MLB Player News

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco acknowledged Tuesday that his hip injury will likely require surgery to correct, but he's trying all possible treatments first, MLB.com reports.

"It's something that down the line, hopefully, is probably going to have to get fixed," Mesoraco said. "At this point, it's not an option because of how much of the season we have left. At some point, it's probably going to come into the picture."

Mesoraco would be on the shelf for four months if he undergoes surgery.

"We're trying to do everything we can to stop that from happening," he said. "We're trying to do the best we can to be able to finish the season before it's something that I do have to look at getting fixed."

Manager Bryan Price said that the team has not explored using him at different positions on the field in National League parks to get him on the field more regularly.

"I don't know if it's something that could happen this year," Price said. "It might be a question that's more pertinent if we come to the conclusion that he can't catch for some reason with his injury, long term -- meaning this season. But we haven't gotten to that point."

Mesoraco is likely to see time at designated hitter this weekend when the Reds play in an American League park and looking forward to the opportunity.

"This is definitely not easy sitting on the bench watching the guys and not being able to be out there and help them," Mesoraco said. "Hopefully this will give me a chance to get back in there."

The Mets optioned third baseman Eric Campbell to Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday and selected the contract of catcher Johnny Monell, the team announced.

Campbell drew 15 straight starts at third base after David Wright hit the disabled list, but the team chose Friday to move Daniel Murphy to third base and play Dilson Herrera at second, an alignment to which they stuck throughout the weekend. Campbell hit just .200/.323/.320 with one home run and five RBI in 50 at-bats.

Monell will give the Mets another lefty bat off the bench moving forward. He has hit .397/.455/.638 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 58 at-bats with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (finger) and catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) are not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Cozart sustained a finger injury while misplaying a groundball Sunday. It's the first time this season that the Reds haven't used him at shortstop to start the game. Kris Negron, who replaced Cozart Sunday, will bat seventh and play the position. Manager Bryan Price did say that Cozart is available to play Tuesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mesoraco hasn't been in the starting lineup since the fifth game of the season but could see some starts later this week at designated hitter when the Reds play in an American League park.

The Reds are underdogs (+135) in Pittsburgh Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal expressed hope after slugging a homer Sunday that his slump was over.

Apparently it is.

Grandal mashed three more hits Monday night in Milwaukee, including a double. He has seven hits in his last nine at-bats as his average has skyrocketed from .179 to .262, its highest point of the season. He has an extra-base hit in each of his last three games.

Bud Black confirmed Tuesday that newcomer Austin Hedges will receive a significant opporunity to play behind the plate for the Padres.

"I think he makes our roster better," Black told MLB Network Radio. "Derek Norris is our catcher but Austin is going to get playing time."

Norris has certainly not done anything at the plate to warrant a decrease in work. He owns a slash line of .323/.343/.500 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Hedges has been equally impressive in Triple-A with a .343 mark and two homers in 67 at-bats.

Black offered that Norris could be moved on occasion to first base when Hedges catches.

The Mets will promote catcher Johnny Monell prior to Tuesday's game against the Orioles. It is unknown what the corresponding move will be.

The 29-year-old Monell is batting .397 (23 for 58) with a .455 on-base percentage, .638 slugging percentage and 1.092 OPS in 17 games for Triple-A Las Vegas. He also has two doubles, four home runs and 15 RBI.

The Padres have officially called up catching prospect Austin Hedges from Triple-A El Paso and designated catcher Wil Nieves for assignment, the team announced Monday.

Hedges hit .343 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 67 at-bats in Triple-A. He has spent the first four-plus seasons of his career in the Padres' farm system and is considered the No. 4 prospect in the organization, according to Baseball America.

Manager Bud Black said Monday Hedges will make a start during their series against San Francisco.

Nieves was hitting just .077 with one home run and four RBI in 13 at-bats this season.

After hitting a walk-off home run to defeat the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal said he hopes recent changes to his approach are starting to pay off, reports the Los Angeles Times.

"I've been trying to be more aggressively lately," he said.

Along with a shoulder issue, Grandal said his approach at the plate also led to his batting average dropping to .179 before raising it to .230.

"You have to look behind and who's hitting behind you," he said. "If you just get on first and you let the guy do his job, we're going to be good."

The Padres are set to call up their top prospect catcher Austin Hedges, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman.

Hedges was hitting .343 with two home runs and 15 RBI in 67 at-bats for Triple-A El Paso. Hedges was one of the final cuts for San Diego in spring training, going 2 for 13 with a walk.

Yasmani Grandal led off the bottom of the 13th inning Sunday with a home run to break a scoreless game and send the Dodgers over the Diamondbacks.

Grandal entered the game as a pinch hitter in the 10th inning and stayed in to catch.

Diamondbacks reliever Evan Marshall (0-2) served up the walk-off blast.