MLB Player News

Wong (shoulder) is not in Monday's lineup against the Yankees, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

It was reported Sunday that Wong had a sore shoulder and would likely return to action Monday, but he's absent from the lineup in favor of Omar Narvaez. Wong should be considered day-to-day.

Hernandez signed a minor-league deal with the Marlins in November.

Hernandez is starting in left field and batting ninth in Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Astros. He was once a top prospect with the Rays but he slid down the defensive spectrum and hit .187 in 44 games at Triple-A last year.

Wong is dealing with shoulder soreness but is expected to be in the lineup for Monday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Christopher Smith of MassLive.com reports.

It's unclear when exactly Wong sustained the injury, but it's not expected to keep him sidelined for long. The 28-year-old is poised to operate as Boston's No. 1 catcher this season after he posted a .280/.333/.425 slash line with 13 homers and eight steals in 126 games in 2024.

Jansen went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox.

Jansen has spent most of his time working with the pitching staff to begin spring training, though he homered in his first at-bat of the exhibition season. He was signed by the Rays this offseason in the hopes of bolstering the offense, and he should have the chance to top his career high of 324 plate appearances if he can remain healthy.

Huff could make the Opening Day roster as the backup catcher with Tom Murphy sidelined with an oblique injury, The Athletic reports. Huff went 1-for-2 with a walk and home run Saturday in his spring debut.

Huff will compete with Max Stassi for the backup role to Patrick Bailey if Murphy begins the season on the injured list. Huff's performance in the spring training opener can only help his chances.

Mitchell has a broken right hamate bone and will need 4-to-6 weeks to recover, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Mitchell was the eighth overall pick in the 2023 First-Year Player Draft and spent most of last year at the Single-A level, slashing .240/.375/.443 with 18 home runs, 50 RBI and 24 stolen bases in 31 attempts while posting a 30.4 percent strikeout rate and 17.0 percent walk rate over 461 plate appearances. He finished the campaign with five games in High-A ball and was expected to begin 2025 at that level, though it's unclear when he'll be ready to play given the wrist injury.

Moreno started at catcher and went hitless in his lone plate appearance in Friday's spring opener against Colorado.

Moreno, who will be the primary catcher during the regular season, worked with Arizona's big-ticket offseason addition, Corbin Burnes, who praised the backstop's work in their first turn together. Burnes struck out the side and later told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he left the pitch calling/sequencing up to Moreno. The catcher was also 2-for-2 on pitch challenges, as MLB experiments with the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) this spring.

Del Castillo will be limited to designated hitter duty initially in Cactus League play due to right arm fatigue, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

The injury does not appear to be a long-term concern, as the Diamondbacks expect Del Castillo to be ready to catch in games by early March. The 25-year-old is competing with Jose Herrera for the backup catcher job behind Gabriel Moreno.

Cleveland placed Fry (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday.

The transaction doesn't come as a surprise, after Fry underwent surgery in November to address a torn ligament in his elbow. Fry is expected to need 6-to-8 months to recover from surgery before he's ready to serve as a designated hitter, so he could have a chance at being ready to contribute for Cleveland when he's first eligible to come off the 60-day IL in late May. The 29-year-old will require 12 months of recovery time before he's cleared for full throwing, so he won't be an option behind the plate or in the field in 2025.

Murphy believes the oblique injury he suffered Opening Day last season prevented him from ever getting comfortable with his swing, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports. "It was a combination of a bunch of things," Murphy said this week. "Missing that much time at the beginning, that's not how I wanted to begin the season. I'm not sure my swing ever felt correct coming off the oblique, not that I was in any pain or hurt. Some things just fell off, and I never caught up and found a way to adjust."

The 30-year-old backstop roared out to an .843 OPS with 21 homers and 68 RBI -- all career highs -- over 108 games in his first season for Atlanta in 2023, but Murphy's production cratered in 2024 through 72 contests after he returned from the oblique strain. The team seems confident that the poor performance was an aberration, however, as Travis d'Arnaud was allowed to leave in free agency, leaving only Chadwick Tromp, Curt Casali and prospect Drake Baldwin competing for the backup job in camp. Murphy still has four more seasons left on the six-year, $73 million contract he signed in 2022, with Atlanta holding a $15 million club option for 2029, so he will be given every chance to regain his previous offensive form.