Austin Hedges
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MLB Player Data
DateNewsComment
Jun 29 2024Hedges went 1-for-3 with a stolen base and a run scored in Friday's 10-3 loss to the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has hit safely in his last three games, going 3-for-8 in that span. The backup catcher has had a tough time seeing steady action with Bo Naylor and David Fry both ahead of him on the depth chart. Hedges is at a .154/.188/.246 slash line with one home run, two steals, nine RBI and six runs scored over 69 plate appearances. He should not be expected to produce much offense even on the rare occasions he's in the lineup.
Jun 12 2024Hedges will start at catcher and bat ninth in Wednesday's game against the Reds. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With the lefty-hitting Bo Naylor hitting the bench with southpaw Nick Lodolo taking the hill for the Reds, Hedges will get a turn behind the plate. Hedges will be making his 19th start of the season and has provided most of his value on the defensive end, as he enters Wednesday's contest with an ugly .130/.158/.204 slash line.
May 4 2024Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run Saturday in a 7-1 victory versus the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges put the Guardians on the board in the second inning, plating two runs with a blast to left field. The long ball was the veteran catcher's first of the season and just his fourth hit overall through 31 plate appearances. Both Hedges and fellow backstop Bo Naylor (who played DH on Saturday) have struggled mightily in the early part of the campaign, though each went deep Saturday as the duo combined to drive in six of Cleveland's seven runs.
Apr 21 2024Hedges went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has played in just seven of the Guardians' first 21 contests. He's shared backup duties at catcher with David Fry when Bo Naylor is not playing. Hedges is hitting .120 with three RBI, one runs scored, one double and a stolen base over 26 plate appearances, which includes 10 strikeouts and no walks. As a defensive catcher, it's no surprise Hedges is not adding much with the bat.
Mar 29 2024Hedges is not in the Guardians' lineup for Friday's contest against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges drew the start at catcher for Opening Day, and he finished 1-for-4 with one run, one RBI and one strikeout. Lefty Bo Naylor will be behind home plate Friday and bat seventh with the Athletics starting right-hander Ross Stripling.
Mar 13 2024Hedges (undisclosed) will start at catcher and bat seventh in Wednesday's Cactus League game against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges was scratched ahead of Monday's game against the Dodgers after colliding with a teammate prior to the contest, but the Guardians removed him from the lineup only as a precautionary matter. With the veteran backstop apparently feeling fine two days later, he'll step back in behind the plate. Hedges is expected to serve as the Guardians' No. 2 catcher this season, with most of his starts likely to come against left-handed pitching when the lefty-hitting Bo Naylor gets days off.
Mar 11 2024Hedges was scratched from the lineup for Monday's Cactus League game against the Dodgers after colliding with a teammate during a pregame workout, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The team relays that Hedges was scratched out of "an abundance of caution," so expect him to be fine in a day or two. David Fry will shift to catcher and Deyvison De Los Santos has entered the lineup at designated hitter.
Mar 4 2024Hedges has gone 2-for-8 with a home run, a double, two RBI and three strikeouts over four Cactus League games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is not guaranteed to open the season as the Guardians' backup catcher despite his $4 million salary for 2024. David Fry, who can also play first base and corner outfield, could be in line for the backup catcher role -- or offer the Guardians the choice to carry three natural backstops. Among the team's catching crew, Hedges offers the least offensive upside, as he hasn't hit better than .184 in any of the past five seasons. Bo Naylor (back) is penciled in as the Guardians' starter behind the dish.
Dec 10 2023Hedges agreed to a one-year, $4 million contract with the Guardians on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges split last season between Pittsburgh and Texas but will make a 2024 return to Cleveland, where he made 199 appearances from 2020 to 2022. The veteran backstop brings little offensively with a .478 OPS over the past two years but provides strong defense. Hedges should fill the backup job at catcher behind youngster Bo Naylor for the Guardians.
Aug 1 2023The Pirates traded Hedges to the Rangers on Tuesday in exchange for international bonus pool money, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges had limped to a .180/.237/.230 slash line across 186 plate appearances with the Pirates. He'll presumably fill in as a depth piece at catcher behind Mitch Garver until Jonah Heim (wrist) returns from the injured list.
Jul 17 2023Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton confirmed Monday that Hedges is in line to serve as the Pirates' No. 2 catcher moving forward after Endy Rodriguez was promoted from Triple-A Indianapolis, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Rodriguez will ascend to the top of the depth chart following his call-up, Hedges won't be removed from the catching mix entirely. Shelton noted that he still expects Hedges to catch a couple of times per week, and the veteran is also likely to be deployed behind the dish on select occasions late in close games when defense is of greater importance. Hedges' skills as a pitch framer and game caller may be the only attributes keeping him on the Pittsburgh roster at this point; he's slashing a lowly .175/.226/.227 over 177 plate appearances on the season.
Jul 8 2023Hedges isn't in the Pirates' lineup Saturday against Arizona. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has started to turn things around since the start of July, going 4-for-12 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored over five games. He'll get a breather Saturday while Jason Delay starts behind the dish and bats ninth.
Jul 6 2023Hedges is not in Thursday's lineup against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges had started four consecutive games behind the dish, during which we went 3-for-10 with two RBI and a run scored. Jason Delay will take over at catcher and hit ninth.
Jun 29 2023Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Pirates' recent decision to promote top catching prospect Henry Davis hasn't affected Hedges, as the Bucs have instead elected to let the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 First-Year Player Draft get his feet wet in right field and at designated hitter in his first taste of the big leagues. As such, Hedges and Jason Delay have remained the Pirates' top options behind the plate, with the former garnering each of the last three starts at catcher. Hedges will give way to Delay on Thursday while the Pirates and Padres conclude their series with a day game after a night game.
Jun 24 2023Hedges isn't in the Pirates' lineup Saturday against the Marlins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is 0-for-14 across his last seven games, so he'll get a day off Saturday as Pittsburgh looks for more production from the catcher position. Jason Delay will take over as the Pirates' catcher and bat ninth.
Jun 18 2023Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Milwaukee. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the first two games of the series and will take a seat for Sunday's finale after going 0-for-5 with a strikeout. Jason Delay will step in behind the plate to catch for righty Luis Ortiz.
Jun 15 2023Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Wednesday's loss to the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges took Drew Smyly deep in the fourth inning for his first home run of the year, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 5-1. The 30-year-old backstop has been relatively productive of late, going 7-for-27 (.259) with a .730 OPS over his last eight games. Still, Hedges isn't likely to provide much fantasy value outside of very deep leagues. He's slashing just .183/.240/.252 with 12 RBI and 10 runs scored through 131 plate appearances this season.
Jun 10 2023Hedges went 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Friday against the Mets. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges hit a ground-rule double to the opposite field in the second to drive in two, marking only his fifth extra-base hit of the season. He's been relatively productive by collecting five hits in 18 at-bats across his last five games, though he still has a dreadful .179 average for the season across 122 plate appearances. With both Henry Davis and Endy Rodriguez currently playing at Triple-A Indianapolis, Hedges could also be at risk of losing playing time in the relatively near future.
Jun 7 2023Hedges is not in the starting lineup Wednesday versus the Athletics, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will take a seat after he went 1-for-7 with a run scored, a walk and two strikeouts while starting the first two games of the series with Oakland. Jason Delay will start at catcher and bat ninth in the series finale Wednesday.
Jun 3 2023Hedges isn't starting Saturday against the Cardinals, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has been less than impressive all season, and a .322 OPS across the past two weeks surely isn't helping. Jason Delay will take over behind the plate Saturday and bat ninth.
May 30 2023Hedges is out of the starting lineup against the Giants on Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a night off after going 0-for-3 with an RBI in Monday's blowout loss to San Francisco. Jason Delay is handling backstop duties while Hedges rests.
May 24 2023Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will head to the bench after he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts while starting the first two games of the series behind the plate. Jason Delay will take over at catcher and bat eighth in the rubber match with Texas.
May 21 2023Hedges is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's contest against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather against Merrill Kelly and the Diamondbacks for Sunday's series finale. Jason Delay is starting behind the plate in Hedges' absence and will hit ninth.
May 17 2023Hedges went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI on Wednesday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges got the Pirates on the board with a two-RBI double in the second inning. He added a single in the seventh frame that drove in his third run of the day and also give him his first multi-hit effort of the season. As that implies, Hedges has been dreadful at the plate early in the campaign, as he's hitting .172/.264/.219 across 75 plate appearances.
May 7 2023Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll get a breather for the matinee game after he started at catcher in the first two games of the series with Toronto. Jason Delay will check in behind the dish Sunday, forming a battery with starting pitcher Roansy Contreras.
May 4 2023Hedges is out of the lineup Thursday afternoon against the Rays, Kevin Gorman of TribLive.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges gets a breather after making three straight starts behind the plate for the Pirates. Jason Delay is catching and batting ninth in Thursday's matinee.
Apr 4 2023The Pirates placed Hedges on the 7-day concussion injured list Tuesday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is without a timetable for a return, as brain injuries can be unpredictable. Tyler Heineman was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Tuesday to share time behind the plate with Jason Delay while Hedges is sidelined.
Apr 3 2023Hedges is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Jason Delay will step in behind the dish while Hedges rests Monday. Hedges started at catcher in all three games of the Pirates' season-opening series with the Reds, going 0-for-7 with a walk and a run scored.
Mar 26 2023Hedges has had a positive influence on the Pirates' pitching staff this spring, Justice delos Santos of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has failed to post an OPS above .563 in any of the last four seasons, so he's unlikely to make much of an impact offensively. However, his biggest influence could come from his work with the pitching staff, particularly younger starters such as Mitch Keller, Roansy Contreras and Johan Oviedo. Hedges could also help Endy Rodriguez and Henry Davis acclimate to the big leagues upon their potential callup in the middle of the season.
Dec 17 2022Hedges agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Pirates on Saturday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For as great as Hedges is on the defensive side of the ball, he gives most of that value back at the dish. The 30-year-old has a career 54 wRC+ (100 is average) and he's been below that mark each of the past four seasons. Even in two-catcher fantasy leagues, Hedges falls short of clearing the bar, though his addition should be a boon to the Pirates' pitching staff.
Oct 5 2022Hedges isn't starting Wednesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the last three games and went 0-for-7 with two walks and two strikeouts. Luke Maile will take over behind the dish and bat eighth.
Oct 1 2022Hedges will sit Saturday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has managed to start 94 games this season despite his awful .167/.241/.254 slash line, but his defense-first profile doesn't help fantasy teams. Exciting offense-first catcher prospect Bo Naylor was called up for the first time Saturday, but it will be Luke Maile who gets the nod behind the plate on this occasion.
Sep 28 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Luke Maile will get a turn behind the plate after Hedges struck out twice in three plate appearances in Tuesday's 6-5 loss in 11 innings. Over his last 11 games, Hedges has gone hitless in 29 at-bats to drop his season-long average to .167.
Sep 23 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is 0-for-22 since Sept. 12 and will take a seat Friday after he started the past three games. Luke Maile will start behind the plate and bat eighth Friday.
Sep 19 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Twins, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cleveland is wrapping up its five-game wraparound series with the Twins with a day game Monday, so Hedges will get a breather after he caught eight innings of Sunday's 3-0 loss. Luke Maile checks in behind the dish, forming a battery with starting pitcher Cal Quantrill.
Sep 17 2022Hedges isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started behind the plate during Saturday's matinee and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth during the nightcap.
Sep 16 2022Hedges isn't in the lineup Friday against Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is getting a breather after he went 0-for-6 with two strikeouts over the last two games. Luke Maile will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Sep 10 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday against Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a strikeout during Friday's series opener against the Twins, but he'll head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Luke Maile will take over at catcher and bat eighth.
Sep 7 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Joe Noga of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll be getting some routine maintenance after catching in each of the past three games while going 2-for-7 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored. Luke Maile will be behind the plate Wednesday, forming a battery with starting pitcher Cody Morris.
Sep 3 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is getting a day off after he went 0-for-5 with a strikeout over his last two games. Luke Maile will start at catcher and bat eighth.
Aug 31 2022Hedges isn't starting Wednesday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has recorded hits in his last four games, going 5-for-12 with a double, two runs, a stolen base and a strikeout during that time. He'll get a breather while Luke Maile starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
Aug 28 2022Hedges went 1-for-3 with a stolen base in Sunday's 4-0 loss to the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges singled and stole second as the Guardians attempted a rally in the sixth inning, but Mariners starter Robbie Ray was able to escape trouble. The steal was Hedges' second of the year, his most in any season since 2018. The catcher is batting .214 (9-for-42) with two doubles in August. That's a little better than his .183/.263/.277 slash line for the season through 80 contests. Luke Maile has been the better hitter of the Guardians' backstops in August, but Hedges' defense keeps him in the No. 1 role.
Aug 27 2022Hedges will sit Saturday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has three hits over his last two games, equalling the number he managed over his previous 10 contests. Luke Maile will start behind the plate, catching for Zach Plesac.
Aug 24 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges returned Tuesday from a one-game absence due to a sprained ankle, starting at catcher while going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in the Guardians' 3-1 win. Though he didn't suffer any apparent setbacks with the ankle Tuesday, Hedges will get a breather nonetheless while the two teams wrap up their series with a day game after a night game. Luke Maile will draw the start behind the plate.
Aug 23 2022Hedges (ankle) went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in Tuesday's 3-1 win over the Padres. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Guardians mustered just four hits as a team, and Hedges wasn't involved on offense. He ultimately missed just two games with a right ankle sprain thanks to Sunday's rainout. The catcher is slashing .171/.255/.264 with six home runs, 23 RBI, 20 runs scored and a stolen base in 77 contests this year, and he should resume a starting role behind the dish.
Aug 21 2022Hedges (ankle) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though Hedges isn't expected to land on the 10-day injured list after spraining his right ankle Friday, he'll be confined to the bench for the second straight game nonetheless. Luke Maile will receive another turn behind the plate for the series finale, but the Guardians are seemingly hopeful that Hedges will be ready to go following Monday's team off day.
Aug 20 2022Hedges (ankle) is not in Saturday's lineup against the White Sox but will not need an IL stint, Zack Meisel of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Bryan Lavastida was initially brought to Cleveland as a precaution, but Hedges is doing well enough that a roster move won't be made. Luke Maile will handle the catching duties in the meantime. Hedges should be considered day-to-day.
Aug 19 2022Hedges was removed from Friday's game against the White Sox with a sprained right ankle, Paul Hoynes of The Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges walked in his lone plate appearance before exiting the game with the injury. Luke Maile replaced him behind the plate, and Bo Naylor would likely be in line for a promotion should Hedges be forced to miss any time.
Aug 17 2022Hedges isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Tuesday against Detroit and will head to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Aug 13 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 0-for-3 with a run and a walk during Friday's series opener but will get a breather Saturday. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Aug 11 2022Hedges will sit Thursday versus the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after he went 1-for-7 with an RBI in the first two games of the series. Luke Maile will take over at catcher and bat eighth in the series finale.
Aug 7 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will rest for the day game after he went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored while catching all nine innings of Saturday's 4-1 win. Luke Maile gets the nod behind the dish in Sunday's series finale.
Aug 5 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the past two games and will take a seat after going 2-for-5 with two walks and a run scored. Luke Maile will start behind the plate and bat ninth.
Aug 2 2022Hedges is on the bench for Tuesday's game versus the Diamondbacks, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has started consecutive games, going 1-for-5 with two walks and a pair of RBI. Unless the Guardians add an offensively-adept catcher before Tuesday's deadline, the 29-year-old should start the majority of Cleveland's remaining games.
Jul 30 2022Hedges isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started Friday against Tampa Bay and went 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout. He'll be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games while Luke Maile starts behind the dish and bats eighth.
Jul 28 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Luke Maile will draw the starting nod behind the plate in place of Hedges, who caught each of the Guardians' last four games. Hedges has opened the Guardians' post-All-Star-break schedule by going 3-for-14 with home run and two RBI over six games.
Jul 26 2022Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went yard in the second inning as the Guardians jumped on Josh Winckowski early on. The homer was Hedges' first since June 22, though he had a stint on the injured list in that span. The catcher is up to six long balls, 17 RBI, 15 runs scored, a stolen base and a double through 194 plate appearances while maintaining a .177/.237/.286 slash line.
Jul 23 2022Hedges isn't starting the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started behind the plate during Saturday's matinee and went 1-for-2. Luke Maile is starting at catcher and batting eighth during the nightcap.
Jul 22 2022Hedges isn't starting Friday against the White Sox, LaMond Pope of the Chicago Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is getting an extra day off after the All-Star break after he went 5-for-13 with a run, an RBI and a strikeout over the last five games. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Jul 16 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the last three games and went 4-for-10 with an RBI and a strikeout. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Jul 12 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader with the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll give way to Luke Maile behind the plate after going 1-for-3 with a run scored while catching all nine innings of Shane Bieber's complete game in the front end of the twin bill.
Jul 11 2022Hedges will sit Monday against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather Monday after he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Sunday against the Royals. Luke Maile will take over behind the plate and bat eighth in the series opener Monday.
Jul 9 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday's game against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges returned to the lineup Friday against Kansas City after recovering from a concussion, and he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth Saturday.
Jul 8 2022Hedges (concussion) was reinstated from the 7-day injured list Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges was on the shelf for a week and a half but is starting behind the dish and batting eighth during Friday's matchup against the Royals. He hit just .111 with a homer, three runs and three RBI over his 10 games leading up to his absence but should serve as the Guardians' primary catcher now that he's healthy.
Jun 28 2022The Guardians placed Hedges on the 7-day concussion injured list Tuesday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The head injury likely explains why Hedges was withheld from the lineup for back-to-back games Sunday and Monday, even though he's operated as the Guardians' No. 1 backstop throughout the season. Cleveland acquired Sandy Leon from Cincinnati on Tuesday to add some depth behind the plate while Hedges is sidelined, but Luke Maile will likely serve as the Guardians' primary backstop in the short term.
Jun 27 2022Hedges will sit Monday against Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges finds himself on the bench for the second game in a row. His .494 OPS makes it hard to justify his everyday role, though Luke Maile, who starts again Monday, has a similarly uninspiring .572 OPS and doesn't share Hedges' defensive reputation, so a permanent change to the depth chart seems unlikely.
Jun 26 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Red Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Sunday's contest beginning at 1:40 p.m. ET, Hedges will get the game off after he caught all nine innings of Saturday's 4-2 loss. Luke Maile replaces Hedges behind the dish.
Jun 23 2022Hedges will sit Thursday versus the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will take a seat after he went 1-for-7 with a solo home run in the first two games of the series. Luke Maile will draw the start at catcher and bat eighth in the series finale.
Jun 22 2022Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's 11-10 win over the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges had gone 0-for-7 in his last three games, but he was able to snap the skid with a fifth-inning blast to left field. This was the catcher's first extra-base hit in June, and he's gone 7-for-36 (.194) this month. That's actually an improvement given his season slash line of .165/.225/.281 with five homers, 15 RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base in 47 contests overall.
Jun 17 2022Hedges will sit Friday against the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges hits the bench for the second time in there games. He's hitting an anemic .172/.226/273 on the year and hasn't posted a batting average above .200 since 2018 but has nonetheless started 40 of Cleveland's first 60 games behind the plate. Luke Maile will get the nod this time around.
Jun 15 2022Hedges is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game at Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the past two games and will receive a breather Wednesday. Luke Maile will take over behind the dish for Cleveland.
Jun 9 2022Hedges isn't in the lineup Thursday against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 1-for-8 with an RBI and a strikeout over his last two games and will be out of the lineup for the fourth time in the last six matchups. Luke Maile will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Jun 7 2022Hedges is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 0-for-4 during the matinee, and it's not a surprise he won't be starting both ends of the twin bill. Luke Maile will take over behind the plate in the nightcap.
Jun 6 2022Hedges is starting at catcher and batting ninth in Monday's series opener versus the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After missing two straight contests with a hip issue, Hedges will return to the starting lineup Monday. Following an 0-for-11 stretch, he has gone 3-for-8 with a three run homer in his last two games.
Jun 4 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games after he went 2-for-4 in Friday's series opener. Luke Maile is starting behind the dish and batting eighth.
Jun 1 2022Hedges isn't in the lineup Wednesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started in the last two games and went 1-for-7 with a three-run homer, a walk and two strikeouts. Luke Maile will take over behind the dish and bat ninth.
May 31 2022Hedges went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run during Tuesday's 8-3 win over the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges came into Tuesday's contest with only two hits in his past 25 at-bats, but he went deep during the third inning with his third long ball of the campaign. The 29-year-old remains off the fantasy radar with a .155/.223/.282 slash line through 34 games.
May 29 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Tigers, Andre Knott of Bally Sports Ohio reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is 2-for-22 over his last eight appearances and will step out of the lineup for Sunday's series finale in Detroit. Luke Maile will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.
May 26 2022Hedges isn't starting Thursday against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started in the last two games and went 0-for-5 with an RBI, a walk and a strikeouts. Luke Maile will take over behind the dish and bat ninth Thursday.
May 23 2022Hedges isn't starting Monday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after he went 2-for-11 with a double, a run and three strikeouts over the last four games. Luke Maile will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
May 15 2022Hedges is not in Sunday's lineup against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .222 with one home run in eight games this month. Luke Maile will get the start at catcher and bat ninth.
May 13 2022Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Friday's 12-8 loss to the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges' fifth-inning blast tied the game at 2-2, but the offense was just getting started on both sides. The catcher has been solid in May, going 6-for-24 (.250) with three RBI and three runs scored in seven games. Overall, he owns a .176/.238/.297 slash line with three homers, seven RBI, eight runs scored and a stolen base in 82 plate appearances. His defensive work behind the dish will keep him in the lineup more often than backup Luke Maile.
May 11 2022Hedges isn't starting Wednesday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after he went 2-for-11 with an RBI and three strikeouts over the last three games. Luke Maile will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
May 7 2022Hedges will sit for the second half of Saturday's doubleheader against Toronto. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 0-for-3 in the afternoon contest, dropping his OPS on the season down to .498. Luke Maile will be the catcher for the nightcap.
May 4 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader with the Padres, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is expected to re-enter the lineup for the nightcap Wednesday, but Luke Maile will catch Zach Plesac in the first game of the twin bill.
May 1 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After three straight turns behind the plate, Hedges will get a breather for the series finale in Oakland. Luke Maile will handle the Guardians pitching staff Sunday.
Apr 24 2022Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run in Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges gave the Guardians a one-run lead in the eighth inning, but the Yankees pushed back to walk it off in the ninth. This was the catcher's first long ball of the year. He's slashing a meager .125/.200/.219 with three RBI and four runs scored through 37 plate appearances. Hedges remains a quality defensive catcher, but his offense does little to make a case for him to be rostered in many fantasy formats.
Apr 22 2022Hedges isn't starting Friday's game against the Yankees. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has gone 3-for-10 with a run, an RBI and a strikeout in his last three starts, and he'll retreat to the bench for the second time in the last three games. Bryan Lavastida will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Apr 20 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader versus the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 1-for-4 with a run scored during the matinee, and it's not a surprise he won't be starting both games of the twin bill. Bryan Lavastida will work behind the plate and bat ninth in the nightcap.
Apr 16 2022Hedges isn't starting Saturday's game against the Giants. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started in each of the last four games and went 0-for-12 with two runs, two walks and five strikeouts. Bryan Lavastida will start behind the plate and bat ninth.
Apr 10 2022Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game at Kansas City. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is 0-for-7 across the first two games of the season and will head to the bench for Sunday's contest. Bryan Lavastida will start behind the plate for the Guardians in his major-league debut.
Mar 22 2022Hedges agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Guardians on Tuesday, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a decent payday in his final year of arbitration eligibility. He must be getting paid purely for his defense, as he's hit a miserable .174/.236/.307 over the last three seasons.
Oct 2 2021Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 9-6 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher got Cleveland on the board with his third-inning solo shot. Hedges has gone yard twice in his last six games, and he's up to 10 long balls on the year. He's added a .180/.219/.311 slash line with 31 RBI, 32 runs scored and a stolen base in 308 plate appearances. The 29-year-old has split time with Roberto Perez fairly evenly since mid-September.
Sep 23 2021Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Thursday's loss to the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges took Reynaldo Lopez deep with a 367-foot shot in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader. The 29-year-old backstop is now facing limited playing time due to a split role with Roberto Perez, who recently returned from the injured list. Across 83 games, Hedges is batting .176/.218/.300 with nine long balls.
Sep 20 2021Hedges will start at catcher and bat eighth in the first game of Monday's doubleheader with the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since Cleveland brought back Roberto Perez from the injured list last week, Hedges has fallen back into a near-even timeshare at catcher. The two backstops have now alternated starts across the last seven contests, and that trend should continue in the nightcap, when Perez presumably gets the nod over Hedges.
Sep 12 2021Hedges is not starting Sunday's series finale against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has gone 0-for-12 in his last four games and 4-for-35 in his last 10, a span during which he's doubled once and hit two home runs. Ryan Lavarnway is catching and batting eighth Sunday.
Sep 10 2021Hedges is not starting Friday against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He'll get a breather for the second time in three games as Ryan Lavarnway handles the catching duties and bats eighth.
Sep 8 2021Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will be getting a routine breather after he caught each of Cleveland's last three contests. Ryan Lavarnway will step in behind the dish Wednesday, catching for starting pitcher Triston McKenzie.
Sep 3 2021Hedges went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Friday's 8-5 loss to Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old tied the game at 3-3 with his seventh-inning blast, but Boston responded in its half of the frame with a five-run rally. Hedges has gone deep three times in his last seven games, and he's up to eight homers on the year. He's added 27 RBI, 25 runs scored, a stolen base and a .184/.229/.307 slash line in 252 plate appearances.
Sep 2 2021Hedges is out of the lineup Thursday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the past two games and will take a seat after going 1-for-8 with a walk and an RBI. Ryan Lavarnway, who had his contract selected from Triple-A, will start behind the plate for Cleveland.
Aug 29 2021Hedges hit a solo home run in his only at-bat during Sunday's 7-5 win over Boston. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher was given a partial day off as Wilson Ramos started behind the plate. Hedges delivered when called upon, tying the game at 5-5 with his solo shot in the eighth inning, part of a three-run frame that put Cleveland ahead for good. The 29-year-old is up to seven homers, 24 RBI, 24 runs scored and a stolen base while slashing .185/.228/.301 through 239 plate appearances. He remains Cleveland's top healthy option at catcher.
Aug 26 2021Hedges went 1-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base and a run scored in Thursday's 10-6 win over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 29-year-old drew a walk and stole second in the fifth inning, but his effort on the basepaths went unrewarded. It was his first steal attempt this year, and he now has 10 stolen bases in his career. Hedges has seen regular playing time with Roberto Perez (shoulder) on the injured list, but the former has just a .186/.230/.290 slash line with six home runs, 23 RBI and 23 runs scored through 233 plate appearances.
Aug 24 2021Hedges is not starting Tuesday's game against the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 1-for-2 with a double and a run Sunday, boosting his average to .206 with three doubles and six runs in the last 10 games. Wilson Ramos is catching and batting fifth Tuesday.
Aug 20 2021Hedges is not in the lineup Friday against the Angels. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges leads Cleveland's catchers with 61 starts this season and should continue to see regular time with Roberto Perez (shoulder) sidelined, but he doesn't provide any fantasy value with a .485 OPS. Wilson Ramos will work behind the plate Friday in the series opener.
Aug 17 2021Hedges is not starting Tuesday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after going 3-for-9 with two doubles and three RBI across the previous two games. Wilson Ramos will assume the catching duties and bat fourth Tuesday.
Aug 15 2021Hedges went 2-for-5 with a two-RBI double and two runs scored in Sunday's 11-0 win over Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher knocked in a pair during Cleveland's six-run rally in the second inning before scoring on a Jose Ramirez home run. Hedges also scored in the third after hitting a single. The 28-year-old has recorded multiple hits in four of his last 10 games, but he's also gone hitless in five of those contests. He's posted a .178/.216/.267 slash line with five home runs, 21 RBI, 20 runs scored and two doubles through 209 plate appearances.
Aug 12 2021Hedges isn't in the lineup Thursday against Oakland. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will rest after he went 0-for-5 with a walk and three strikeouts across the last two games. Wilson Ramos will start at catcher and bat fifth.
Aug 9 2021Hedges isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against Cincinnati. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has gone 5-for-16 with three runs, an RBI and six strikeouts across his last four appearances, and he'll be on the bench for the second time in the last three games. Wilson Ramos will start at catcher and bat seventh.
Aug 1 2021Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Though he'll be taking a seat in favor of Roberto Perez for the series finale, Hedges appears to have emerged as Cleveland's preferred backstop. After going 2-for-4 with a home run in Saturday's 12-11 win, Hedges is batting .280 since the All-Star break.
Jul 31 2021Hedges went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI in Saturday's win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges busted out of a 12-game homerless drought when he took Dallas Keuchel deep for a solo blast in the fifth inning. Hedges also drove in a run with a single in the sixth for his first multi-RBI game of the month. The veteran catcher is slashing just .170/.212/.270 with five homers in 173 plate appearances this season.
Jul 30 2021Hedges isn't starting Friday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Roberto Perez will take over behind the dish and bat seventh.
Jul 25 2021Hedges is out of the lineup Sunday versus Tampa Bay. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started the last three games and will take a seat after going 1-for-9 with a sacrifice fly and four strikeouts. The 28-year-old appears to have taken over the starting role at catcher from Roberto Perez, who starts Sunday, but neither backstop has done enough offensively to earn much job security.
Jul 24 2021Hedges is starting Saturday's game against the Rays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has gone just 2-for-10 with an RBI and a strikeout across his last three appearances. However, he'll be in the starting lineup for the fourth time in the last five games, and he may have reclaimed his role as Cleveland's No. 1 catcher for now.
Jul 18 2021Hedges is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After an extended run as Cleveland's No. 1 catcher, Hedges has transitioned back to the No. 2 role following Roberto Perez's return from the 60-day injured list July 3. Hedges will likely be limited to between one and three starts per week when Perez is healthy.
Jun 30 2021Hedges is not in the starting lineup for Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against Detroit. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will yield the catching duties to Rene Rivera after going 0-for-3 with two strikeouts during Game 1.
Jun 29 2021Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer and three RBI in Monday's 13-5 win over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges swatted a homer in the second inning to extend Cleveland's lead to 5-1 and added a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The long ball was Hedges' first since June 1 and his fourth of the year. The 28-year-old is slashing .165/.218/.278 with five extra-base hits, 13 RBI, 10 runs scored and a lowly 7:42 BB:K over 127 plate appearances. It's tough to trust Hedges in any fantasy lineup, given his inefficiency at the plate and the fact that he still splits time with Rene Rivera behind the dish.
Jun 27 2021Hedges is not in the starting lineup Sunday against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges returned from a concussion Thursday, but after starting Thursday and Friday, he'll begin the game on the bench for the second day in a row. Rene Rivera will take over catching duties and bat eighth Sunday.
Jun 26 2021Hedges isn't starting Saturday's game against the Twins. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges returned from a concussion Thursday and went 3-for-8 with three RBI, a run and a strikeout across the last two games. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Jun 24 2021Hedges (concussion) went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored in Thursday's 4-1 win over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges required just a minimum stay on the 7-day injured list. He was strong in his return to the lineup, knocking in the game-tying run with an RBI single in the second. He got aboard with another single in the eighth and scored on Eddie Rosario's two-run single. Hedges is slashing just .157/.216/.250 with three home runs, eight RBI, nine runs scored and a double through 119 plate appearances. He should be Cleveland's primary catcher going forward, while Rene Rivera will serve as his backup.
Jun 17 2021Hedges was placed on the 7-day concussion injured list Thursday, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Orioles due to an illness, and the backstop is apparently dealing with a concussion that will force him to miss at least a week. Rene Rivera should see increased playing time behind the dish in his absence, while Ryan Lavarnway's contract was selected in a corresponding move to provide depth at catcher.
Jun 16 2021Hedges was scratched from Wednesday's lineup against the Orioles due to an illness, Mandy Bell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges was penciled in to start behind the plate Wednesday but was a late scratch due to an undisclosed illness. It's unclear if the 28-year-old's availability beyond Wednesday will be affected by the ailment. Rene Rivera will start at catcher in his place.
Jun 14 2021Hedges isn't starting Monday's game against the Orioles. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges returned to the lineup Sunday and went 0-for-3 with a strikeout. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
Jun 13 2021Hedges (head/face) is back in the starting lineup Sunday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges sat Saturday after he was hit in the face by a 93 mph fastball and forced to exit Friday's contest. After just one game off, he'll return to the Cleveland starting nine, catching Shane Bieber and batting eighth.
Jun 12 2021Hedges (head/face) is not in Saturday's lineup against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He exited Friday's game shortly after getting hit in the face by a 93 mph fastball from Justin Dunn. It's unclear if he is simply day-to-day or if he sustained a concussion. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
Jun 11 2021Hedges exited Friday's game against the Mariners after getting hit in the face by a 93 mph fastball from Justin Dunn, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He stayed in initially but was later removed. It's unclear if he will go through the concussion protocol. Rene Rivera replaced him behind the dish.
Jun 6 2021Hedges is not in the starting lineup for Sunday's game against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after starting the first two games of the series. Rene Rivera will work behind the plate and bat ninth.
Jun 2 2021Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: First pitch for Wednesday's series finale is 1:10 p.m. ET, so Hedges is presumably just getting some maintenance after catching all nine innings of Tuesday's 6-5 win while going 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. Rene Rivera will form a battery with Jean Carlos Mejia on Wednesday.
Jun 1 2021Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run during Tuesday's 6-5 win over the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's the 28-year-old's first home run or extra-base hit since May 1. Hedges should continue to split catching reps with Rene Rivera but should be expected to provide much regular offense.
May 31 2021Hedges isn't in the lineup for Game 1 of Monday's doubleheader against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has gone 0-for-7 with a walk and three strikeouts in his last three games. Rene Rivera will start at catcher and bat eighth.
May 30 2021Hedges is not in the lineup for Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in the matinee, and it's no surprise he won't start both games of the twin bill. Rene Rivera will start behind the plate in the nightcap.
May 29 2021Hedges isn't starting Saturday's game against the Blue Jays. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started each of the last two games and went 0-for-5 with a walk and a strikeout. Rene Rivera will start behind the plate and bat ninth.
May 26 2021Hedges is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will get a breather after starting behind the plate in six of Cleveland's last seven games. Rene Rivera will catch starting pitcher Triston McKenzie on Wednesday.
May 24 2021Hedges isn't starting Monday's game against the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges had started each of the last five games and went 2-for-15 with a run, an RBI, two walks and five strikeouts during that time. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and bat ninth.
May 23 2021Hedges went 2-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 5-3 extra-inning win over Minnesota. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The catcher provided an RBI single in the second inning to give Cleveland a 3-0 lead. Minnesota rallied, and the game ultimately went to extra innings after Hedges popped out to end the ninth. He was placed on base as the initial runner in the 10th and scored on Cesar Hernandez's walkoff home run. Hedges has hit for a meager .143/.206/.238 slash line with two homers, five RBI and five runs scored across 71 plate appearances. Roberto Perez isn't expected back until mid-July at the earliest, so Hedges will continue to see most of the time behind the dish despite his struggles as a hitter.
May 15 2021Hedges is not in the lineup Saturday against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges is 3-for-12 over his past four games and will receive a breather Saturday in Seattle. Rene Rivera will be the catcher for Triston McKenzie.
May 12 2021Hedges isn't starting Wednesday against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 2-for-8 with a run, an RBI and two strikeouts while starting each of the last three games. Rene Rivera will start behind the dish and bat eighth.
May 5 2021Hedges will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday against the Royals. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Cleveland moving Roberto Perez (finger) to the 10-day injured list Wednesday, Hedges looks set to take over as the team's everyday catcher. Hedges has received plaudits for his work as a receiver, but aside from popping the occasional home run, he offers little with the bat. Over 1,385 career plate appearances in the majors, Hedges owns a .196/.253/.355 slash line (60 wRC+).
May 1 2021Hedges went 1-for-3 with a home run and a strikeout Saturday as Cleveland lost to Chicago 7-3. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The home run was Hedges' second of the season, but on the year, he only has three hits in 23 at bats. Hedges is one of the best defensive backstops in the league, but until he can be at least serviceable at the plate, he'll remain Roberto Perez's backup.
Apr 28 2021Hedges has gone 2-for-20 (.100) in his first seven games. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges hasn't seen much playing time as backup to Roberto Perez. The 28-year-old Hedges has one home run, two RBI and two runs scored this season. He's also struck out in nine of his 23 plate appearances. Perez is a solid defensive backstop whose consistent presence in the lineup leaves Hedges with little opportunity to make an impact.
Apr 4 2021Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo homer in Sunday's victory over the Tigers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The right-handed hitter smashed a solo shot in the ninth inning off Tyler Alexander. The 28-year-old slashed .145/.231/.290 in 2020 and looks to turn his hitting around in 2021.
Jan 15 2021Hedges avoided arbitration Friday by signing a one-year, $3.28 million deal, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will see a small boost from his 2020 salary of $3 million. It's hard to argue that he deserved a much bigger raise, as he hit an awful .145/.231/.290 in 35 games for San Diego and Cleveland last season.
Sep 21 2020Hedges remains out of the lineup for Monday's game against the White Sox. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Since being acquired from the Padres in a deadline-day trade, Hedges has made just four starts through Cleveland's first 19 games of September. While it isn't surprising that Hedges has taken a back seat to top catcher Roberto Perez, the fact that he isn't the clear No. 2 backstop for the Indians is more unexpected. Like Hedges, Sandy Leon has also picked up four starts behind the dish in September.
Aug 31 2020Hedges was traded from San Diego to Cleveland on Monday as part of a six-player package for Mike Clevinger, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Padres completely overhauled their catching depth chart Sunday, acquiring both Jason Castro and Austin Nola, leaving Hedges as surplus to requirements. The 28-year-old remains clearly a glove-first backstop, as his career slash line now sits at .199/.257/.359 midway through his sixth big-league campaign. He has just a .591 OPS this season, though Cleveland's incumbent catchers, Roberto Perez and Sandy Leon, have marks of .442 and .527, respectively, so he could have a shot to carve out a meaningful role.
Aug 29 2020Hedges isn't in Saturday's lineup against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts Friday, and he'll get a day off Saturday. Luis Torrens will start behind the plate.
Aug 27 2020Hedges is not in the lineup for Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Mariners. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Luis Torrens gets the start behind the dish in this one. Through 17 games this month, Hedges is slashing .235/.333/.529 with three home runs and a stolen base.
Aug 23 2020Hedges is not in the lineup Sunday against the Astros. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started five of six games entering Saturday, but he's now been on the bench for the past two contests. Luis Torrens receives another start behind the plate for the Friars.
Aug 20 2020Hedges went 2-for-3 with a solo home run, a walk and another run scored during Thursday's win over the Rangers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With one out and the score knotted 6-6 in the eighth inning, Hedges took Jesse Chavez deep with a solo shot to give the Padres the lead. The long ball was the third of the year for the backstop, who is hitting just .167/.239/.381 across 20 games this season.
Aug 18 2020Hedges went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Monday's 14-4 rout over Texas. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges did his part to contribute to San Diego's offensive outburst, slugging a solo homer to center field in the fourth inning. The 28-year-old is batting a tepid .143/.211/.314 on the season, though he has reached base four times -- three by walk -- over his last two games.
Aug 11 2020Hedges went 1-for-2 with a solo home run in Monday's win over the Dodgers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges has been sharing the playing time at catcher with Francisco Mejia, and Hedges hasn't done enough offensively to become the team's primary backstop -- he has only hit .125 in 26 at-bats.
Jul 27 2020Hedges is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Diamondbacks. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges had started both of the previous two days, so he'll just be getting a breather in the series finale while Francisco Mejia gets a turn behind the dish. The 27-year-old is still looking for his first hit of the season after going 0-for-8 with four strikeouts in the Padres' three games to date.
Jul 14 2020Hedges was told by Padres manager Jayce Tingler that his opportunity to stick with the team is dependent on his ability to get on base, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges' defensive acumen is unquestioned, but the 27-year-old slashed a paltry .176/.252/.311 last season and saw his power output drop for the second straight campaign. That's unacceptable for any big-league starter, even one with Hedges' elite pitch-framing skills. While Francisco Mejia -- Hedges' main competition for time behind the plate -- has struggled at times defensively, he wields a more potent stick and may have passed Hedges on the depth chart. In addition, Luis Torrens -- who represents a mix of Hedges' strong defense and Mejia's offensive potential -- is said to be in the mix for a roster spot, which could affect Hedges' playing time, especially if he gets off to a slow start.
Mar 20 2020Hedges is likely to make the Padres' Opening Day roster, but the amount of playing time he'll receive has not yet been decided, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges led Padres backstops with 102 games last season, but he posted a paltry .176 batting average while striking out 109 times in 312 at-bats. His elite defense is likely to keep Hedges on the big-league roster, but he could see considerably less playing time if Francisco Mejia is able to complement his superior bat with improved skills behind the plate. Luis Torrens is also in contention for a roster spot but remains a longshot, per Cassavell.
Jan 10 2020Hedges agreed to a one-year, $3 million deal with the Padres on Friday, avoiding arbitration, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This is Hedges' second year as an arbitration-eligible player. He will go through the process two more times before hitting the open market after the 2022 season.
Sep 18 2019Hedges is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Brewers. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges will give way to Francisco Mejia behind the plate Wednesday night. Hedges started regularly the last three weeks with Mejia sidelined, but with Mejia now back in action, the two figure to split the catching duties in some fashion the rest of the way.
Sep 15 2019Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges started eight of the last nine games and will receive a breather after going 3-for-21 with six walked. Austin Allen takes over behind the plate for the Friars in the series finale.
Sep 14 2019Hedges went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer and two walks in a loss to Colorado on Friday. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges put the Padres on the board in the first inning with a two-run blast to center field and reached base twice more via walk. The productive game was a rare bright spot in what has been a miserable month for Hedges at the plate, as he is hitting a scant .100 with one extra-base hit in 30 at-bats in September.
Sep 12 2019Hedges is not in Thursday's lineup against the Cubs. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He is hitting .071 with zero home runs in 28 at-bats this month. Austin Allen is starting behind the dish and hitting seventh.
Sep 6 2019Hedges is not starting Friday against Colorado. ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Hedges gets a rest after starting seven of the last eight games behind the plate. Austin Allen will get the nod in his absence.
Sep 1 2019Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game at San Francisco.
Aug 30 2019Hedges went 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Thursday's win over San Francisco.
Aug 18 2019Hedges went 4-for-4 with a solo home run in a 3-2 victory against the Phillies on Sunday.
Aug 11 2019Hedges is not in Sunday's lineup against the Rockies.
Aug 9 2019Hedges isn't in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Rockies.
Aug 8 2019Hedges is not starting Thursday against the Rockies.
Aug 4 2019Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.
Jul 30 2019Hedges is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
Jul 26 2019Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 25 2019Hedges is out of the lineup<\/a> for Thursday's game against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 17 2019Hedges went 1-for-3 with a walk and a two-run home run in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 16 2019Hedges (personal) was reinstated from the bereavement list Tuesday, Bill Center of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 12 2019Hedges was placed on the bereavement list prior to Friday's game against the Braves, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 23 2019Hedges went 3-for-6 with two doubles, three RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base in Sunday's extra-innings loss to the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 21 2019Hedges remains on the bench<\/a> for the third straight game Friday against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 19 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 18 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> for Tuesday's game against the Brewers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 15 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> for Saturday's game against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 13 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> Thursday against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 11 2019Hedges (ankle) is catching and batting eighth<\/a> Tuesday against the Giants.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 9 2019Hedges (ankle) is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Nationals.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Hedges won't start Saturday's game against the Nationals for an undisclosed reason, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 8 2019Hedges was scratched from Saturday's lineup versus the Nationals with a sprained left ankle, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com<\/a> reports.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 5 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Phillies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jun 2 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game versus the Marlins.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 26 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 19 2019Hedges is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Pirates.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 15 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> Wednesday against the Dodgers.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 12 2019Hedges is out of the lineup<\/a> for Sunday's game against the Rockies.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
May 7 2019Hedges is not in the lineup<\/a> for Tuesday's game against the Mets.Subscribe now<\/a> to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Jul 22 2018Hedges is out of the lineup for the second game of Sunday's doubleheader with the Phillies.Unsurprisingly, Hedges will head to the bench after he went 0-for-4 while playing all nine innings behind the plate in the Padres' 10-2 win in Game 1. A.J. Ellis will handle the catching duties in the nightcap.
Jul 14 2018Hedges is not starting Saturday against the Cubs.Hedges will sit despite grabbing three hits Friday. A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the plate.
Jul 14 2018Hedges went 3-for-5 with an RBI in a loss to the Cubs on Friday.Hedges has provided an adequate amount of power (two homers) in 14 games since returning from the disabled list, but his .348 batting average (16-for-46) over that span has really been a pleasant surprise for his fantasy owners. The 25-year-old is still striking out 28 percent of the time during his current hot streak (33.6 percent overall), so don't expect his season batting average to improve far past its current .240 mark.
Jul 10 2018Hedges went 2-for-3 with a three-run homer in Tuesday's win over the Dodgers.The catcher's fifth inning blast ended up being the difference, as the Padres went on to win by a 4-1 margin. Though Hedges just got over the Mendoza Line for the first time all season with Tuesday's two-hit day, he's been showing signs of turning it around of late. Since the start of July, he's hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a double, two homers and five RBI.
Jul 9 2018Hedges is out of Monday's lineup against the Dodgers.He will sit for the fifth time in the last 14 games, and is hitting .258 with one home run over that stretch. A.J. Ellis will start behind the dish and hit eighth.
Jul 7 2018Hedges is not in the lineup Saturday against the Diamondbacks.Hedges has hit a solid .280 with an .813 OPS in eight games since returning from an elbow injury. He'll sit Saturday in favor of A.J. Ellis.
Jul 5 2018Hedges went 2-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday against the Diamondbacks.Hedges drove an offering from Shelby Miller deep over the left field wall for his third home run of the season. It was his first since coming off the disabled list on June 24, one of the few positive signs since his return. In 23 at-bats since getting back on the field, Hedges has managed six hits but struck out nine times.
Jul 4 2018Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Athletics.Hedges will get a routine breather with the Padres and Athletics playing a day game after a night game, allowing A.J. Ellis to receive a turn behind the plate. In the Padres' 6-2 loss Tuesday, Hedges went 1-for-3 with two strikeouts. He has recorded only four hits in 19 at-bats since returning from the disabled list June 24.
Jun 26 2018Hedges is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rangers.Hedges started the last two games after being activated from the disabled list, but he will give way to A.J. Ellis on Tuesday night.
Jun 24 2018Hedges (elbow) was activated from the 10-day disabled list Sunday and is catching and hitting eighth against the Giants.Hedges hasn't played since April after being shut down with elbow tendinitis. He was hitting just .173/.235/.293 prior to the injury. Raffy Lopez was optioned to Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move.
Jun 23 2018Hedges (elbow) will be activated from the 10-day disabled list provided a final check-up goes smoothly, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges hasn't played since April while dealing with right elbow tendinitis. Prior to the injury, he was hitting a miserable .173/.235/.293. Hedges' return could push Raffy Lopez back to the minor leagues.
Jun 20 2018Hedges (elbow) could return for this weekend's series against the Giants, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.After missing a projected return date prior to the Padres' current two-game set versus the Athletics, Hedges could make his return to the majors sometime during a four-game series against the Giants that begins Thursday. The backstop has gone 9-for-23 with a home run and four RBI during his current seven-game rehab stint. Cassavell expects Hedges to reclaim his starting role upon activation, despite his lackluster .173/.235/.293 slash line in 24 games prior to hitting the disabled list. When healthy, the 25-year-old provides some pop from the catcher position (18 homers in 120 games last year) while carrying a low batting average.
Jun 15 2018Hedges (elbow), who is in the midst of a rehab assignment at High-A Lake Elsinore, could be activated from the 10-day disabled list ahead of the Padres' two-game set against the Athletics that begins Tuesday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.After being pulled off his rehab assignment three weeks earlier when he experienced a hyperextension of his elbow, Hedges was cleared to return to game action in the minors Tuesday. The 25-year-old has played each of the last three days for the affiliate, culminating in him catching seven innings and going 2-for-2 at the dish Thursday. Hedges will likely need to log a full game behind the plate some point over the weekend before being reinstated from the DL, at which point he would presumably reclaim primary catching duties for the big club. Prior to landing on the DL, Hedges was hitting .173/.235/.293 while striking out in 37 percent of his plate appearances.
Jun 11 2018Hedges (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment with High-A Lake Elsinore on Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges has been on the shelf since the end of April with an elbow injury. It's unclear how many rehab appearances Hedges will need to make before rejoining the big club, but the Padres figure to proceed cautiously with the backstop given he was pulled off his previous rehab stint after aggravating the issue.
Jun 6 2018Hedges (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment in the near future after traveling with the Padres on Friday as the team begins a 10-game road trip, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges has been out since the end of April due to right elbow tendinitis. He previously played in two rehab outings with Triple-A El Paso a couple weeks ago but suffered a setback and required a little more time off. It appears as though he's on track for activation at some point next week, assuming that he rejoins the Chihuahuas around the end of this weekend or by the start of next week.
Jun 6 2018Hedges (elbow) completed batting practice Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Now that the backstop has resumed throwing and hitting, he could soon be ready for minor-league rehab action after being pulled off his previous assignment at Triple-A El Paso in late May when he incurred a setback. Hedges has been on the 10-day disabled list for more than a month due to right elbow tendinitis, paving the way for Raffy Lopez to serve as the Padres' primary catcher.
May 31 2018Hedges (elbow) was cleared to resume throwing Thursday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges got the OK from doctors to pick up a throwing program after being shut down last week with renewed discomfort in his injured elbow. He'll continue to ramp up his baseball activities in the coming days before eventually being heading back out on a minor-league rehab assignment. A.J. Ellis and Raffy Lopez will continue to fill in behind the dish for the Padres while Hedges is on the shelf.
May 25 2018Hedges pulled himself out of the lineup at Triple-A El Paso on Thursday with soreness in his elbow, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges appeared to be on the verge of a return but he'll be be forced to slow things down after experiencing renewed discomfort in his elbow. An MRI earlier this month showed no structural damage. Raffy Lopez and A.J. Ellis will continue to share catching duties until Hedges is cleared for activation.
May 21 2018Hedges (elbow) is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A El Paso on Monday.Hedges has been sidelined for all of May with right elbow tendinitis. After appearing in games at extended spring training for the past week, the backstop has been cleared to embark on a rehab stint, marking the last step in his recovery before he rejoins the Padres. It's unclear how many minor-league games Hedges will need to appear in before his activation. Raffy Lopez and A.J. Ellis will continue to share catching duties until Hedges is healthy.
May 14 2018Hedges (elbow) reported to the Padres' spring training facility in Arizona and will begin playing in simulated games Monday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges was cleared to take a step forward in his recovery after a recent MRI confirmed that the catcher wasn't dealing with any structural damage to his right elbow and is merely battling some tendinitis. He'll likely play at least a couple games in Arizona before advancing to a minor-league rehab assignment as soon as the upcoming weekend.
May 11 2018An MRI revealed that Hedges' elbow has no structural damage and he was cleared to resume swinging, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges is currently in San Diego, where he played catch and will take swings for the first time since suffering this injury in late April. The catcher was shut down from all activities over the past week after being officially diagnosed with right elbow tendinitis, which caused him to land on the 10-day DL. The Padres have yet to pinpoint a specific timetable for his return, but rejoining the team next weekend doesn't seem out of the question.
May 4 2018Hedges (elbow) will rest for 7-to-10 days before possibly resuming activity, Dennis Lin of The Athletic San Diego reports.This essentially rules out Hedges from returning to action after the minimum stay on the disabled list. If he's not feeling better at the end of the rest period, he will undergo further testing on his ailing elbow. Look for an update on his status next week.
May 1 2018Hedges was placed on the 10-day disabled list Tuesday with right elbow tendinitis.Hedges was removed from Monday's game in the second inning with elbow tendinitis, and the issue has since been deemed serious enough to require a stay on the disabled list. It's still unclear if he'll be able to return from the DL when first eligible May 11. Raffy Lopez was recalled from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move and should split catching duties with AJ Ellis until Hedges is healthy.
Apr 30 2018Hedges was removed in the second inning of Monday's game against the Giants, Dennis Lin of The Athletic San Diego reports.It's unclear if Hedges suffered an injury, but he was replaced by A.J. Ellis in just the second inning. The Padres are expected to provide an update on his status in the near future.
Apr 29 2018Hedges is out of the lineup Sunday against the Mets.Hedges' exploded with a three-hit, five-RBI performance Saturday, with the latter figure matching his total from his first 22 games of the season combined. He'll be rewarded with an off day in the series finale, affording backup A.J. Ellis a turn behind the plate.
Apr 23 2018Hedges is not in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rockies.Hedges, who is hitting just .141 on the season, will head to the bench for a breather after starting each of the previous four games behind the dish and going 2-for-13 over that stretch. In his place, A.J. Ellis will start at catcher and hit eighth.
Apr 17 2018Hedges is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.Hedges is just 1-for-17 over his previous five games, so he'll head to the bench to clear his head while A.J. Ellis picks up a start behind the dish.
Apr 14 2018Hedges is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants.A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the plate in his absence. Hedges has always had a high strikeout rate, but his 36.4 percent figure so far this year is really holding him back, leading to a .167/.205/.357 slash line through his first 44 plate appearances.
Apr 14 2018Hedges is not in the lineup Saturday against the Giants.A.J. Ellis will get the start behind the plate in his absence. Hedges has always had a high strikeout rate, but his 36.4 percent figure so far this year is really holding him back, leading to a .167/.205/.357 slash line through his first 44 plate appearances.
Apr 11 2018Hedges is not in the starting lineup Wednesday against the Rockies, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges isn't making very much contact this season, with a 38.2 percent strikeout rate and a .188 batting average. He has at least chipped in with two homers and a .438 slugging percentage, which should be enough to keep him on the field when combined with his solid defense. A.J. Ellis will start behind the plate in his place.
Apr 11 2018Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-2 victory over the Rockies.Hedges tied the game at two with a solo blast off of Tyler Anderson in the fifth inning, opening the door for Hunter Renfroe to put the game away with a three-run shot in the seventh. The free-swinging catcher is living up to his pre-draft expectations, providing power (two homers) for his owners to go along with an ugly batting average (.188 through 32 at-bats). Hedges has started six of the Friars' previous seven contests, putting his minor back ailment in the rear-view mirror.
Apr 4 2018Hedges (back) is back in the lineup Wednesday against the Rockies.The backstop was scratched from the past two games due to back tightness, but it appears that he's healthy enough to catch once again. Hedges will bat eighth in his return to action.
Apr 3 2018Hedges (back) is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Rockies.Hedges was originally in the lineup, but he was a late scratch for the second straight game as he continues to deal with back tightness. A.J. Ellis will once again step into the lineup in his place, starting at catcher and hitting eighth.
Apr 2 2018Hedges was scratched from Monday's lineup due to tightness in his upper back, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.With Hedges out, A.J. Ellis will start behind the dish for the Padres. The club didn't provide any information regarding the severity of the 25-year-old's injury, so consider Hedges day-to-day until further notice. Hedges has gone 1-for-11 (.091) over three games this season, with his only hit being a home run.
Mar 22 2018Manager Andy Green said that Hedges will be okay after being hit by a pitch on the left calf Thursday, Dennis Lin of The Athletic San Diego reports.The HBP forced Hedges from Thursday's contest, but it doesn't appear to be anything that'll affect him moving forward. The Padres could opt to hold Hedges out of their next spring training game Friday against the Rangers as a precaution but beyond that, Hedges should be back behind the plate in the near future.
Mar 22 2018Hedges was removed from Thursday's game after being struck by a pitch.Nate Easley replaced Hedges as a pinch runner in the top of the sixth inning. Consider Hedges day-to-day with more information to follow on his status in the coming hours.
Mar 2 2018Hedges went 2-for-3 with his fourth home run in as many games this spring training.AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reported that Hedges entered camp with a modified swing, and that change is apparently paying off in spades for the Padres' backstop. As with most spring training results, we have to take them in with a grain of salt when you consider some of the inferior competition these proven major leaguers are going up against. That said, those with stock in the 25-year-old can't help but get excited with these early developments, especially after he broke out with 18 home runs in just 387 at-bats last season.
Feb 14 2018Hedges worked with assistant hitting coach Johnny Washington during teh offseason to adjust his swing, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.The defensive whiz struggled a bit at the plate last year, posting just a .214 batting average. Given that, it's not surprising that his primary focus this winter was hitting. Reports say he hasn't removed the leg kick from his swing, so the alterations hopefully won't sap the power that helped him hit 18 homers in 2017. The new plate approach is geared more toward making contact and having better patience, although the new swing hasn't actually been seen yet. The fantasy implications of this adjustment should become apparent once Hedges employs his new swing in Cactus League action.
Oct 1 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants.Hedges' rough offensive season will come to an end, as he'll be replaced in the starting lineup by Rocky Gale. The 25-year-old will finish the year with a .214 average and 29.3 percent strikeout rate in his 120 games played.
Sep 26 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Dodgers.Hedges will head to the bench for a breather after starting four of the previous five games behind the dish, going 5-for-12 (.417) with three extra-base hits over that stretch. Luis Torrens takes over at backstop in his stead.
Sep 24 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.Hedges will head to the bench for what appears to be a standard day of rest after starting the past three games and going 3-for-3 with a double and run scored in Saturday's win. Rocky Gale will take over behind the plate and bat eighth.
Sep 24 2017Hedges went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 5-0 win over Colorado.Hedges' main asset this season has been his power (18 home runs), but his four steals ranks sixth among all major-league catchers. The 25-year-old's counting stats have made his .217 batting average tolerable for fantasy owners.
Sep 20 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Diamondbacks.Hedges receives a breather following a pair of starts behind the plate for the first two games of this series. In his place, Rocky Gale will handle the catching duties.
Sep 17 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Rockies.Hedges is hitting just .162 during the month of September and was removed early from Saturday's blowout loss against the Rockies. He'll receive a full day of rest Sunday with Hector Sanchez filling in behind the plate and batting fourth in his stead.
Sep 14 2017Hedges went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Twins.It was Hedges' 17th homer of the season, but his first since Aug. 22. The 24-year-old is batting just .211 this season, due in large part to a 28.9 percent strikeout rate, but his plus power has been enough to keep him viable at the shallow fantasy position of catcher.
Sep 10 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Sunday against Arizona.Hedges played well Saturday, as he went 2-for-4 with a run scored and another driven in. However, after starting three consecutive games he'll get the day off as Luis Torrens starts behind the dish.
Sep 6 2017Hedges is out of the lineup against the Cardinals on Wednesday.Hedges retreats to the bench for a typical day of maintenance following three straight starts behind the plate. In his place, Hector Sanchez gets the nod, while batting fifth in the order.
Sep 2 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Dodgers.He will rest his legs after catching the first game of the twin bill, as is standard for backstops. Luis Torrens will step in to catch for starter Jordan Lyles.
Aug 28 2017Hedges isn't in the lineup for Monday's game against the Giants.Hedges will gave way to Hector Sanchez on Monday. In August thus far, Hedges is sporting a batting average of just .212 over 66 at-bats but he's still in line to take the majority of starts over Sanchez moving forward despite the slight slump.
Aug 26 2017Hedges isn't in the lineup Saturday against the Marlins.Hedges has had a tough time hitting as of late. Over the last seven games he's gone 3-for-19 (.158) and struck out nine times. He'll get the day off while Hector Sanchez fills in behind the dish.
Aug 24 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Thursday against St. Louis.Hedges will get a standard day off following two straight starts, while Luis Torrens draws the assignment behind the plate. Over the past 10 games, Hedges has been struggling at the plate, hitting just .135/.154/.216.
Aug 23 2017Hedges went 2-for-5 with a three-run home run in a 12-4 rout of the Cardinals on Tuesday.Hedges has broken out with 16 homers in 92 games in his first full season as a starter in the majors. The 24-year-old's .219 batting average has suppressed his fantasy value, but it is actually a marked improvement over the .161 mark he posted across 161 combined at-bats with the Padres in 2015 and 2016. Hedges has shown an ability to hit for average in the minors, so it isn't inconceivable to think that the youngster can develop into a top-tier fantasy catcher as he enters his prime years if he gets his strikeout rate closer to 20 percent (29.0 K% this season).
Aug 20 2017Hedges is out of Sunday's lineup against the Nationals.He has started the last four games, but will take a seat for the matinee prior to Monday's off day. Hector Sanchez starts behind the dish and will hit seventh.
Aug 15 2017Hedges went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI, a stolen base and a run scored in Monday's victory over the Phillies.The Padres caught Jerad Eickhoff napping in the fourth inning when Hedges and Cory Spangenberg executed a successful double steal. Monday's stolen base was the catcher's second of the season, but he did tally 14 steals in the minors way back in 2012, so he may be more fleet-footed than your standard backstop. While the occasional thievery is nice perk for fantasy owners, Hedges' value is derived from his ability to go deep. His 15 home runs on the season ranks fifth among all major-league catchers.
Aug 15 2017Hedges is out of Tuesday's lineup against the Phillies.He is hitting .250/.262/.475 with two home runs over his last 40 at-bats. Hector Sanchez gets the start behind the dish and will hit seventh against righty Mark Leiter.
Aug 13 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers, J.P. Hoornstra of the Los Angeles Daily News reports.Hedges went 0-for-8 over the past two games as the Padres' starting catcher, but he'll get the day off with Luis Torrens taking over behind the plate. Expect to see Hedges back in the lineup Monday against the Phillies.
Aug 10 2017Hedges is not in Thursday's lineup for the series finale against the Reds, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.Following four straight starts behind the plate, Hedges will get a day off for Thursday's matinee while Luis Torrens draws the start in his place. Since coming off the 7-day concussion disabled list July 29, Hedges is 8-for-29 with two home runs and three RBI.
Aug 8 2017Hedges went 2-for-4 with a double and a solo home run in Tuesday's 7-3 win over the Reds.The 24-year-old catcher continues to show that last year's power display for Triple-A El Paso wasn't just a product of a friendly hitting environment, as Hedges now has 15 homers in 83 games for the Padres this season. His .228 batting average and .707 OPS leave a lot to be desired, but he's still got plenty of time to improve on those numbers as his career progresses.
Aug 5 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Saturday against the Pirates.After starting the last four games, Hedges takes a seat in favor of Hector Sanchez, who is hitting sixth. Hedges is hitting .235 with five home runs and a 33:3 K:BB in 98 at-bats since the start of June.
Aug 2 2017Hedges went 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run homer against the Twins on Tuesday.After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts upon his return from a DL stint due to a concussion Sunday, Hedges found his batting stroke in the Padres' very next game. His 14 homers and 43 RBI are relatively credible stats from the catcher position, but Hedges' .220 average is a major drag. However, we're talking about a 24-year-old who hit .326 with 21 homers and 82 RBI in 82 games at the Triple-A level last year -- numbers suggestive of high-end upside that he could yet realize in coming seasons.
Jul 30 2017Hedges (concussion) was activated from the 7-day disabled list and is starting at catcher and batting seventh during Sunday's game against the Pirates, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges was placed on the 7-day DL on July 18 after being struck in the head with a foul ball. The backstop has passed his concussion testing and is set to rejoin the Padres lineup. He'll look to improve upon his .218 average moving forward.
Jul 29 2017Hedges (concussion) is expected to return from the 7-day disabled list Sunday.While the move won't be made official until Sunday, Hedges return will be a boon to the Padres' lineup. Fellow catcher Luis Torrens is a Rule 5 pick, so his roster spot will likely be safe upon Hedges' return. Hedges has popped 13 home runs in 243 at-bats this season and should resume regular catching duties upon his return.
Jul 27 2017Hedges (concussion) will catch five innings in an Arizona Rookie League game Saturday, Bill Center of MLB.com reports.Hedges cleared all concussion tests a while back, but lingering effects of the foul ball that hit him in the catcher's mask stuck around to keep him on the shelf longer. It seems like he's nearing a return, however, and if all goes well Saturday, he could slot back into the Padres' lineup for Sunday's series finale.
Jul 20 2017Hedges (concussion) has rejoined the team but remains on the 7-day concussion disabled list, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.According to Lin, Hedges recently resumed taking swings and his symptoms have subsided to the point where he can rejoin the team. Hedges is eligible to come off the disabled list Tuesday, so the Padres will go with a platoon of Hector Sanchez and Luis Torrens for the next few games.
Jul 18 2017Hedges (head) remains out of the lineup Tuesday against the Rockies.Hedges seemed nearly ready to return Monday evening, but it appears that he's still not feeling right. He's passed all concussion testing to this point, so it seems like the Padres will be able to deploy him whenever he feels he's ready to go. Luis Torrens will sit behind the dish Tuesday night.
Jul 18 2017Hedges was placed on the 7-day concussion disabled list Tuesday.The 24-year-old missed the past three games due to some lingering issues from when he was hit in the head by a foul ball Friday. He cleared all concussion protocol thus far, but the team wants to play things safe for now by sending him back to San Diego for further testing. Reliever Jose Valdez was summoned from the minors to fill the void on the roster.
Jul 17 2017Hedges (head) was scratched from Monday's contest with the Rockies.Hedges reportedly has cleared all concussion tests, but he apparently still doesn't feel completely right. Consider him day-to-day for the time being. Hector Sanchez will hop behind the plate to replace him, batting cleanup.
Jul 17 2017Hedges (head) is back in the lineup Monday against the Rockies, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.Hedges missed the past two games after experiencing some concussion symptoms over the weekend, but it seems like he's feeling well again. He'll bat eighth in his return to action, pushing Hector Sanchez and Luis Torrens back into a reserve role.
Jul 16 2017Hedges (head) said he's hopeful he'll be able to return to action Monday against the Rockies, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges missed Sunday's game against the Giants after taking a foul ball to the head during Friday's contest, but he said he's feeling better and could have entered Sunday's game, had he been needed. With that in mind, a return Monday, as the Padres open a three-game set in Colorado, seems very possible.
Jul 16 2017Hedges (head) is not in the lineup Sunday against the Giants, A.J. Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges will miss his second straight game after taking a foul ball to the head during Friday's outing. The catcher is replaced by Hector Sanchez yet again, who will bat cleanup in the series finale. Hedges should be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Jul 15 2017Hedges was held out of Saturday's game after feeling some effects from taking a foul ball to the head Friday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.It appears to be a precautionary move by the Padres, as they would rather not risk a head injury with their young catcher. Initial hopes are that a stint on the 7-day concussion DL won't be needed, though it will certainly be a situation worth monitoring over the coming days. Hector Sanchez will take his place as the starting backstop for Saturday's tilt.
Jul 15 2017Hedges (undisclosed) was scratched from Saturday's lineup for precautionary reasons.The team has yet to announce an official injury status for Hedges, but the fact remains that he'll be held out of Saturday's lineup. Hector Sanchez will take his place behind the plate and the Padres figure to have a further update on Hedges later in the weekend.
Jul 7 2017Hedges went 2-for-3 with two homers and three RBI Friday against the Phillies.Hedges blasted his 12th and 13th homers off Nick Pivetta as part of a winning effort He's been a solid source of power at the catcher position despite a weak batting average of .220.
Jul 7 2017Hedges (neck) is starting behind the plate Friday against the Phillies.Hedges had missed the previous two games with neck stiffness, but appears good to go after some rest. The young backstop is hitting just 2-for-17 over his last five starts and hasn't hit a home run since June 3, so he'll be looking to find some offensive rhythm prior to the All-Star break.
Jul 6 2017Hedges (neck) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Indians.Hedges was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to neck stiffness and will get another day off as Luis Torrens draws the start behind the dish. There hasn't been much word from the Padres concerning Hedges, so he should be considered day-to-day for the time being.
Jul 6 2017Hedges (neck) will be available off the bench for Thursday's game, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Manager Andy Green said that Hedges was "feeling better" prior to Thursday's contest against the Indians, but the club wanted to stress precaution with their catcher instead of rushing him back too fast. He could return for the series opener against Philadelphia on Friday, but if he is unable to go, Hector Sanchez or Luis Torrens would fill in.
Jul 5 2017Hedges was a late scratch from the lineup Wednesday against the Indians due to neck stiffness, Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.It's unclear when the injury cropped up or how severe it is, although more information on this front should come forth once word from manager A.J. Green comes forth. Luis Torrens will enter the lineup in his place.
Jul 2 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Dodgers.With no news of an injury, it appears that Hedges is simply receiving a day of rest. Luis Torrens will fill in behind the plate in his absence.
Jun 27 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Braves.Hedges will head to the bench for a breather after starting each of the last three contests for San Diego. Luis Torrens will crouch behind the plate in his place.
Jun 24 2017Hedges (thigh) went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and a walk in Friday's win over Detroit.A bruised thigh, suffered in a home plate collision with the Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on Monday, ended up costing Hedges two starts. The 24-year-old Hedges provides significant value behind the plate for the Padres, and while he has just an 80 wRC+, his counting numbers are strong relative to the position.
Jun 21 2017Hedges (thigh) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs, Bob Scanlan of Fox Sports San Diego reports.Hedges was expected to return to action Wednesday, but with Thursday being an off day for the Padres, they'll keep him on the bench to effectively get two more days of rest. Luis Torrens will assume catching duties for the evening in his stead, but look for Hedges to get back in the lineup Friday when the team hosts the Tigers.
Jun 20 2017Hedges (thigh) is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Cubs, though manager Andy Green said he won't require a trip to the disabled list, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.This is good news for the backstop, who was forced to leave Monday's game against the Cubs after being plowed over by Anthony Rizzo. While the injury isn't serious enough to force Hedges onto the DL, he's still banged up and should be considered day-to-day for now. Luis Torrens is starting behind the dish in his place.
Jun 20 2017Hedges (thigh) said he expects to return to the lineup Wednesday, Dennis Lin of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges also said he feels lucky to have avoided a serious injury after getting bowled over by Anthony Rizzo at home plate Monday night. He's sitting out Tuesday contest, but look for the backstop to return to action for Wednesday's series finale as Eddie Butler toes the rubber for the Cubs.
Jun 19 2017Hedges left Monday's game against the Cubs with a bruised right thigh, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges was bowled over by Chicago's Anthony Rizzo in a play at the plate. He managed to stay in for another inning, but the Padres decided to remove him due to the bruise. It doesn't sound like this will be a major injury, but consider Hedges day-to-day for now.
Jun 18 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Brewers.Hedges, who has gone 1-for-8 over the first two games of the series against the Brewers, will be relegated to the bench Sunday for a scheduled day of rest. Luis Torrens will fill in behind the plate.
Jun 14 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Reds, Bob Scanlan of Fox Sports San Diego reports.The 24-year-old has terrorized the Reds over the past couple games, collecting five hits and three RBI, but he'll head to the bench with a day game on tap. Luis Torrens will fill in for Hedges behind the plate Wednesday.
Jun 11 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Royals.It appears that Hedges is simply receiving a scheduled day of rest ahead of Sunday's tilt against Jake Junis and the Royals. Luis Torrens will draw the start behind the plate.
Jun 8 2017Hedges went 1-for-4 with two RBI during Thursday's loss to Arizona.Hedges has started 49 of 61 games for the Padres, which means he's one of the busier catchers in the league. It's a huge boon to his counting stats and fantasy value. While Hedges' .211 batting average and .261 on-base percentage are category anchors, 11 home runs and 30 RBI are top-tier numbers for a backstop.
Jun 8 2017Hedges is batting fifth and catching Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Jack Magruder of FanRagSports.com reports.The backstop received a breather Wednesday in favor of Luis Torrens. Hedges resurfaces Thursday to catch Clayton Richard. He's batting only .211/.261/.439 with a .296 wOBA in 185 plate appearances, but his 11 home runs help him stand out as at least a top No. 2 catcher in a volatile player pool.
Jun 7 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.Hedges has three home runs over the past week, but he'll head to the bench for a night off after four straight starts. Luis Torrens will take over behind the plate in his place.
Jun 4 2017Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run during Saturday's loss to the Rockies.It was the third home run in three games for Hedges and his 11th of the campaign. The backstop sports an underwhelming .218 batting average and .270 on-base percentage, but his 11 homers, 28 RBI, 20 runs and .455 slugging percentage are moving the needle. Power is usually hard to mine from the catching position, and not only is Hedges providing pop, he's also playing regularly with 179 plate appearances this season.
Jun 3 2017Hedges went 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI in Friday's 8-5 win over the Rockies.The homer was his second in as many starts and 10th of the season in 51 games. Hedges' .216/.269/.438 slash line on the season isn't very appetizing from a fantasy perspective, but if he continues seeing the bulk of the action behind the plate he has a shot at breaking Mike Piazza's franchise record for home runs in a season by a catcher (22).
May 31 2017Hedges is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Cubs.Outside of his two-hit game Tuesday night, Hedges has been scuffling at the plate over the past couple weeks, so he'll head to the bench for a day off. Luis Torrens will assume catching duties in his stead.
May 31 2017Hedges led the Padres' offense Tuesday, going 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and four RBI in a 6-2 win over the Cubs.The 24-year-old broke out of his 10-game slump (.125/.176/.125) in a big way, driving in a career-high four runs while increasing his career-high in homers to nine as well. Over the past two seasons, Hedges has shown an ability to dominate Triple-A pitching, only to struggle in the majors. Unsurprisingly, the backstop has provided production right down the middle of his minor- and major-league splits in his first full season as the Padres' starter. If fantasy owners can stomach Hedges' low batting average, his nine homers and 25 RBI rank second among all catchers.
May 28 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Sunday against the Nationals.Hedges has made three straight starts behind the plate, but it will be Luis Torrens that gets the nod to catch Jhoulys Chacin in Sunday's series finale.
May 24 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Mets.It looks to be a routine night off for Hedges, who had been behind the dish for the last four games and 11 of the last 12 contests. Luis Torrens will receive a rare nod behind the plate, catching for Jarred Cosart.
May 18 2017Hedges is not in the Padres' lineup Thursday.The backstop takes a seat as Luis Torrens takes his place. Hedges is batting just .216/.277/.448 on the year in 138 plate appearances but is tied for first with Salvador Perez among backstops with eight home runs heading into Thursday games. He should be back in action Friday.
May 12 2017Hedges went 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI in Friday's 6-3 win over the White Sox.The jack was Hedges' eighth of the season. The catcher is certainly an asset in the power department, but not much more than that -- he holds a .196/.250/.458 slash line. Of note, however, is his .178 BABIP; it is likely he'll get over the Mendoza line at some point soon.
May 10 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Wednesday against the Rangers.Hedges is in the midst of a 3-for-25 skid at the dish, so he'll take a seat Wednesday to clear his head. Luis Torrens will step in behind the plate and bat ninth in the order.
May 8 2017Hedges went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 5-1 victory over the Rangers.Believe it or not, but Hedges was 0-for-13 in May coming into this game, and the two-hit performance raised his ugly slash line to .188/.248/.438 on the year. While the 24-year-old does have some thump in his lumber, he's always been known as more of a defensive specialist behind the plate and should only be an option in deep NL-only or two-catcher leagues.
May 5 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Dodgers.Hedges will receive a normal off day while the switch-hitting Hector Sanchez will take his spot behind the plate. The 24-year-old catcher has been solid defensively this season, but he's also struggled with the bat, slashing .182/.232/.420 to go along with six home runs in 96 plate appearances.
Apr 27 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Thursday against the Diamondbacks, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Hedges has shown tremendous power at the plate lately. Over the last seven games he's slugged four home runs and notched nine RBI across 22 at-bats. He'll get the night off as the Padres opt to start Luis Torrens at catcher.
Apr 24 2017Hedges went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and two RBI in Monday's 7-6 loss to the Diamondbacks.After a terrible start, Hedges now has six home runs in his last eight games and has his average up to .183. The 24-year-old was always a defense-first backstop, but he made considerable strides with the bat in the minors last season, giving the Padres and fantasy owners hope that he could contribute at the plate in his first full season as the starter. The homer binge won't last, but it's a reminder that he can provide offensively for stretches in two-catcher and deep NL-only leagues.
Apr 23 2017Hedges is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins.The red hot Hedges, who has hit a home run in three consecutive games, will head to the bench Sunday and be replaced by Luis Torrens. The young catcher should be back in the lineup Monday against the Diamondbacks.
Apr 21 2017Hedges went 2-for-3 with a solo home run in Thursday's victory over the Diamondbacks.The young catcher got off to a slow start to the season, but he's been able to turn things around over the past week. In his past six starts, Hedges has batted .350 while launching three home runs, raising his batting average from .037 up to .170.
Apr 18 2017Hedges had his strongest offensive performance of the season Monday, going 2-for-3 with a double, a home run and two RBI in a 5-4 loss to the Braves.The homer was Hedges' second in as many games, and he now has six hits over his last four. After an abysmal 0-for-23 start to the season, the 24-year-old catcher is starting to deliver on some of the offensive promise he showed at the Triple-A level last season. His slash line is still an unappealing .158/.238/.368, but Hedges could be worth a look in deeper formats, especially considering how fickle the catcher position can be in fantasy.
Apr 16 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Sunday against the Braves.Hedges has caught four straight games for San Diego, but will take a seat in favor of Hector Sanchez for the afternoon matchup.
Apr 11 2017Hedges went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's loss to the Rockies. He remains hitless in 27 plate appearances.The 24-year-old is starting to look more like a hitter who owns a .144 career batting average as opposed to the player who slashed .326/.353/.597 in Triple-A last season. With Hector Sanchez (concussion) on the disabled list, there are no immediate threats to Hedges playing time, but fantasy owners could surely find a catcher on the waiver wire who has at least recorded a hit this season.
Apr 10 2017Hedges is out of the lineup Monday against the Rockies, Jenny Cavnar of Root Sports reports.Following six games and 22 plate appearances, Hedges is still hitless and has been fanned six times. With Hedges heading to the bench, Luis Torrens will make his first-ever major-league start behind the dish.
Apr 6 2017Hedges is not in the Padres' Thursday lineup, Bob Scanlan of FOX Sports reports.Hedges suited up Wednesday night and will occupy a spot on the pine in Thursday's afternoon contest. Expect him to return to the starting card Friday.
Mar 30 2017Hedges had a big day at the plate Wednesday, going 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBI in a spring training tie against the White Sox.The young catcher had been mired in a 1-for-20 slump since returning from a minor hamstring injury, so Wednesday's outburst is a good sign that he is back on track as we approach Opening Day. Even with his mid-spring slump, Hedges boasts a .310/.341/.524 slash line through 17 games, numbers closer to his excellent 2016 Triple-A numbers (.326/.353/.597). The 24-year-old will handle the Padres' starting catcher duties, making him an intriguing deep-league target in the event he breaks out in his first year as a full-time starter.
Mar 17 2017Hedges is batting fifth and catching in Friday's Cactus League game.The 24-year-old has been limited to light activities over the past week while recovering from a tweaked hamstring, but it appears all systems are go moving forward. Hedges is off to a blazing start this spring, hitting .474 with three doubles in eight games. He's expected to be the everyday catcher for the Padres this season after racking up 21 home runs and 82 RBI with Triple-A El Paso last year.
Mar 12 2017Hedges (hamstring) is hitting again Sunday but is still being held out of base-running and conditioning drills, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.The backstop swung without issue on Saturday, and although the issue has been deemed to be fairly minor, Hedges still is taking things slowly as of now. As long as he experiences no setbacks, Hedges should be able to return to game action relatively soon, although a firmer timetable should become evident once he begins to run again.
Mar 11 2017Hedges (hamstring) will take swings Saturday, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.He is still not ready to return to game action, but he is trending in the right direction. Hedges posted monster numbers in the Pacific Coast League last year, and has become a trendy late-round target in two-catcher leagues, but it is unclear how much of his success will translate against big league pitching in more neutral hitting environments.
Mar 10 2017Hedges was held back from normal work Friday with a hamstring injury, but it's not considered serious, Jeff Sanders of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.The Friars' starting backstop will be handled with care heading into the regular season, and this looks like a temporary setback. After adding ample offense to his defensive prowess last season (326/.353/.597 with 21 homers and 82 RBI with Triple-A El Paso), the 24-year-old has the makings of a deep mixed league sleeper in two-catcher games, though he'll endure bumps in his second year of extensive MLB work.
Feb 9 2017Hedges is projected to be the starting catcher for the Padres this season, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.With the club shipping Derek Norris to Washington, Hedges is next in line to start games behind the dish. He hasn't done much offensively in his two brief stints in the majors, slashing .161/.206/.236 in 178 plate appearances. That being said, batting .326/.353/.597 with 21 homers and 82 RBI with Triple-A El Paso last season shows that there is some potential in his bat at the major league level. Even is Hedges doesn't hit out of the gates, his defensive abilities should keep him in the lineup on a regular basis.
Sep 29 2016Hedges is not in the starting lineup Thursday against the Dodgers.The 24-year-old was called up last Wednesday and had started five of the six games for which he's been with the club. Tonight, he'll give way to Derek Norris, who's hitting sixth. Known primarily as a defense-first prospect before this year, Hedges enjoyed a smashing season at Triple-A El Paso (.326/.353/.597, with 21 home runs in 334 plate appearances). Catchers often take a bit longer to grow into their hitting tools as they progress through a system, and even during their big-league career. He can contribute some last-ditch counting stats if you're struggling at the end of this season. Hedges also now boasts an intriguing package that could vault him into the Pads' starting backstop role -- and starting consideration in two-catcher fantasy leagues -- out of the gate next season.
Sep 21 2016Hedges was recalled from Triple-A El Paso on Wednesday.Long known as one of the best young defensive catchers in professional baseball, it has taken a while for Hedges to develop himself into a competent hitter. It remains to be seen how much of his 2016 production should be attributed to the advantageous hitting conditions of the Pacific Coast League, but on paper it looks to be a breakout campaign. Hedges hit .326/.353/.597 with 21 home runs and a 15.3 percent K-rate in 334 plate appearances with El Paso. He has a chance to be the Padres' starting catcher heading into 2017, and if a fragment of his offensive production carries over against big league pitching he could be useful in a wide range of formats next year. Look for him to start a handful of games down the stretch, offering the potential for a home run or two by season's end.
Jul 10 2016Hedges finished off an amazing first half with Triple-A El Paso, going 3-5 with a double, two home runs and 8 RBI.Hedges continues to tear up Triple-A, still awaiting a call back up to San Diego. With Derek Norris a potential option to be traded as the deadline nears, that time could come very soon. Even if Norris isn't traded, Hedges has shown that he has nothing left to prove at Triple-A. He ends the first half with 16 home runs and 53 RBI in only 141 at-bats.
Jul 6 2016Hedges remains hot at Triple-A El Paso, earning him his second straight Pacific Coast League Player of the Week honors.Over his past 10 games with El Paso, Hedges is hitting .425 with seven home runs and 21 RBI. The 23-year-old, who has always been known as a defensive-first catcher, is starting to look very comfortable at the plate. On the season in just 137 at-bats, Hedges is hitting a healthy .385 with 14 home runs and 41 RBI. Another positive sign in his numbers is his low strikeout rate (14.2%). In dynasty leagues, owners may have given up on Hedges as he struggled in his short stint with the Padres last season, so this might be the last chance to buy low. With the Padres considering trading Derek Norris at the trade deadline, Hedges could be catching in San Diego sooner than later.
Jun 22 2016Hedges collected three hits, including a home run and four RBI for Triple-A El Paso Tuesday.Hedges continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .361 with three home runs and nine RBI in his last 10 games. Hedges, not really known for his hit tool, should see time behind the plate with the Padres at some point this season. In limited time with the Padres last season, Hedges hit only .168 with three home runs and 11 RBI in 137 at-bats.
May 23 2016Hedges (hand) is heading to extended spring training this week as he progresses in his rehab, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Hedges, who had his cast removed last week, will also start taking dry swings soon as he ramps up his recovery effort. Although there is no timetable for his return, the young catcher is clearly on the right track.
May 18 2016Hedges (hand) had his cast removed and is slated to play catch Wednesday, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.There is still no apparent change in his original timetable that had him returning to action in late May or early June. It's possible that he could head out on a rehab assignment in a week or two, but the team has not yet offered any updates on his status.
Apr 27 2016Hedges (hand) will undergo surgery on his hand and will be out four-to-six weeks, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.Hedges was originally given a timetable of six-to-eight weeks, but apparently things are better than initially expected, which could allow the catcher to return a bit sooner. Hedges was performing well with Triple-A El Paso, batting .333 with two home runs, so if he can return to that form and prove that his bat is on par with his defense, he could get the call to the big leagues once he's healthy.
Apr 26 2016Contrary to a previous report, Hedges has a hamate bone fracture, and will miss six-to-eight weeks, MLB.com's AJ Cassavell reports.It was originally reported as a hand contusion, but the injury ended up being more serious. Hedges' defensive skills are unquestioned, but he still needs to show he can be even a mediocre hitter in the big leagues. He was off to a good start prior to the injury, slashing .333/.385/.583 with two home runs in 10 games at Triple-A, and could get recalled this summer once he is healthy, especially if Derek Norris gets traded.
Apr 23 2016Hedges was placed on the 7-day, minor league DL on Saturday due to a hand contusion, Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.After Christian Bethancourt won the backup catching gig to Derek Norris this spring, Hedges was assigned to Triple-A El Paso, where he's spent the entirety of the season. Prior to the injury, Hedges put together a .333/.385/.583 line with two homers, nine RBI, and seven runs in 36 at-bats.
Apr 2 2016Hedges was assigned to Triple-A El Paso on Saturday.Christian Bethancourt has earned the backup catching job as spring training comes to a close, so Hedges, who hit well during Cactus League play, will open the year at Triple-A, where he spent roughly half of last season.
Mar 24 2016Hedges will likely start the season with Triple-A El Paso, the Union-Tribune's Dennis Lin reports.Christian Bethancourt apparently beat out Hedges for the backup catcher's job behind starter Derek Norris. Hedges owns a .300/.391/.650 slash line through 23 plate appearances in the Cactus League, but he posted an ugly .168/.215/.248 line over 152 plate appearances with the Padres last season.
Oct 3 2015Hedges went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in a 2-1 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday.Hedges is a defense-first catcher and his numbers show that thus far. In 133 at-bats, Hedges is hitting .165 with a dreadful .214 OBP. He also has very little power, with only three homers and two doubles all season. Hedges will be a good real-life baseball player for the Padres, but will have very little fantasy value in years to come.
Jun 16 2015Hedges hit his first career home run Tuesday against the A's.He finished with just one hit and is hitting just .107 on the season, so while it was nice to see him hit his first homer, he is still a pretty unappealing fantasy option.
May 5 2015Hedges will make his first big league start Wednesday against San Francisco, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.Hedges was called up Monday but had a rude awakening to major league pitching as his first career at-bat came against Madison Bumgarner, who struck out the rookie on four pitches. With the Padres playing a day game Wednesday after Tuesday's night game, Hedges will get the start behind the plate for Derek Norris.
May 4 2015Hedges' contract was selected by the Padres on Monday.Hedges was expected to be recalled from the minors Monday, and that will indeed be the case. He's considered the club's top pitching prospect, and he forced his way to the majors by batting .324/.392/.521 with two home runs and 15 RBI over 21 games this season with Triple-A El Paso.
May 3 2015Hedges will be called up for Monday's game against the Giants, MLB.com's Corey Brock reports.The 22-year-old Hedges is the top catching prospect in San Diego's organization. His minor league batting statistics didn't quite reflect that status until this season, but he currently owns a .343/.413/.552 slash line over 75 plate appearances for Triple-A El Paso, with two home runs, eight strikeouts and eight walks. Hedges is still more highly regarded for his work behind the plate, which means he could carve out a lengthy big league career if he can merely hold his own in the batter's box. For now, Hedges will likely serve as the top backup to Derek Norris, who is off to a fantastic start of his own this season. It's possible the Padres will temporarily keep three catchers, but in all likelihood, Wil Nieves is looking at a demotion.
Mar 24 2015Hedges was reassigned to minor league camp on Tuesday, the Union-Tribune's Dennis Lin reports.He was not expected to make the big league team out of camp, so this does not come as a surprise. The Padres will likely settle for simply mediocre offense from Hedges, considering he profiles as perhaps the best defensive catcher in the game during his peak. If he can make minor strides offensively in the upper levels of the minor leagues, a mid-season call-up could be in order, but he is unlikely to every have much fantasy value.
Aug 8 2014Hedges, 21, is batting .232/.274/.344 with six home runs and 41 RBI through 98 games for Double-A San Antonio.The OBP is pretty abysmal, as it is very clear Hedges is still lacking with the bat as well as his plate discipline. He will likely end up being a much better actual player than fantasy player for the Padres.
Jan 27 2014Hedges will receive a non-roster invitation to Padres spring training, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports.Yasmani Grandal's recovery from an ACL reconstruction in early August of 2013 should allow him to be ready for Opening Day, but the Padres are opting to bring an intriguing catching prospect into the fold this spring. Hedges will otherwise have to contend with Nick Hundley and Rene Rivera for time at the backstop, but in order to receive the necessary reps as he enters his age-22 season, Hedges is expected to start 2014 where he ended last year: at Double-A San Antonio.