MLB Player News

Phillies catcher Cameron Rupp went 2 for 3 with two doubles in Sunday's 7-6 loss to the Red Sox, and manager Ryne Sandberg praised his impressive spring performance after the game, MLB.com reports.

"For me, he's a guy that when he makes contact, some good things can happen because he's so strong," Sandberg said about Rupp. "He's really had good at-bats putting the ball in play, and that's resulted in some extra-base hits. It's something he's working on and he's shortening up his stroke a little bit, with kind of the team philosophy of the camp, and he's taken to that."

Rupp is 7 for 17 with four doubles and two walks this spring.

Catcher Andrew Susac entered Sunday's spring game in relief of Buster Posey, Susac's first action with the Giants since receiving a cortisone shot in his wrist on March 16.

Susac immediately made his presence felt by throwing out Angels OF Mike Trout. Susac is in a battle with Hector Sanchez for the Giants' backup catcher job.

Entering Sunday, Susac was hitting .100 in seven spring games.

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez was limited to just 66 games last season due to concussions but said Sunday that he's been feeling healthy in camp this spring, MLB.com reports.

"Really well, just feeling really good," Sanchez said of camp. "The most important thing, I feel healthy. That is a really important thing for me. I'm just working hard and getting my timing back."

Sanchez went 2 for 3 Saturday and has hit .258/.281/.355 in 31 at-bats this spring.

"I feel good, I feel good right now," Sanchez said. "I just have to keep working, do the best I can do. I feel 100 percent now. I feel I'm getting in shape with my baseball skills. I feel ready to play right now."

Sanchez is expected to open the season as the team's No. 2 catcher.

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt will miss his third straight game with flu-like symptoms. 

Bethancourt's illness is lingering, and he'll miss Saturday's game, per the Atlanta Journal Constitution's David O'Brien. 

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt will miss a second straight game on Friday. 

Bethancourt was held out of Thursday's game with flu-like symptoms. The illness was still bothering him on Friday, and he didn't travel with the team for the road game in Jupiter, per Braves Radio's Kevin McAlpin. 

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart said Friday he is still expecting to be ready by Opening Day. It was announced Thursday that Stewart could be out at least two more weeks with a sore hamstring. He has not played since March 9 due to the injury.

Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale spoke about the team's catcher competition Thursday, proclaiming Tuffy Gosewisch and Gerald Laird as the current leaders, MLB.com reports.

"Tuffy, to me, is running with it, and so is Gerald," Hale said. "I would say they're the two guys that are leading the pack. We haven't decided anything yet."

One of the reasons Laird signed with the Diamondbacks was a legitimate chance to win a roster spot, and he's established himself as a viable option for the team.

"He has just come in and done everything we've asked," Hale said. "What's impressed me is his catching. He's done a good job handling our staff, and he's had some really good at-bats. He looks fresh."

Blake Lalli or Jordan Pacheco may also be able to stick on the roster as well as a third catcher, due to their ability to play other positions.

Chris Stewart's pain could once again be Tony Sanchez's benefit. 

With Stewart's hamstring injury keeping him out for at least two more weeks, Sanchez will likely make the Pirates' Opening Day Roster. Also helping Sanchez is the fact he's had a teriffic spring, batting .526 with a 1.518 OPS. 

"It's way too early to tell if a DL assignment will be required [for Stewart]," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said. "The nice part is, Sanchez has had a great camp on all sides of the game, and if Chris is not ready, we feel strongly about having somebody who can step in."

A year ago, Stewart had a knee injury that allowed Sanchez to break camp on the 25-man roster as one of the Pirates' catchers. But Stewart did have minor knee surgery and returned in only one month. 

Even so, the Pirates could once again be relying on Sanchez on the roster in April. 

"Our focus is on continuing to help Sanchez be ready, if needed," Huntington summed up. "And if [Stewart] is ready to go, we'll have a lot of catching depth."

Braves catcher Christian Bethancourt was scratched from Thursday's spring lineup against the Marlins due to flu-like symptoms. He was replaced by John Buck in the starting lineup.

Bethancourt is batting .360 (9 for 25) with three runs, six doubles and five RBI in nine spring games.

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart is expected to miss two weeks with a sore hamstring, which could put his status for Opening Day in jeopardy, per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. If Stewart begins the season on the disabled list, catcher Tony Sanchez would likely take his spot on the roster.

When healthy, Stewart -- who has been sidelined since March 9 -- is expected to split catcher duties with Francisco Cervelli. Stewart is just 1 for 5 (.200) in three spring games.