Andre

Lipcius

Teel and Quero are the big names here, as they are two of the top catching prospects in baseball. Both have a chance to make their MLB debut this summer, with Teel being the better bet for fantasy success early on. That’s more compliment to Teel than insult to Quero.

Lipcius, 26, got off to a great start with the Dodgers’ Triple-A club last season and made a case for a callup when Max Muncy was sidelined, but he cooled off and never did get a chance with the major league team. Overall, he hit .271/.351/.458 with 25 homers in 140 games. His lone major league experience came with the Tigers in 2023, when he hit .286/.342/.400 in 38 plate appearances. There isn’t a lot of upside here, but he probably would have been one of the White Sox’s best players had he been with the club last year. If younger players fail to emerge, he might get a chance to step in somewhere; he has experience at third, second, first and in left field.

Lipcius went unclaimed on waivers after being removed from the Dodgers’ 40-man roster last weekend. The 25-year-old infielder will open the season back at Triple-A Oklahoma City as extra organizational depth.

The club needed to free up a spot on their 40-man roster for Daniel Hudson and unfortunately Lipcius drew the short straw this time around. Lipcius had been acquired from the Tigers in early March after they had designated him for assignment as well, so perhaps there will be interest on waivers this time around as well.

The Dodgers are narrowing down their roster sooner than most around the league as they’re opening the season against the Padres in South Korea. There were no huge surprises among this batch of cuts, though Gage could have potentially pushed for a spot in the club’s Opening Day bullpen — especially with Brusdar Graterol and Blake Treinen slowed by minor injuries.

Lipcius was DFA’d by the Tigers last week. The 25-year-old had a .742 OPS in 38 plate appearances in his major league debut last season, and he’s come in at .281/.371/.430 in 144 career games in Triple-A. Primarily a second and third baseman, he’s added some outfield duties to increase his versatility as he looks at a potential career as a bench player. He won’t have a chance to make the Dodgers unless an injury opens up a spot.

It’d be surprising if Lipcius is not claimed soon. The 25-year-old was removed from the 40-man roster to make room for Buddy Kennedy. In his first season in the majors, Lipcius hit a respectable .742 OPS with a HR in 38 plate appearances as a rookie with the Tigers.

The 25-year-old rookie infielder smacked an RBI single off of Jesse Scholtens in the third inning that extended the Tigers’ lead 3-0. Both of his hits in the ballgame were singles. He has impressed in his limited time with the Tigers so far — slashing .300/.300/.450 with a homer and three RBI in his first 20 plate appearances.

Many would have rather seen the Tigers give Colt Keith or Justyn-Henry Malloy a shot this month, but the 25-year-old Lipcius is instead getting the opportunity after hitting .272/.363/.419 in Triple-A. He made good tonight, hitting a ball 399 feet. It was his lone hit to go along with three strikeouts in five at-bats.

With rosters expanding on Friday, Lipcius receives his first call-up to the majors after slashing .273/.365/.415 with 11 homers and one steal across 441 plate appearances over 103 games this season between Triple-A Toledo and High-A West Michigan.