MLB Player News

Stephenson will be on the taxi squad for the Reds' weekend series, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Stephenson homered in his first major-league at-bat Monday but was optioned to the team's alternate training site Wednesday to make room for Mike Moustakas on the active roster. However, the 23-year-old catcher will be available as an emergency option over the weekend as the Reds prepare for their first road series of the season.

Tromp will start behind the plate and bat ninth in his major-league debut Wednesday against the Padres, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.

The 25-year-old was dealing with a hamstring injury toward the end of summer camp, but the Giants selected his contract Tuesday and will waste little time inserting him into the lineup. Tromp had a strong showing in 26 games at Triple-A last season with seven home runs and a .999 OPS, and he's set to work as the Giants' secondary catcher behind Tyler Heineman.

Heineman is not starting Wednesday against the Padres, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.

Heineman will give way to Chadwick Tromp behind the dish Wednesday after starting each of the past three games. In four appearances this season, Heineman is 5-for-13 with a pair of runs scored and a 2:2 BB:K.

Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game at San Francisco.

Mejia started the past two games but remains hitless through four appearances. Austin Hedges receives the start behind the plate for the Friars on Wednesday.

Contreras was optioned to Atlanta's alternate training site Wednesday.

Contreras and Alex Jackson unexpectedly opened the year as one of the Braves' two active catchers after both Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers came down with an illness. Both primary options are now healthy and back with the team, booting the fill-ins off the roster. Contreras grabbed four hits in 10 at-bats during his first big-league cameo.

Jackson was optioned to the Braves' alternate training site Wednesday.

Jackson and William Contreras were needed for the first several games with both Travis d'Arnaud and Tyler Flowers out with illness, but both primary backstop options are now healthy and back with the team. Jackson went 2-for-7 during his brief time with the team but struck out four times.

Stephenson was optioned to Cincinnati's alternate camp site Wednesday, Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune reports.

Stephenson made one appearance during his time with the big club and went 2-for-2 with a walk, a home run, two RBI and two runs scored. Mike Moustakas was reinstated from the injured list in a corresponding move.

Smith is not starting Wednesday against the Astros, Eric Stephen of TrueBlueLA.com reports.

Smith will give way to Austin Barnes behind the dish Wednesday. Across four appearances this season (three starts), Smith is 1-for-11 with two walks, a home run and three RBI.

D'Arnaud (illness) was activated from the injured list Wednesday.

Both d'Arnaud and fellow catcher Tyler Flowers had been on the COVID-19 injured list since Opening Day, though both players were evidently experiencing nothing worse than a normal illness as neither tested positive for the virus. Both have been cleared to return Wednesday and should split catching duties going forward.

Jackson went 2-for-3 with a double in Tuesday's loss to the Rays.

His two-bagger off Yonny Chirinos in the third inning was his first big-league hit. Jackson has been holding down the fort as Atlanta's starting catcher to begin the season, but with Tyler Flowers (illness) and Travis d'Arnaud (illness) both potentially ready to rejoin the club as soon as Wednesday, the 24-year-old will soon head to the bench and perhaps lose his spot on the 30-man roster entirely.