MLB Player News

Contreras (forearm) is hoping to begin a rehab assignment around June 18, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.

Contreras is just five weeks into a projected 10-week timetable following surgery to repair a fractured left forearm, but Goold writes that the catcher is "eager to push the timetable for his return." He took batting practice in the cage Thursday and has been catching bullpen sessions without issue. If Contreras is indeed able to start a rehab assignment by Tuesday, he could be just a week or so away from activation.

Contreras (forearm) will take full batting practice in the indoor batting cage Thursday, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Contreras is barely more than a month removed from surgery to repair a fractured left forearm. He was given a 10-week timetable to return following the operation but would appear to be ahead of schedule, given that he's already taking batting practice. Before being activated from the injured list, Contreras will surely need to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment, but it's uncertain when he might be cleared to join one of the Cardinals' affiliates for game action.

Perez went 2-for-2 with three walks in Wednesday's 11-5 loss to the Yankees.

Perez walked three times in a game for the first time in his career. The catcher has gone just 6-for-33 (.182) over 10 contests in June, but he's shown rare patience at the plate by drawing eight walks in that span. For the season, he's at a .302/.381/.488 slash line with 10 home runs, 42 RBI, 26 runs scored, 15 doubles and no stolen bases, and his 9.0 percent walk rate is double his previous career high, which was in a 39-game sample as a rookie in 2011.

Trevino is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Royals.

Trevino is on the bench for a day game after a night game, but he seems to have usurped Austin Wells as the Yankees' preferred option at catcher. He's started in three of the previous four games -- all against right-handed pitchers -- while going 4-for-10 with a home run and five RBI to bring his OPS up to .737 for the season. Though Wells has picked up the pace at the plate over the past month, his .620 OPS on the campaign still sits more than 100 points behind Trevino's mark.

Langeliers went 2-for-5 with an RBI single in a loss to the Padres on Wednesday.

Langeliers laced a sixth-inning single that drove home Miguel Andujar and knotted the score at 2-2 at the time. The multi-hit effort was Langeliers' first since May 30, and it only served to push the backstop's average in June to a paltry .156 across 33 plate appearances. The poor first half of the month can largely be attributed to Langeliers' difficulties making consistent contact, as he sports a bloated 39.4 percent strikeout rate thus far this month.

Ford is slashing .250/.381/.402 with five home runs, 15 stolen bases and a 20.6 percent strikeout rate in 54 games for Double-A Arkansas.

Ford's numbers were a bit better across the board last year while he was playing in a hitter-friendly home park with High-A Everett, but he is now playing in Arkansas' pitcher-friendly home park. His 15 steals are tied with Blake Mitchell for the lead among all catching prospects, while his 21.9 percent hard-hit rate is a below-average mark. Ford's ultimate power output is to be determined, but his speed and command of the strike zone should allow for him to be an above-average fantasy catcher during his prime years.

Fermin will start at catcher and bat sixth in Thursday's game against the Yankees.

Fermin remains the Royals' No. 2 catcher, but he's been playing more than the typical backup of late due to Kansas City's willingness to deploy top backstop Salvador Perez at first base or designated hitter on his non-catching days. With Perez serving as the Royals' DH for Thursday's day game, Fermin will pick up his fourth start in five games. Fermin is hitting .298 with two home runs, 17 runs and 13 RBI over 122 plate appearances on the season, and his recent surge in playing time could be enough to make him a viable option in AL-only leagues or mixed leagues that start two catchers.

Murphy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Orioles.

Murphy will get a breather for Thursday's matinee after he caught eight innings of Atlanta's 4-2 loss Wednesday night while going hitless across four at-bats. Travis d'Arnaud will spell Murphy behind the plate.

Ruiz is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, Andrew Golden of The Washington Post reports.

He'll be getting some rest for the Thursday afternoon contest after he caught all nine innings of Wednesday's 7-5 win while going 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI. Drew Millas will get a turn behind the plate while Ruiz hits the bench.

Herrera isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game versus the Pirates.

Herrera started at catcher in the win over the Pirates on Wednesday night, so he will get a breather for Thursday's afternoon tilt. Pedro Pages will serve as the Cardinals' starting catcher in the series finale.