MLB Player News
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Adley Rutschman C | BAL
Orioles' Adley Rutschman: Showcases power in BP session
Rutschman hit home runs in two live at-bats against Grayson Rodriguez and Albert Suarez during Monday's spring training workout, The Baltimore Sun reports.
Rutschman cratered down the stretch last season with a .207/.282/.303 slash line in the second half, but a long offseason to rest up, the 27-year-old catcher looked re-energized on the eve of the Orioles' first full-squad workout of camp. Perhaps in an effort to prevent Rutschman from wearing down again, the Orioles could look to build in more days off for him or deploy him as a designated hitter more frequently, after he started 100 games behind the plate in 2024 between the regular season and playoffs. Rutschman will have a new backup catcher this season, as the Orioles let James McCann walk in free agency while bringing aboard Gary Sanchez on a one-year, $8.5 million deal.
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Austin Wells C | NYY
Yankees' Austin Wells: No games until March 1
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that Wells won't make his Grapefruit League debut until March 1 due to the catcher's heavy workload last season, Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News reports.
Wells played 129 games last season between the regular season and playoffs, so it makes sense for the Yankees to slow play the 25-year-old's entry into the spring lineup. The catcher has been taking live at-bats but has not yet swung the bat early on in camp. Given the uncertainty the Yankees have behind him on the catcher depth chart, Wells could see an even heavier workload in 2025.
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Luke Maile C | CIN
Royals' Luke Maile: Inks minor-league deal with Royals
Maile agreed to a minor-league contract with the Royals on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league camp.
Maile appeared in 55 games with the Reds in 2024, batting .178 with two home runs, eight RBI, eight runs scored and two stolen bases over 135 at-bats. The catcher will attend spring training with Kansas City, and he'll look to impress in order to potentially secure a spot on the Royals' 26-man roster at some point in 2025.
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David Fry C | CLE
Guardians' David Fry: Elbow responding well
Fry's surgically repaired elbow is responding well to treatment, and he's due for his next re-check in March.
Fry was limited to DH duty for the Guardians toward the end of the season in 2024. It's unclear if he'll get a chance to play behind the plate at all when he returns. If not, Fry will lose his catcher eligibility in 2026 leagues.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Set for more work behind plate
Kirk will be counted on to catch more games than ever before in 2025 now that Danny Jansen is no longer a Blue Jay, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The duo split duties behind the plate each of the past three seasons, and while Kirk set a career high with 541 plate appearances in 2022, much of that playing time came at DH. The 26-year-old has never played more than 99 games at catcher in a season, but he's expected to handle about 120 starts at the position this year. Tyler Heineman and Christian Bethancourt are competing for the backup job in spring training, and neither is suited for Jansen's old tandem role. Kirk's swing mechanics were out of sync early in 2024, but from Aug. 1 on he slashed a respectable .269/.335/.404 with 28 RBI in 44 games, production Toronto would be content with given Kirk's strong pitch framing and defensive skills.
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Ben Rice C | NYY
Yankees' Ben Rice: Getting exposure to catcher in camp
Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday that Rice will work out with the team's catchers in camp in addition to taking reps at first base, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rice has nearly 1,000 innings of catching experience under his belt in the minors, but his defense behind the plate likely isn't strong enough for him to profile as anything more than a backup option at the position in the majors. Still, if Rice can acquit himself well in his catching opportunities during the spring, it could be his ticket to a spot on the Opening Day roster, as the Yankees already have Paul Goldschmidt and Giancarlo Stanton locked in as regulars at first base and designated hitter, respectively. Meanwhile, Austin Wells appears secure as the Yankees' No. 1 catcher, but J.C. Escarra and Jesus Rodriguez -- neither of whom has made their MLB debut -- are the only other backstops on the 40-man roster. Rice hit just .171 and struck out in 27 percent of his plate appearances in his first taste of the majors last season, but he flashed power (seven home runs, six doubles) and drew walks at an 11.6 percent rate.
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Thayron Liranzo C | DET
Tigers' Thayron Liranzo: Invited to camp
Liranzo will participate in spring training with the Tigers as a non-roster invitee, Jason Beck of MLB.com reports.
Liranzo, who came over to Detroit last summer in the trade that sent Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers, is considered Detroit's top catching prospect. He's only 21 and has yet to appear at the Double-A level, so his MLB debut is probably not coming soon, but he could make a good impression this spring. For the time being, the Tigers figure to roll with Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler behind the plate. Liranzo should be on the radar in dynasty formats.
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Ronaldo Hernandez C | NYY
Yankees' Ronaldo Hernandez: Lands minor-league deal
Hernandez signed a minor-league contract with the Yankees on Sunday that includes an invite to big-league spring training.
The 27-year-old spent last season at Triple-A Reno in the Diamondbacks' system, where he played in 63 games and had a .311/.357/.507 slash line with 11 home runs. Hernandez has yet to make his MLB debut and is likely to open the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as organizational depth.
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Matt Whatley C | TOR
Blue Jays' Matt Whatley: Lands in Toronto as NRI
The Blue Jays signed Whatley to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Whatley, 29, posted a .614 OPS with five home runs over 50 games at Triple-A Round Rock in the Rangers organization last season. He's merely an extra catcher in camp and will be assigned to a minor-league affiliate rather than break camp with the big club.
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Connor Wong C | BOS
Red Sox's Connor Wong: Bulks up this winter
Wong appeared to be noticeably stronger at January's Fan Fest, Jenn McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Wong jokingly said he spent the winter "eating a lot," in an effort to be more durable behind the plate. The strong frame might also help him sustain through the regular season with a bat in his hand. Wong owned an .856 OPS through the end of June then dropped to .671 the rest of the way. Wong is expected to serve as Boston's No. 1 catcher and won't have to look over his shoulder at Kyle Teel, the prospect who was traded to the White Sox in the Garrett Crochet swap.