MLB Player News

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has been turning heads throughout spring training. Saturday, he continued to do damage at the plate, going 3 for 3 with a home run and three RBI.

"I always like to drive the ball the other way. In the offseason, that's what I worked on a lot instead of jumping at the ball right away," said Grandal to MLB.com. "A lot of my power is the other way."

Manager Don Mattingly said after the game that this is what they envisioned coming to the roster as a part of the Matt Kemp trade.

"That's what we saw late in the year last year," Mattingly said.

Eight catchers are in Major League camp with the Diamondbacks, and manager Chip Hale said that any combination of them could make the final roster. 

24-year-old Peter O'Brien is a former second-round draft pick of the Yankees, who was dealt to the D-Backs last season. He's one of the top prospects in the organization and will get extensive playing time, either at the Major League level or in the minors until he's ready to take the starting job on the big club.

35-year-old Gerald Laird is a non-roster invitee. He'll likely serve as a backup if he makes the roster. 

"We know what Gerald can do," Hale told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com. "We just need to make sure that he's ready. If and when he makes the team, he'll have to catch. How much can he catch for us? We'll have to figure that out."

Tuffy Gosewisch has the most experience with the team and is likely to take one of the roster spots. 

Rule V pick Oscar Hernandez needs to make the big club or be returned to the Rays. Hale praised his defense. ""He's really looked good behind the plate," Hale said. "He kind of makes it hard on the coaches and the manager because every ball he catches looks like a strike. ... He's got great hands back there and he blocks it."

Jordan Pacheco could make the squad based on his versatility at other positions. 

Blake Lalli , Matt Pagnozzi and Mark Thomas will have a tough time beating out the five players ahead of them on the depth chart. 

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal has impressed at Camp Boomer, presided over by Dodgers coach Steve "Boomer" Yeager, MLB.com reports.

"I like what I see and what I hear from him," Yeager said. "It takes time to gain the respect of the pitching staff and teammates whenever a catcher comes from somewhere else, but some of them already know him. In the old Dodger tradition, we've welcomed him with open arms. He has come in with a good attitude; you don't have to go looking for him. He's right there, ready to go to work."

Grandal was acquired this offseason as the centerpiece in the trade that sent outfielder Matt Kemp to San Diego.

"In a short time, I've already learned a lot," Grandal said. "Getting to know the guys, catching bullpens, I'm getting a feel for how they throw. Everything comes with time. Once the games start [on Wednesday], it'll definitely come a little faster. I need to get to know what guys are looking for in a catcher, what their mentality is. Some guys like you to give them a pat on the back. With others, it's a different approach."

Grandal is expected to share time behind the plate with incumbent starter A.J. Ellis this season.

The Phillies know Carlos Ruiz will be their opening day starter behind the plate. However, manager Ryne Sandberg is unclear as to who will backup Ruiz when the season begins, reports Philly.com.

"That's one of the areas in camp I think there's some competition," Sandberg said. "[I] need some game reps and game situations to really see them. I like the way that they're all going about it as a group. To get them into games and see how that goes, that will play big in that decision."

Cameron Rupp, Koyie Hill and John Hester are all vying for the position. Rupp is considered the favorite, according to the report, with the most pro experience, hitting .183 with six RBI and four runs scored in 60 plate appearances last season.

"Nothing's handed to anybody," Rupp said, "so I come out every day looking to get better, work on things that I need to improve on, and put my best foot forward."

The Dodgers aren't sure how they'll platoon their two catchers, according to the Orange County Register.

A.J. Ellis has been the team's primary option the past few seasons, but the club brought in Yasmani Grandal during the offseason. While Grandal has a much higher offensive upside, it's unclear how much he'll play once the regular season begins. 

"There’s nothing going to come out of this camp where we’re going to say, ‘OK, this guy is going to start 72 percent of the time’" general manager Andrew Friedman said. "It’s going to be much more about Donnie (Mattingly) writing the lineup each and every day for what gives us the best chance to win that day."

Mattingly admitted that Grandal has "tremendous upside offensively," so it's possible he could lead that way more often. While Mattingly has indicated that he doesn't want to assign any personal catchers yet, there's a sense Ellis could be used when Clayton Kershaw is on the mound. 

Grandal hit .225/.327/.401 over 377 at-bats last year. Ellis hit .191/.323/.254 over 283 at-bats. 

Padres catcher prospect Austin Hedges spent some time this offseason working with hitting coach Mark Kotsay and the progress he made has left the team encouraged about his future, per MLB.com.

"This year, I notice more maturity. He's still young, but he's getting closer to the big leagues. I think he is starting to understand our message of the pitcher-catcher relationship," Padres manager Bud Black said. "He's doing a lot of things very well in camp."

Hedges, who was the Padres' No. 1 prospect last season (per MLB.com), will likely start the season in Triple-A. For now, he will just work on getting better while he is in major-league camp.

"This is exactly where I want to be," Hedges said. "I'm lucky to be here. You start to feel like you belong. You feel like you can make a difference in a big-league game. The coaches have done a great job making me feel comfortable and preparing me."

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud was forced to have a bone spur in his throwing elbow surgically removed last September, but he's not allowing that to be an excuse for his struggles behind the plate last season.

"My arm feels looser. I have more range of motion in my elbow," d'Arnaud said Saturday, contrasting the end of last season with how he feels now. "I don't want to make excuses. I still should have made clean throws. You never know, though. It could have cut range of motion, so I couldn't extend all the way."

d'Arnuad finished near the bottom of the league in throw out attempts of would-be base stealers in 2014, tossing out just 19.4 percent.

Diamondbacks catcher Tuffy Gosewisch, who is considered the favorite to win the starting catcher job this spring, is not worried about the skeptics who don't believe he can handle being Arizona's top catcher.

"That's more motivation for me," he told The Arizona Republic. "All that matters to me is that the team believes in me. It seems like they do and I believe in myself. The more people that come out and say that, that's fine. That's just more motivation for me to go out and prove that I belong and I can do it."

Gosewisch is not known for his offense, but the Diamondbacks are comfortable with going with a defense-first catcher because they believe the rest of the lineup will help pick up the slack offensively.

"I know that in my position, my number one job is the pitchers," he said. "So 80 percent, 90 percent of my game has to be focused on them. Knowing what they do best and knowing what the other team does best and trying to come up with a game plan -- there's not a whole lot of stats that can be put on that part of the game.

"If I can just contribute to the team offensively, I think that's what they're looking for. I'm not saying I'm going to be an All-Star, but I'm confident in my ability to hit. I know there's a lot of people out there who doubt that, but I know I can do it and I know people here think I can do it."

Giants backup catcher Hector Sanchez said he is feeling great at the outset of spring training after missing most of last season due to multiple concussions.

"Amazing. I feel really good," Sanchez said, per CSNBayArea.com. "Two-hundred percent. I'm 200 percent (healthy)."

Sanchez said he has been fully cleared to catch.

"I love it. I love my position," he said. "It's the way I started playing baseball, you know? It's the only way I know to play baseball. I know it's not safe but I love it. I love my position." 

Sanchez will be competing for the backup catcher role this spring with Andrew Susac, who is viewed as the favorite for the job.

"He (did) a really good job and is a really good player," Sanchez said of Susac. "I came in here and I'm going to do what I have to do. I'll work hard and they'll make the decision."

The Brewers announced Wednesday that All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy is expected to miss 4-6 weeks due to a mild strain of his right hamstring.

Brewers assistant general manager Gord Ash said Lucroy's agent called with the news of the injury, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The injury is at the top of the leg, where it attaches to the hip. Ash added Lucroy mentioned some soreness in that area at end of 2014 season, but the team had no concerns about the injury at the time. Lucroy told MLB.com the injury flared up when he ramped up his running two weeks ago. Lucroy received a PRP injection Tuesday to help with the healing.

Lucroy was examined Monday by Brewers head physician William Raasch, who initially diagnosed the injury. It was then confirmed Tuesday during a second opinion with Marlins medical director Dr. Lee Kaplan, per MLB.com.

Ash said Lucroy can do some hitting, fielding and throwing while he recovers from the injury. He just can't run or perform any activities that might put serious strain on his hamstring.

Ash said the Brewers are "very hopeful" Lucroy will be ready by opening day. Martin Maldonado is Lucroy's backup and catcher Juan Centeno is also on the 40-man roster. Brewers pitchers and catchers are expected to report for spring training Feb. 20. 

This is an unfortunate setback for Lucroy, who is coming off his first All-Star season. He also finished fourth in the NL MVP voting and totaled a league-leading 53 doubles in 2014.

Lucroy has been a very good offensive catcher since 2013. Over the last two seasons, he is batting .291 with a .357 on-base percentage, .460 slugging percentage and .817 OPS.