MLB Player News

Nationals catcher Sandy Leon went 2 for 5 with his first home run of the season and two RBI in his team's 9-2 win over the Marlins Monday.

Leon opened the season 0 for 11 in his first three games before getting his first hit Saturday. He then stepped things up Monday, connecting on a two-run home run in the seventh inning. Leon should continue to see extended action with Wilson Ramos sidelined.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said Monday the team is considering having catcher Chris Stewart (knee) finish his rehab with the major-league club, per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"[Stewart's] in a good place," Hurdle said. "He said he felt good (Monday) and after catching seven innings and nine innings, that’s a good sign."

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco belted his second home run Sunday against the Rays.

Mesoraco took an 87 mph slider from Brandon Gomes out to left for a two-run shot. Mesoraco also walked, singled and hit a sacrifice fly during the game. He finished 2 for 3, with one run scored and four RBI. 

In four games, Mesoraco is hitting .500 thus far. 

Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud continued to emerge from his early-season slumber Friday night with a solo home run in the eighth inning of an extra-inning defeat to the Angels.

It was his only hit of the game, but his first blast of the year made him 4 for 15 after he had been hitless in his first 16 at-bats this season. He still has plenty of work to do to raise his .129 batting average to a respectable level.

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco is not in the starting lineup for Saturday's game against the Rays.

Mesoraco has caught every inning of three straight games in a four-day span since returning from an oblique injury, so he'll get a day of rest Saturday, with Brayan Pena catching and batting seventh. Mesoraco has performed well since returning from the disabled list, going 5 for 11 with three doubles, one home run and two RBI.

The Pirates want catcher Chris Stewart to continue his minor-league rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he was moved Friday, according to MLB.com.

The team wants Stewart to catch some full games as well as back-to-back games before considering bringing him back from the disabled list. The team does not have a specific timetable for Stewart to get back from the DL, as he continues to recover from offseason knee surgery. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco clubbed his first home run Wednesday against the Cardinals.

With one man on in the fourth, Mesoraco took a 93 mph fastball from Shelby Miller and deposited it into the left field seats. Mesoraco also singled in the game, and reached on an error. He finished the game 2 for 4, with one run scored and two RBI. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco made his season debut Tuesday, going 2 for 4 with two doubles and one run in his team's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals.

Mesoraco is getting a late start to the season after dealing with an oblique injury. He was activated from the disabled list Monday but didn't see game action until Tuesday's 2-for-4 performance.

Padres catcher Yasmani Grandal went 4 for 5 with a double, one run and one RBI in his team's 8-6 loss to the Indians Tuesday.

Grandal is working his way back from ACL surgery and has yet to catch in back-to-back games, though he could clear that hurdle this week. He's been outstanding with the bat, going 7 for 14 with five walks in his six games played.

Pirates catcher Chris Stewart caught five innings and went 0 for 2 at the plate in a rehab game with high Class A Bradenton Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports.

Stewart is slowly working his way back from mid-March knee surgery. His timetable for recovery gives him a tentative expected return to the majors in late April.