MLB Player News

D'Arnaud (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with High-A St. Lucie on Thursday, Matt Ehalt of The Bergen Record reports.

D'Arnaud is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery after missing nearly the entirety of 2018. It's not yet clear how long the team expects his rehab assignment to be.

Ruiz is opening the year back with Double-A Tulsa, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.

This comes as a bit of a surprise, as Ruiz was a league-average hitter over a full season at Double-A last year, so many expected him to jump up to Triple-A. That promotion should come after a month or two back in the Texas League. Ruiz is advanced enough that it would not be surprising for him put up really impressive numbers in a repeat tour as one of the youngest players on this circuit.

Grandal went 3-for-4 in Monday's 4-3 win over the Reds.

After an 0-for-11 start to his Brewers tenure, Grandal found his stroke in Cincinnati. The veteran catcher is stuck hitting seventh most nights in a stacked Milwaukee lineup, but he should still be plenty productive in 2019 after slugging at least 22 homers in each of the last three seasons.

Campusano (concussion) will begin the 2019 season at High-A Lake Elsinore, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

Campusano isn't included on Lake Elsinore's 7-day injured list, making it safe to conclude that he's moved past the concussion that sidelined him for the final month of the 2018 campaign. The backstop will make the jump to the California League after slashing .288/.345/.365 over 284 plate appearances with Low-A Fort Wayne a season ago.

Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Rangers.

Contreras will get the day off Sunday, a customary move given the earlier start time. Victor Caratini drawing the start behind the dish in his place. Contreras has swung a hot bat to start the season, reaching base in five of his first 10 plate appearances.

Contreras went 3-for-5 with two doubles, a run scored and two RBI in Saturday's 8-6 loss to the Rangers.

The catcher collected his first hits and RBI of the year in a losing cause. Contreras is coming off a disappointing 2018, losing 11 homers and over 100 points off his slugging percentage compared to 2017, but at 26 there's little reason to think he won't be able to rebound.

Realmuto went 2-for-4 with an RBI single and a two-run homer in Philadelphia's win over the Braves on Saturday.

Realmuto plated the Phillies' first run with a single before adding his first homer of the season in the fifth inning to break a 4-4 tie. The 28-year old also attempted to steal second base but was thrown out in the second inning.

D'Arnaud (elbow) caught nine innings during an exhibition game Saturday for the first time this spring, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

D'Arnaud had made appearances behind the plate throughout spring training but catching an exhibition game in full is a big step towards his return from the injured list. The 30-year-old is still working his way back from Tommy John surgery but appears to be nearing a return to regular-season action. Tomas Nido will continue to back up Wilson Ramos in his absence.

Hedges will sit Saturday against San Francisco.

Hedges so far seems to be firmly ahead of Francisco Mejia in the battle for playing time behind the plate in San Diego, as he got the call in the team's first two games. Mejia will enter the lineup in his place Saturday, batting eighth.

Realmuto will start at catcher and hit fifth in Saturday's game against the Braves.

Realmuto turned in a quiet Phillies debut in the season opener Thursday, going 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The muted performance won't change Realmuto's outlook as a clear top-tier fantasy catcher, especially if manager Gabe Kapler commits to him as the club's No. 5 hitter. If health prevails, Realmuto should be able to cruise past last year's career-best total of 74 RBI while slotting behind a quartet of star hitters (Andrew McCutchen, Jean Segura, Bryce Harper and Rhys Hoskins) in the batting order.