MLB Player News

Mesoraco underwent surgery to repair a labrum in his right hip Monday.

The Reds expect that Mesoraco will begin catching drills sometime in mid-to-late January. The 28-year-old will end the season with a career low .140/.218/.160 line; since hitting .273/.359/.534 with 25 home runs and 80 RBI in 2014, Mesoraco has only played in 39 games over two seasons, failing to hit a home run while recording just three RBI over that stretch. This is now consecutive season-ending surgeries for Mesoraco, but at least this time he'll get an early start on bouncing back and getting healthy for next year.

Bethancourt went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored during Sunday's win over the Giants.

Bethancourt got the start as Derek Norris took a seat, and he desposited a Johnny Cueto fastball into the seats in left to give the Padres a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. Bethancourt quietly sports a .457 slugging percentage and five homers in just 105 at-bats this season, and he could carve out some fantasy value for himself is Norris is traded before the approaching deadline.

Speaking on his Sunday radio show, GM Neal Huntington gave no timetable for a return by Stewart (knee).

Huntington only said that Stewart was in the process of testing his knee. It might be premature to suggest that Stewart's season is over, but the Pirates seem to be hurrying Francisco Cervelli (hand) and Elias Diaz (elbow) back into the fold.

Diaz will move up from Double-A to Triple-A to continue his rehab assignment, Pirates Prospects reports.

GM Neal Huntington said Sunday that Diaz would head to Triple-A as soon as fellow rehabbing catcher, Francisco Cervellli, was ready to return in Pittsburgh. Unless Cervelli suffers an injury Sunday then he'll likely be back Tuesday with the Pirates following Monday's day off. Huntington said he's gotten good reports on Diaz, who's gone 11-for-30 in Altoona.

Grandal is out of the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks.

Dating back to before the All-Star break, Grandal has started a total of five consecutive games behind the plate. He'll get a regular rest day Sunday, giving way to backup A.J. Ellis.

D'Arnaud is out of the lineup Sunday against the Phillies.

D'Arnaud has been behind the plate for the first two games of the series, but will take a seat in favor of Rene Rivera for Sunday's afternoon finale.

Realmuto is out of the lineup Sunday against the Cardinals.

Realmuto has started the first two games of the series, and six straight overall dating back to before the All-Star break, so he was likely due for a regular day of rest. Jeff Mathis will take over for him behind the plate.

Rupp is out of Saturday's lineup, MLB.com's Todd Zolecki reports.

Rupp has started roughly 70 percent of the time behind the dish over the past month, remaining ahead of Carlos Ruiz on the depth chart. He will take a seat Saturday, however, as Ruiz slots in as the No. 7 hitter against the Mets.

Barnhart is not in Saturday's lineup against Milwaukee.

Barnhart gets a day off every couple of days, so being out of Saturday's lineup isn't anything unusual. Ramon Cabrera will be taking over his spot behind the plate and batting eighth.

Diaz went 3-for-4 with a homer for High-A Bradenton on Thursday as part of his rehab stint.

He's batting .391/.464/.522 in his first 28 plate appearances as he comes back from elbow surgery. Diaz could factor into the second half of Pittsburgh's catching situation if he can prove his elbow is healthy.