MLB Player News

Padres top catching prospect Austin Hedges will make his first career start in Wednesday's game against the Padres. Hedges was recalled from Triple-A to make his Major League debut on Monday, and appeared as a pinch hitter that evening. 

Hedges will now make the start for Derek Norris who is getting the day off Wednesday. The two will likely be sharing time with Hedges as the season continues. Manager Bud Black insisted that Hedges will get playing time, and Wednesday seems to be an indication of that fact.

With the Padres' recent call-up of prized catching prospect Austin Hedges, manager Bud Black has offered a potential solution to getting him in the lineup more often, while also playing current catcher Derek Norris. Black said Tuesday that Norris could start taking some groundballs at first base, and might see some time there this season. 

"It would just be against certain left-handed pitchers, we want to keep his bat in the lineup, like for a day game after a night game, or if he's caught consecutive games," Black said, per MLB.com. "Take the load off his feet from catching."

Norris has played just one game at first base during his career, and that was in 2013. But Black expressed confidence that Norris could handle a transition.

"It would be a gradual build-up of reps. We are working through this," Black said. "But he was an amateur third baseman. He has good hands, good feet and a good baseball mind. This will not happen quick, but we're thinking about it."

Angels catcher Carlos Perez played the role of the hero in his major-league debut Tuesday night against Seattle, smacking a walk-off solo home run in the ninth inning to secure a 5-4 win.

Perez picked up his first career hit, a single against the James Paxton of the Mariners in the second inning. He broke a 4-all tie in the ninth with a solo shot off Seattle reliever Dominic Leone, becoming the first player to hit a walk-off home run in his major-league debut since Miguel Cabrera did it for the Marlins on June 20, 2003 against the Rays. Perez finished 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI in his first big-league game.

Angels catcher Carlos Perez will make his Major League debut on Tuesday against the Mariners. Perez will be the starting catcher, batting eighth for manager Mike Scioscia.

The 24-year-old was recalled from Triple-A on Monday, after hitting .361 in 72 at-bats with the Salt Lake Bees. 

Regular catcher Chris Iannetta has struggled mightedly this year, batting a putrid .094 with just one double on the season. 

Indians catcher Yan Gomes, on the 15 day disabled list with a knee injury, is with the team at Kansas City. 

Prior to Tuesday's game, Gomes was working with coaches, doing drills out of a crouch at catcher and making throws to second base, per MLB.com. 

Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco acknowledged Tuesday that his hip injury will likely require surgery to correct, but he's trying all possible treatments first, MLB.com reports.

"It's something that down the line, hopefully, is probably going to have to get fixed," Mesoraco said. "At this point, it's not an option because of how much of the season we have left. At some point, it's probably going to come into the picture."

Mesoraco would be on the shelf for four months if he undergoes surgery.

"We're trying to do everything we can to stop that from happening," he said. "We're trying to do the best we can to be able to finish the season before it's something that I do have to look at getting fixed."

Manager Bryan Price said that the team has not explored using him at different positions on the field in National League parks to get him on the field more regularly.

"I don't know if it's something that could happen this year," Price said. "It might be a question that's more pertinent if we come to the conclusion that he can't catch for some reason with his injury, long term -- meaning this season. But we haven't gotten to that point."

Mesoraco is likely to see time at designated hitter this weekend when the Reds play in an American League park and looking forward to the opportunity.

"This is definitely not easy sitting on the bench watching the guys and not being able to be out there and help them," Mesoraco said. "Hopefully this will give me a chance to get back in there."

The Mets optioned third baseman Eric Campbell to Triple-A Las Vegas Tuesday and selected the contract of catcher Johnny Monell, the team announced.

Campbell drew 15 straight starts at third base after David Wright hit the disabled list, but the team chose Friday to move Daniel Murphy to third base and play Dilson Herrera at second, an alignment to which they stuck throughout the weekend. Campbell hit just .200/.323/.320 with one home run and five RBI in 50 at-bats.

Monell will give the Mets another lefty bat off the bench moving forward. He has hit .397/.455/.638 with four home runs and 15 RBI in 58 at-bats with Triple-A Las Vegas.

Reds shortstop Zack Cozart (finger) and catcher Devin Mesoraco (hip) are not in the starting lineup for Tuesday's game against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

Cozart sustained a finger injury while misplaying a groundball Sunday. It's the first time this season that the Reds haven't used him at shortstop to start the game. Kris Negron, who replaced Cozart Sunday, will bat seventh and play the position. Manager Bryan Price did say that Cozart is available to play Tuesday, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Mesoraco hasn't been in the starting lineup since the fifth game of the season but could see some starts later this week at designated hitter when the Reds play in an American League park.

The Reds are underdogs (+135) in Pittsburgh Tuesday, per VegasInsider.com.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal expressed hope after slugging a homer Sunday that his slump was over.

Apparently it is.

Grandal mashed three more hits Monday night in Milwaukee, including a double. He has seven hits in his last nine at-bats as his average has skyrocketed from .179 to .262, its highest point of the season. He has an extra-base hit in each of his last three games.

Bud Black confirmed Tuesday that newcomer Austin Hedges will receive a significant opporunity to play behind the plate for the Padres.

"I think he makes our roster better," Black told MLB Network Radio. "Derek Norris is our catcher but Austin is going to get playing time."

Norris has certainly not done anything at the plate to warrant a decrease in work. He owns a slash line of .323/.343/.500 with two home runs and 16 RBI. Hedges has been equally impressive in Triple-A with a .343 mark and two homers in 67 at-bats.

Black offered that Norris could be moved on occasion to first base when Hedges catches.