MLB Player News
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Ivan Herrera C | STL
Cardinals' Ivan Herrera: Rejoining spring lineup Wednesday
Herrera (knee) will catch a bullpen session Tuesday and is expected to be in the Cardinals' Grapefruit League lineup Wednesday against the Astros, Lynn Worthy of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.
The 25-year-old is expected to catch three frames in Wednesday's contest, as he's scheduled to get his first at-bats in a Grapefruit League game in nearly two weeks. Herrera was built up slowly at the start of spring training following offseason elbow surgery but has more recently been battling knee inflammation. He's expected to open the campaign as St. Louis' primary designated hitter but should also see some opportunities behind the plate.
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Francisco Alvarez C | NYM
Mets' Francisco Alvarez: Swinging hot bat in camp
Alvarez went 1-for-3 with a walk, a double, a run scored and an RBI in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Nationals.
Alvarez has looked good this spring, batting .381 (8-for-21) with three doubles and a homer. The 24-year-old backstop is locked into the starting spot for the Mets, and given how he finished last season -- .276/.360/.561 over 41 games after the All-Star break with eight home runs -- a breakout could be in the cards if Alvarez can stay healthy in 2026.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Returns from absence
Realmuto (illness) is starting at catcher and batting second Tuesday against the Twins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
He was under the weather for a couple days. Realmuto is batting .235 with one home run in seven games this spring.
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James McCann C | ARI
Diamondbacks' James McCann: Ready if needed
McCann went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, three RBI and an additional run scored in Monday's spring game against Cincinnati.
McCann swatted his first home run of the Cactus League and is batting .214 over 28 spring at-bats. He's expected to serve as the backup to Gabriel Moreno (forearm) but could be needed for more depending on the starter's recovery. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports on Monday that Moreno will begin a throwing program next week, which also marks the start of the regular season. Lovullo is confident there's enough time for the injured catcher to ramp up for Opening Day; if not, McCann appears ready to fill in.
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Logan Porter C | SF
Giants' Logan Porter: Reassigned to minors camp
The Giants reassigned Porter to minor-league camp Monday, Justice delos Santos of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
Porter spent the majority of last season with Triple-A Sacramento and inked a new minor-league deal that included an invitation to spring training following the season last October. He'll provide organizational catching depth for San Francisco.
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Gabriel Moreno C | ARI
Diamondbacks' Gabriel Moreno: Looks on track for Opening Day
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo expressed confidence Monday that Moreno (forearm) will be available for the Diamondbacks' March 26 season opener versus the Dodgers, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.
Moreno received good news over the weekend, when an MRI administered on his aching right forearm revealed inflammation but no structural damage. Though the injury isn't expected to affect Moreno at the plate, Lovullo said that the catcher will be barred from throwing this week while he waits for the inflammation to subside. Assuming he's cleared to make a start behind the dish in one of the Diamondbacks' exhibitions versus the Guardians early next week, Moreno should be ready to catch for Opening Day starter Zac Gallen on March 26.
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Kyle Higashioka C | TEX
Rangers' Kyle Higashioka: Returns to lineup Monday
Higashioka (back) will start at catcher and bat seventh in Monday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Higashioka hadn't appeared in a game since March 5 due to a back issue, but now that he's back behind the plate Monday, he should have plenty of time to prepare himself for the Rangers' March 26 opener in Philadelphia. The veteran backstop is expected to split catching duties with Danny Jansen this season.
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Liam Hicks C | MIA
Marlins' Liam Hicks: Role set to begin season
Hicks went 0-for-3 in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros.
While it wasn't a noteworthy performance, Hicks saw his only real competition for a spot on the 26-man roster eliminated when top catching prospect Joe Mack was optioned to Triple-A Jacksonville on Sunday. Hicks is expected to split his time between catcher, first base and DH once again in 2026 while primarily facing right-handed pitching, a split in which he slashed .256/.349/.367 last year with six homers in 324 plate appearances.
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J.T. Realmuto C | PHI
Phillies' J.T. Realmuto: Battling illness
Realmuto has been under the weather the past few days but could return to the Phillies' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday against the Twins, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Realmuto has a .786 OPS through 19 plate appearances during spring training, so the illness shouldn't affect his availability for the start of the regular season. The 34-year-old is coming off a 2025 regular season that saw him post his worst OPS (.699) since his second MLB campaign in 2015.
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Willie MacIver C | TEX
Rangers' Willie MacIver: Misses out on Opening Day roster
The Rangers optioned MacIver to Triple-A Round Rock on Sunday.
Texas looks set to head into Opening Day with Danny Jansen and Kyle Higashioka (back) as its two backstops, but MacIver should be first in line for a call-up if another catcher is required. The 29-year-old made his big-league debut last season for the Athletics, slashing .186/.252/.324 with three home runs and three stolen bases over 111 plate appearances.