MLB Player News

Carlos Santana asked in the offseason to play third base to avoid being relegated to full-time designated hitter duties, but has admitted his concentration on defense has affected his hitting, per WTAM-1100.

Santana ended a 0-for-19 slide Sunday, but has been a mess at the plate since spring training began. He is still among the league leaders in walks with 14, but his stat line of .196/.383/.233 is not what the Indians are looking for in their cleanup hitter.

Reds first baseman Joey Votto hit a two-run, two-out homer off Francisco Liriano in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 3-0 win vs. Pittsburgh. Votto finished 1 for 3 with one walk and two strikeouts.

Votto hit his fourth home run a day after collecting a season-high four hits Tuesday. All of Votto's home runs have come during a six-game hitting streak. He is batting .450 (9 for 20) with eight RBI in his last six games.

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun suffered what appears to be a serious injury to his right leg late Tuesday, and it could be one that costs him considerable time.

According to MLB.com, Calhoun will be placed on the disabled list Wednesday with an ankle injury, suffered when he twisted the ankle running through first base trying to beat out a grounder. He had to be helped off the field and could hardly put weight on it as he was helped off the field.

The extent of the injury is not yet known, but it is serious enough to keep him out at least two weeks. Calhoun was batting .250/.297/.500 in his first 14 appearances of the season. 

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun put together a big game Tuesday against the A's, but it didn't end how he wanted as he limped off the field in the bottom of the 11th inning.

Calhoun hit his third home run of the season in the fourth inning, a two-run shot, and added two more hits and three runs scored overall. He went 3 for 6, but left the game in extra innings after appearing to tweak his ankle running through first base.

Calhoun needed a lot of help to get off the field, which isn't a good sign. No update was known on his status prior to the finish of the game, and he will likely be considered ay to day moving forward.  

Reds first baseman Joey Votto went 4 for 4 with one run and one RBI in his team's 7-5 win over the Pirates Tuesday. Votto's in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, and he now owns a .327 batting average in 51 at-bats.

Braves first baseman Freddie Freeman clubbed his fourth home run Sunday against the Nationals.

Freeman wasted no time getting to work against Washington. He hit a sacrifice fly in the first inning, and followed that up with a two-run homer in the second. He was later hit by a pitch, and doubled in another run.

Freeman finished 2 for 3, with two runs scored and four RBI.

Bryan Price received a thumbs-up from Joey Votto well before the slugger was planted in the second spot of the lineup for the Reds on Saturday against Tampa Bay, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Price broached the possibility in spring training with Votto, who was in favor of the move. His patience at the plate and propensity to take walks has made him a viable candidate. Votto walked 135 times and scored 101 runs last season while driving in just 73. He has only two RBI this year.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt went 0 for 4 and struck out twice in his team's 6-0 loss to the Dodgers Friday.

It was just the second hitless performance of the season for Goldschmidt, who owns an excellent .340/.404/.580 line with two home runs and eight RBI in 57 at-bats. He's played every inning of the season at first base while batting third in each game for the Diamondbacks.

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard went 1 for 2 with two walks and two runs in Friday's 6-3 win over the Marlins.

Normally a strikeout machine, Howard has drawn four walks without striking out once over his last two games. The last time the first baseman posted consecutive multiwalk games came all the way back in September 2011. He has hit .216/.356/.351 with one home run, four RBI and a 13:8 K:BB ratio in 37 at-bats.

Twins outfielder Chris Colabello went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI in his team's 10-1 win over the Royals Friday.

Colabello has been excellent in the first two weeks of the season, overcoming an 11:1 K:BB ratio to hit .308/.341/.513 with one home run and 14 RBI in 39 at-bats. He's the coleader in RBI in the majors along with White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu.