MLB Player News

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo has gotten off to a promising start in 2014 after batting .233 with a .419 slugging percentage in 2013. The Cubs feel Rizzo's turnaround is part of the maturation process for a young player.

"He’s maturing," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said, per CSN Chicago. "He’s gaining more and more confidence. He’s hitting the ball to all fields now. He obviously has the strength that if he gets a pitch to handle, he can drive it out of the ballpark."

Rizzo has really stepped up his performance against left-handed pitchers. He is batting .394 with a .697 slugging percentage against lefties, which is well above his career average of .212 and .380 slugging percentage.

"He’s just basically not panicking in those situations anymore," Renteria said. "He’s just growing up. He worked very hard over the winter, worked very hard in the spring. I think he’s making a tremendous mental adjustment as to how he wants to approach pitchers. He kind of knows what they’re trying to do with him. All those things that come with maturation and growing and learning."

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard entered Sunday's game against the Nationals on pace to produce 34 home runs and 98 RBI. He hasn't approached those numbers since 2011.

Despite the promising start from the veteran first baseman, Howard feels he still has room to improve.

"It's still a work in progress," he said, per MLB.com. "I'm trying to progress every day and just try to get a little more comfortable."

White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu did it again. The Cuban slugger belted his 12th home run and third in seven games during a 4-3 win Sunday against the Indians.

Abreu wasted little time making an impact Sunday, as he hit a two-out solo home run off Corey Kluber in the top of the first inning, putting Chicago up 1-0. It was his only hit in four at-bats, as he struck out three times.

Abreu is batting .317 (20 for 63) with five doubles, eight home runs and 20 RBI in his last 15 games. He also has 14 runs, 19 strikeouts and two walks in that span.

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron celebrated a promotion to the majors Saturday by going 3 for 5 with a double and two RBI in his major-league debut as the Angels went on to defeat the Rangers, 5-3.

Cron began his career with an RBI single in the first inning and delivered another RBI single in the sixth to break a 3-3 tie. One of the top prospects in the Angels system, Cron hit .319/.369/.602 with six home runs and 26 RBI in 113 at-bats with Triple-A Salt Lake before his promotion.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was just 1 for 4 Saturday, but he delivered a three-run home run in the first inning of his team's 7-2 win over the Nationals.

Howard gave the team all the offense it would need in the eventual win before coming up empty in his next three at-bats, which included two strikeouts. He has hit .255/.328/.481 with six home runs and 17 RBI in 106 at-bats.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun told reporters he's hoping to start a minor-league rehab assignment in approximately two weeks, the Orange County Register reports. Calhoun has been sidelined since April 15 with a ligament sprain in his ankle.

Calhoun was given a four-to-six-week timetable and is no longer in a walking boot. He batted .250 with three home runs and six RBI in 60 at-bast before the injury.

The Angels announced several roster moves prior to Saturday's game against the Rangers, the Orange County Register reports. Outfielder J.B Shuck was optioned down to Triple-A Salt Lake City while first baseman C.J. Cron and third baseman Luis Jimenez were called up from Triple-A and inserted into the starting lineup.

Cron is considered as one of the team's top prospects. The 24-year-old .319 with six home runs and 26 RBI in the minors this season. Jimenez hit .304 with seven homers and 15 RBI at Triple-A.

Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is on a power surge. He hit his third home run in three games Saturday against St. Louis. The difference this time around is that it came against a left-hander.

Rizzo turned on an inside fastball against Cardinals reliever Randy Choate and lined it over the right field wall. He has six runs and six RBI in his last three games combined and has elevated his average from .275 to .296 following a mini-slump at the end of April.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana clubbed a home run Friday against the White Sox.

Santana got things going early, doubling in his first plate appearance. In the bottom of the second inning, he took a John Danks cutter, and sent it out to left for a solo shot. Santana would also walk later in the game. 

He finished 2 for 4, with three runs scored and two RBI. 

A hitless streak that has reached 13 at-bats and a matchup against Mariners stud Felix Hernandez has Astros first baseman Chris Carter benched Friday night.

Carter has one hit in seven career at-bats against King Felix. He is batting .153 on the season with 37 strikeouts in 85 at-bats.