MLB Player News

Perez (hand) has not been placed on the disabled list, contrary to prior reports.

Perez is out with a bruised hand, and the Indians have called up catcher Francisco Mejia, but Perez remains on the active roster, at least for now. Reliever Evan Marshall was optioned to make room for Mejia.

Mejia was called up by the Indians on Monday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Despite seeming nearly big-league ready to start the season, Mejia was sent to Triple-A Columbus, in part to get some work in the outfield, as Cleveland was apparently dissatisfied with his work at catcher. He's done very little to force his way back to the majors this season, hitting a mere .214/.271/.333, but he'll be up anyway as the Indians need a backup catcher with Roberto Perez out with a bruised hand. Perez has not been placed on the disabled list, however, so Mejia's stay could be short.

Perez was placed on the disabled list with a bruised right hand Monday, Paul Hoynes of Cleveland.com reports.

Perez was hit in the hand by a pitch Sunday and was forced to leave the game. He appears to have avoided a fracture but will nevertheless be out for a minimum of 10 days. Francisco Mejia was called up to take his place on the roster.

Murphy is slashing .295/.366/.656 with 16 home runs and 45 RBI through 48 games with Triple-A Albuquerque this season.

When the Rockies signed Chris Iannetta over the offseason, it effectively put Murphy and Tony Wolters into a competition to be the backup backstop for Colorado. Wolters won the job out of spring training, but things may have worked out better for Murphy as a result. He's striking out over nine percent less at Triple-A than last season, and he's walking at his highest rate since 2015. To add onto that, the .360 ISO he produced to start the season is his best mark at any level with more than 50 plate appearances. Iannetta and Wolters are better receivers behind the plate, but Murphy offers significantly more upside with the bat. With nothing more to prove at Triple-A, the 27-year-old may get a shot at big-league catching duties at some point later this season, especially if the Rockies fall out of playoff contention.

Perez went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Kansas City's 3-2 loss to Oakland on Sunday.

The slugging catcher has been relatively quiet lately, but he mashed his 11th long ball of the year with this third-inning solo blast off Oakland starter Sean Manaea to account for one of his team's two runs in the game. His .237 average is lagging behind his career mark of .269, but he's still providing his customary level of power, as Sunday's blast puts him on pace for 28 homers for the season after he hit 27 last year.

Barnhart went 1-for-3 with one RBI, two walks and a run scored during Sunday's 6-3 win over the Cardinals.

Barnhart drove in Billy Hamilton with a single to right field in the fourth inning to tie the score at two. The 27-year-old backstop has put together a .255/.341/.365 batting line with a .706 OPS through 55 games this season.

Perez underwent an X-ray on his right hand after being lifted in the sixth inning of Sunday's 9-2 win over the Tigers, Zack Meisel of The Athletic Cleveland reports.

The Indians are still awaiting clarity on the results of the scans, but manager Terry Francona said there was a fair chance that Perez "dodged a bullet" with the injury. While that hints Perez may have avoided a fracture of the hand, he was spotted in a soft cast in the locker room after the game, suggesting a trip to the disabled list could still be in store. Perez has served as the primary backup to Yan Gomes at catcher this season, appearing in 24 games and hitting .130/.227/.208.

Plawecki is out of the lineup Sunday against the Yankees, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com reports.

Now that Devin Mesoraco has recovered from a hamstring injury that briefly sidelined him, he'll step in behind the plate for the second time in three games. Mesoraco's sketchy track record on the health front the last few seasons likely means he won't be asked to handle a full workload at catcher, so Plawecki should still see his fair share of action in the timeshare. While he lacks Mesoraco's power upside, Plawecki's impressive plate discipline -- he sports a 19.0 BB% for the season -- gives him increased utility in leagues that count on-base percentage rather than batting average as a category.

Perez was removed from Sunday's game against the Tigers after being hit by a pitch on his right hand, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Perez was plunked on the right hand in the top of the sixth inning but remained on the basepaths before being removed from the contest between the half-inning. We'll await word from the Indians on the specifics of the injury.

Grandal is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.

Grandal will retreat to the bench for a day of rest following three consecutive starts behind the plate in which he went a combined 2-for-13 with two homers and six strikeouts. Austin Barnes draws the start in his stead.