Nick

Dini

Dini appeared in 20 games with the Royals in 2019 and hasn’t been back to the big leagues since. He spent his 2022 season at Triple-A Syracuse with the Mets, slashing .232/.323/.446 with 11 homers and 37 RBI. He’ll add catching depth for the Rays.

Dini appeared in 20 games for the Royals during the 2019 campaign, but spent all of last season at Triple-A Omaha, hitting .303/.357/.494 with four homers across 98 plate appearances. The 28-year-old backstop will give the Mets some additional minor-league catching insurance next season.

Dini has tested positive for COVID-19 and will have to return two negative tests before he is allowed to rejoin the Royals. The 26-year-old catcher made his major league debut in 2019.

Dini was designated for assignment by Kansas City ahead of last week’s Rule 5 Draft protection deadline and passed through waivers unclaimed. He batted .196/.270/.357 in 20 games this past season with the Royals.

Dini hit well for Triple-A Omaha over 58 games with a .934 OPS, but hit just .196 over 20 games with the Royals last year. If he doesn’t accept his assignment to Triple-A Omaha, he’ll likely sign on as organizational depth with another organization.

The Royals’ emergency backstop is considered day-to-day. Prior to exiting he had been 1-for-3, including a two-run homer. He should get a few more games under his belt before the 2019 season comes to an end.

He went back-to-back with Nicky Lopez in the seventh. Dini’s homer came in his fourth start since he was called up 11 days ago. He’ll keep splitting time with Meibrys Viloria behind the plate; he’s the better hitter of the two, but Viloria is the greater defensive talent.

Dini stands just 5-foot-8, quite small for a major league catcher, but the former 14th-round pick has put up an excellent .296/.370/.565 batting line with 13 home runs and seven stolen bases in 58 games this season at the Triple-A level. The rebuilding Royals might as well test him with regular playing time down the stretch, and he could be of appeal in deeper fantasy leagues if the offensive production translates.