MLB Player News

Giants catcher Hector Sanchez has a well-deserved reputation as a light-hitting reserve, but he turned that script around with a huge performance Wednesday against the Rockies.

Sanchez, who entered the game with just six career home runs in 164 games, slugged two to help the Giants to a 12-10 win. He went deep for a solo home run to give the Giants a lead in the eighth, and then came up with a grand slam in the 11th to give the Giants the win.

He finished the game 2 for 6 with five RBI, the latter of which is a career-high total. He is now hitting .161/.206/.419 on the season.  

Diamondbacks backup catcher Tuffy Gosewisch finally connected for his first hit of the season Tuesday against the Cubs.

Gosewisch's only hit happened to be his first home run of the season. Though, it didn't make much of an impact in a 9-2 loss. Gosewisch connected for a solo home run off Jason Hammel in the sixth inning Tuesday.

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado will not appeal his five-game suspension for his role in Sunday's brawl with the Pirates. He will begin serving his suspension Tuesday against the Padres and be eligible to return Monday at St. Louis.

Major League Baseball announced suspensions and fines Tuesday for four players involved in Sunday's brawl between the Pirates and Brewers.

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado was suspended five games and outfielder Carlos Gomez was suspended three games. Pirates outfielder Travis Snider was given a two-game suspension, while catcher Russell Martin was given a one-game suspension.

All the players were fined. Gomez is appealing his suspension, while Maldonado is undecided, per FOX Sports. No word yet on what the Pirates players will do.

Brewers catcher Martin Maldonado has received a five-game suspension for his actions during Sunday's brawl with the Pirates, per ESPN. He was also fined $2,500.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco continued his recent success at the plate Sunday, reaching base four times in his team's 8-2 victory over Chicago.

Mesoraco doubled in a run in the fourth, and singled in the fifth and ninth innings.He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI. He is hitting .515 with three homers and 11 RBI in 33 at-bats.

The Pirates have activated Chris Stewart off the disabled list and optioned fellow catcher Tony Sanchez back to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Stewart has missed the entire regular season after undergoing knee surgery in March.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco entered play Wednesday vs. Pittsburgh leading the team in doubles (three) and RBI (nine) despite missing the first week of the season due to an oblique strain. He also entered Wednesday batting .500 (11 for 22) with three home runs.

"He's just kept it going really nicely," Reds manager Bryan Price said, per MLB.com. "I think the fact that he knows he's our No. 1 guy, there's a lot more responsibility there for him. He knows he's going to play. If he goes 0 for 4, he'll be back in there the next day. That certainly lends to some confidence."

Mesoraco seemed to agree with his manager's assessment.

"It's just an overall comfort level that's the biggest thing," Mesoraco said Wednesday. "I'm comfortable with being the everyday guy. I'm comfortable with Bryan as the manager. I'm comfortable with being in the clubhouse and being around the guys. That's been the biggest thing."

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart (knee) will catch Jeff Locke's start for Triple-A Indianapolis Wednesday, but manager Clint Hurdle said a "plan is in place" for him to rejoin the major-league roster, per MLB.com.

"There's a couple of steps we still need to accomplish to get him ready to return," Hurdle said.

Devin Mesoraco has been off the DL all of six games and has already hit three home runs. He also has three doubles, going 8 for 17 overall.

Boy, Dusty Baker really blew it on that one, didn't he?

I say that because I feel like we should already be well acquainted with this version of Mesoraco. He was the big catcher prospect two years ago, ranking 16th among all prospects according to Baseball America, but Baker chose to leave him on the bench, preferring Ryan Hanigan's defense.

But Baker is gone now. So is Hanigan, for that matter, which means Mesoraco finally has a chance to apply his potential. And the early returns are breathtaking.

It's early, yes, and if he goes hitless in his next 10 at-bats, this post will seem horribly misguided, but seeing how quickly he's taken to an everyday role and knowing his potential, I don't think it's too far-fetched to think he could be a must-start catcher by season's end.

I've already bumped him up to 15th in my catcher rankings, and the margin between him and the four ahead of him is thin.