MLB Player News
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Hayden Senger C | NYM
Mets' Hayden Senger: Opening 2026 in Triple-A
The Mets optioned Senger to Triple-A Syracuse on Saturday.
The Mets will go with Francisco Alvarez and Luis Torrens as the club's top catchers while Senger will open the 2026 season in Triple-A. Senger made his major-league debut in 2025 and appeared in 33 regular-season games, posting a .181/.221/.194 slash line with one double and four RBI in 78 plate appearances.
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Tyler Stephenson C | CIN
Reds' Tyler Stephenson: Pops first spring homer
Stephenson went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's spring game against the Cubs.
Stephenson popped a second-inning homer, his first of the Cactus League. The catcher appears to be coming around with hits in three of his last four games but is batting just .176 (6-for-34) this spring. Stephenson will be Cincinnati's starting catcher, but those occasional starts he used to get as a designated hitter may dry up in 2026. Eugenio Suarez is expected to serve as the everyday DH this season.
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Dillon Dingler C | DET
Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Hits first spring home run
Dingler went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After his spring training debut was delayed due to arthroscopic right elbow surgery in the offseason, Dingler got off to a slow start at the plate. However, the catcher has been a bit better lately, going 4-for-12 with the homer over his last four Grapefruit League contests. Dingler appears to be rounding into form for the start of the regular season, and he'll serve as Detroit's top backstop once again in 2026.
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Christian Bethancourt C | CHC
Cubs' Christian Bethancourt: Does not make roster
The Cubs informed Bethancourt that he did not make the major-league roster out of camp, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.
Bethancourt joined the Cubs back in December on a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. With Chicago keeping all of Carson Kelly, Miguel Amaya and Moises Ballesteros on its Opening Day roster, there simply was no room for Bethancourt. The veteran catcher instead will likely head to Triple-A Iowa, where he'll give the team organizational depth.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in return from WBC
Perez started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Giants.
Perez opened the scoring, blasting an Adrian Houser sinker to the opposite field for a two-run homer in the first inning. Friday marked the veteran backstop's first Cactus League appearance since winning the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela, though he went just 4-for-22 with an RBI across five WBC games. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he slashed .236/.284/.446 with 35 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBI in 155 contests, Perez will have to battle Father Time entering his age-36 season, though there's no question his power remains intact. With Carter Jensen in the fold and set for his first full big-league season, Perez figures to split time between catcher and designated hitter, with occasional starts at first base also a possibility.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Back in lineup Saturday
Alvarez (back) will start behind the plate and bat ninth in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.
Alvarez was lifted from Thursday's exhibition due to back tightness, a move which left fantasy managers holding their breath, but he has made a quick turnaround. Assuming no further issues, Alvarez should be fine to catch for Freddy Peralta on Opening Day.
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Joey Bart C | PIT
Pirates' Joey Bart: Slumping in spring
Bart has gone 5-for-31 with 13 strikeouts across 12 Grapefruit League games.
Bart is likely the favorite to win a roster spot as Pittsburgh's second catcher alongside Henry Davis, and his path became clearer earlier in the week when Endy Rodriguez was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis. Rafael Flores also remains in the mix, though he has hit poorly this spring.
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Rafael Flores C | PIT
Pirates' Rafael Flores: Struggling in spring
Flores has gone 2-for-25 with 10 strikeouts during Grapefruit League games.
Flores is vying for a roster spot as a second catcher alongside Henry Davis, with Joey Bart being his primary competition. Neither has made much of an impression, as Bart has struck out 13 times across 31 at-bats with only five hits. Flores made his major-league debut to close 2025 but had only 17 plate appearances.
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Moises Ballesteros C | CHC
Cubs' Moises Ballesteros: To make Opening Day roster
Ballesteros was informed Friday that he will be on the Cubs' Opening Day roster, Patrick Mooney of The Athletic reports.
Ballesteros impressed in his MLB debut last season, slashing .298/.394/.474 across 66 plate appearances. The 22-year-old hasn't skipped a beat this spring, going 11-for-31 (.355) with two home runs, two doubles and eight RBI. Ballesteros has the inside track to begin the season as the Cubs' DH, but with fellow catchers Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya on the team, opportunities behind the plate will likely be limited.
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Tyler Soderstrom C | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Back in lineup Friday
Soderstrom (knee) will bat fourth and play left field in Friday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Soderstrom was lifted from Thursday's Cactus League game after being hit by a pitch on the knee, but he'll be back in action Friday. Thursday's removal was deemed to be precautionary.