MLB Player News

Realmuto (back) went 3-for-3 with a home run and a double in a rehab game Sunday for High-A Jupiter in the club's 18-13 win over Daytona.

The ball was flying out of the yard Sunday in Daytona, as Realmuto hit one of the Florida State League-record 11 home runs the two sides combined for on the afternoon. It's expected that Realmuto will make at least one more appearance with Jupiter before being activated from the 10-day disabled list, likely at some point during the Marlins' four-game series in Milwaukee that begins Thursday.

Grandal is not in the lineup Sunday against the Diamondbacks, Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times reports.

Grandal will get the day off after starting each of the team's past three games, going 5-for-11 with a homer and two RBI in the process. Austin Barnes draws the start and will bat sixth in his stead.

Realmuto (back) will likely rejoin the Marlins during their upcoming road trip, but manager Don Mattingly is unsure whether it will be in New York or Milwaukee, Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald reports.

Miami has a two-game set in New York on Monday and Tuesday, and then a four-game series in Milwaukee to close out the week, and it sounds like Realmuto will be back at some point during that stretch. Realmuto began a rehab assignment with High-A Jupiter on Saturday. He is a risky start in leagues with weekly lineups, as he could play as many as four or five games, and as few as one or none.

Contreras is not in the lineup Sunday against the Braves.

Contreras went 1-for-5 with two RBI in Saturday's historic comeback victory over the Braves. He'll now be given the day off with Victor Caratini set to take over behind the plate. Contreras should return to the lineup Monday against the Cardinals.

Barnhart went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals.

The Reds' offense failed to get any traction against the Cardinals Saturday afternoon, as Barnhart's blast wound up being the lone run scored by Cincinnati. The starting catcher is now hitting .265 with two home runs on the season, which puts him well on pace to top his career-high seven home runs.

Mejia's transition to the outfield is a work in progress, The Athletic reports.

Mejia has played left field twice in his first seven games for Triple-A Columbus this season. The Indians are reluctant to call him up until they feel more comfortable with him in the outfield, which may take some time. He may not be up with the big club until September, barring injuries to the Indians' primary catchers, Yan Gomes and Robert Perez.

Hedges is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants.

A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the plate in his absence. Hedges has always had a high strikeout rate, but his 36.4 percent figure so far this year is really holding him back, leading to a .167/.205/.357 slash line through his first 44 plate appearances.

Perez (knee) will begin his rehab assignment with Double-A Northwest Arkansas on Sunday, Maria Torres of The Kansas City Star reports.

He will be deployed as the catcher for three-to-five innings and will then be the designated hitter the next day. The Royals plan to take things day by day, as his knee allows. He could return to the big leagues before the end of April.

Maldonado is out of Saturday's lineup against the Royals, 610 Sports Radio Kansas City reports.

He will sit for the fifth time in 16 games this season. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and hit ninth. Maldonado is hitting .256/.341/.308 with a 13.6 percent strikeout rate in 39 at-bats.

Caratini was taken out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Braves in order to make room for Albert Almora (illness).

Caratini was placed in the original lineup at first base though manager Joe Maddon elected to insert Almora once he was deemed healthy prior to Saturday's matinee. Ben Zobrist will move over to first and Ian Happ slides to left while Almora gets the nod in center.