouch before using it in regular-season games.

Stassi (hip) is slated to appear in Tuesday's Cactus League game against the Reds as a designated hitter.

Based on the information the Angels provided on their lineup card, Stassi is set to replace Shohei Ohtani midway through the contest for what will mark the 28-year-old's spring debut. Stassi has been eased into workouts this spring while recovering from offseason hip surgery, but he's expected to be ready to go for Opening Day. He'll likely see some action behind the plate in Cactus League games within the next week or two.

Trevino suffered nothing worse than a bruise after getting hit by a foul tip on his knuckle Monday.

Trevino was forced to leave the game and was sent for X-rays, but the tests confirmed he suffered no serious injury. He should still receive plenty of at-bats this spring to make his case for a bench spot.

Trevino is scheduled to undergo X-rays on his right index finger, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Trevino exited Monday's Cactus League game against the Reds after getting hit by a foul tip on the knuckle of his right index finger. The severity of the injury, along with a timetable for the backstop's return, should come into focus once the test results are disclosed.

Trevino exited Monday's Cactus League game against the Reds with an apparent finger injury, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.

Trevino was checked out by trainers during the first inning but was able to stay in the game and finish off the inning. The backstop was ultimately replaced by Blake Swihart prior to the start of the second frame. Before exiting, Trevino went 1-for-1 with a pair of RBI.

Manager Rick Renteria estimated that Grandal (calf) would miss between seven and 10 games prior to appearing in Grapefruit League matchups, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Grandal has been battling a mild calf strain over the beginning of spring training, but he's been able to participate in hitting and catching drills. The 32-year-old is scheduled to perform sprinting drills Monday, but he'll likely be sidelined between one and two weeks prior to appearing in Grapefruit League games. However, the injury is not expected to affect his availability for Opening Day if his recovery continues smoothly.

Heim, who has a chance to earn a backup catcher job this spring, has impressed in camp and in Saturday's 12-2 Cactus League loss to the Cubs, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports. "He was real calm back there. Got all the signs I gave him. He had a lot going on back there with their guys swinging the bat well," manager Bob Melvin said. "For a first start, you would think a guy like that has some nerves, but he certainly didn't show it."

Projected Opening Day catcher Sean Murphy (knee) is expected out until at least March 2, which will afford Heim extra reps in his bid to earn a backup catcher job this spring. The 24-year-old has yet to log any regular-season major-league action, but he opened eyes last season with a .358/.412/.557 line across 119 plate appearances at Triple-A Las Vegas. He kept his bat warm over the winter as well while playing in the Dominican Republic, slashing .301/.386/.411 over 20 games with the Toros del Este. Heim played six innings versus the Cubs on Saturday and went 1-for-2 with a single, while also flashing his renowned defensive skills by cutting down Jason Heyward after digging out a throw in the dirt.