MLB Player News
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Kyle Teel C | CHW
White Sox's Kyle Teel: Making progress with hamstring
Teel (hamstring) was able to perform light sprints and hitting Friday and has "no pain or stretch" while catching, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
Teel suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain in mid-March while playing for Team Italy during the World Baseball Classic. He was given an initial 4-to-6 week timeline for recovery, which would put him out until at least mid-April. Teel told Merkin that he doesn't expect to be ready for Chicago's home opener (Thursday, April 2 against Toronto) but did say he could return shortly thereafter. The backstop also suggested that he'll be playing it safe with the injury, stating, "My goal is to come back as soon as possible. There's no denying that. It's just being smart about it. And making good choices, ramping up appropriately."
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Travis d'Arnaud C | LAA
Angels' Travis d'Arnaud: In line for No. 2 catcher role
D'Arnaud is expected to serve as the Angels' No. 2 catcher behind Logan O'Hoppe this season, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports.
D'Arnaud served in the same role during his first season with the Angels last year and finished the campaign with a .598 OPS along with six homers and 21 RBI across 231 plate appearances. He struggled to make contact, posting a career-worst 32.0 percent strikeout rate. O'Hoppe is viewed by the Angels as a potential long-term stalwart behind the plate, so d'Arnaud isn't a threat to usurp the younger catcher's playing time.
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Dillon Dingler C | DET
Tigers' Dillon Dingler: Hits first spring home run
Dingler went 1-for-3 with a home run and three RBI in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
After his spring training debut was delayed due to arthroscopic right elbow surgery in the offseason, Dingler got off to a slow start at the plate. However, the catcher has been a bit better lately, going 4-for-12 with the homer over his last four Grapefruit League contests. Dingler appears to be rounding into form for the start of the regular season, and he'll serve as Detroit's top backstop once again in 2026.
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Salvador Perez C | KC
Royals' Salvador Perez: Homers in return from WBC
Perez started at designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Friday's Cactus League loss to the Giants.
Perez opened the scoring, blasting an Adrian Houser sinker to the opposite field for a two-run homer in the first inning. Friday marked the veteran backstop's first Cactus League appearance since winning the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela, though he went just 4-for-22 with an RBI across five WBC games. Coming off a 2025 campaign in which he slashed .236/.284/.446 with 35 doubles, 30 homers and 100 RBI in 155 contests, Perez will have to battle Father Time entering his age-36 season, though there's no question his power remains intact. With Carter Jensen in the fold and set for his first full big-league season, Perez figures to split time between catcher and designated hitter, with occasional starts at first base also a possibility.
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Tyler Soderstrom C | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Back in lineup Friday
Soderstrom (knee) will bat fourth and play left field in Friday's Cactus League game against the Cubs.
Soderstrom was lifted from Thursday's Cactus League game after being hit by a pitch on the knee, but he'll be back in action Friday. Thursday's removal was deemed to be precautionary.
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Alejandro Kirk C | TOR
Blue Jays' Alejandro Kirk: Struggling since WBC
Kirk has gone 0-for-9 with six strikeouts in three games since rejoining the Blue Jays following the World Baseball Classic.
The 27-year-old catcher was a key player for Mexico in the tournament, batting .267 (4-for-15) in four games with a double and a homer, but Kirk hasn't been able to maintain that form back in the Grapefruit League. He's coming off a strong 2025 season in which he set new career highs with 15 homers and 76 RBI in 130 regular-season games while slashing .282/.348/.421.
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Carter Jensen C | KC
Royals' Carter Jensen: Tallies RBI in spring loss
Jensen went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and a stolen base in Thursday's Cactus League loss to the Angels.
Jensen has cooled off after a hot start to the spring but still has a .250/.308/.500 slash line with three homers and eight RBI across 12 Cactus League appearances. The 22-year-old impressed with the Royals after being called up in September last season, slashing .300/.391/.550 with six doubles, three homers and 13 RBI in 20 MLB games. In his first full big-league season, Jensen is expected to split time at catcher with franchise icon Salvador Perez while also seeing time at designated hitter, particularly against right-handed pitching when Perez is behind the plate.
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Samuel Basallo C | BAL
Orioles' Samuel Basallo: Homers twice Thursday
Basallo went 3-for-3 with two solo homers during Thursday's Grapefruit League win against the Pirates.
Basallo has crushed the ball during spring training and is batting .375 with four doubles, three homers, nine RBI and nine runs in 12 games. The 21-year-old is expected to open the season as Baltimore's primary designated hitter while also operating as the No. 2 backstop to Adley Rutschman. Basallo had a .165/.229/.330 slash line over 31 games in his first taste of the majors last year, but he enters 2026 with high expectations as one of the top prospects in baseball.
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Tyler Soderstrom C | ATH
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom: Pulled after HBP
Soderstrom was removed from Thursday's Cactus League game against Seattle "out of precaution" after being hit by a pitch on the knee, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
Soderstrom was nailed by a Randy Dobnak changeup in the fourth inning. The outfielder initially remained in the game and even scored in the same frame on a passed ball, but he was then substituted for in left field for the bottom of the inning. That being said, it doesn't sound like Soderstrom is dealing with a serious injury, so at this point his availability for Opening Day doesn't seem to be in jeopardy.
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Brandon Valenzuela C | TOR
Blue Jays' Brandon Valenzuela: Sent to Buffalo
The Blue Jays optioned Valenzuela to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Valenzuela performed well during spring training, posting an .848 OPS across 11 Grapefruit League contests, but he will fall short of an Opening Day roster spot. Should Alejandro Kirk or Tyler Heineman have to miss any length of time during the regular season, Valenzuela would likely be promoted to provide depth behind the plate.