MLB Player News

Wallach was optioned to Triple-A New Orleans on Tuesday, Joe Frisaro of MLB.com reports.

Wallach split time with Bryan Holaday behind the plate to start the season, but the 26-year-old could only produce four hits in 31 at-bats (.129 batting average). With J.T. Realmuto returning from the disabled list, Wallach is no longer needed on the big-league roster, so he'll retreat to the minors to act as organizational depth.

Barnhart is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic Cincinnati reports.

Barnhart will head to the bench for a breather after starting each of the previous three games behind the dish and going 3-for-11 with two walks, two RBI and two runs scored. Devin Mesoraco will pick up the start at catcher and hit sixth.

Ruiz went 2-for-5 with two home runs in Monday's game for Double-A Tulsa.

This was a much-needed slump buster for one of the game's top catching prospects, as the two home runs represented his first two extra-base hits of the season. He is now hitting .225/.262/.375 through 42 plate appearances, although he has had some bad luck on balls in play (.226 BABIP). His strikeout rate (16.7 percent) remains elite, and he is the second-youngest hitter in the Texas League (behind Fernando Tatis), so there is no cause for concern. Ruiz turns 20 in July.

Sanchez reached base four times, drove in three runs and scored once in the Yankees' 12-1 win over the Marlins on Monday.

Sanchez's 2-for-36 start to the season through the Yankees' first 12 games now seems to be a distant memory, as the backstop has reached base at a .474 clip in his subsequent four appearances while homering twice and driving in 10 runs. The three-RBI night brings Sanchez's total to 13 for the season, putting him above Francisco Cervelli and Yadier Molina for the MLB lead among catchers.

Grandal homered and knocked in five runs in a 2-for-4 game Monday against the Padres.

Grandal extended his hit streak to six games and already has three games in 2018 with a double and a home run. His batting line sits at an absurd .372/.460/.651 as he continues to put an otherwise sluggish Dodgers squad on his back.

Maile is 6-for-15 with four RBI and a stolen base in four games this season.

Maile has seen few at-bats, but he's made the most of his playing time, batting .400 in his first four games. He currently sits behind Russell Martin on the depth chart, which seems unlikely to change barring an injury. At this point, the 27-year-old backstop possesses little fantasy value, as he'll likely only see the field when Martin needs a day off.

Knizner is 11-for-29 (.379) with six RBI, four extra-base hits, three walks and three strikeouts at Double-A Springfield.

The 22-year-old is building off a stellar season from last year, where he slashed .324/.371/.462 across 51 games at Double-A Springfield. Knizner has actually decreased his strikeout rate this year (13.4 percent to 10.3 percent) while dramatically increasing his ISO (.138 to .231). Knizner has also looked solid behind the plate, which is the main area where he is said to lag behind Carson Kelly. If he keeps hitting this well, Knizner will rise fast through the rest of the Cardinals' system, and he could surpass Kelly as the heir apparent to Yadier Molina.

Realmuto (back) could return Tuesday against the Yankees, Craig Davis of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.

Realmuto has been out since the start of the season with a back contusion. He is with the team Monday in New York but wasn't activated prior to Monday's game. He'll be evaluated by the team and could be back Tuesday. The 27-year-old has hit .290 over the past two seasons, and his 20 stolen bases are eight more than any other catcher over that time span.

Sanchez was traded to the Rangers on Monday for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Sanchez will report to Triple-A Round Rock on Wednesday. The 29-year-old backstop spent the majority of 2017 with Triple-A Salt Lake, hitting .272/.355/.374 with four home runs in 284 plate appearances. He should provide organizational catching depth for the Rangers.

Perez (knee) went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in his first rehab appearance for Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday.

Perez started at catcher and played only four innings, so he'll likely need to play a full game or two behind the plate during his rehab assignment before the Royals are comfortable activating him and reinserting him as their everyday backstop. While Perez has spent the entire season on the 10-day disabled list, the Royals have gotten little production out of the two catchers on their active roster, Drew Butera and Cameron Gallagher. The duo has combined for eight hits -- no home runs -- in 43 at-bats (.186 average).