MLB Player News

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe went 2 for 5 with a home run and two RBI in his team's 9-4 loss to the Red Sox Wednesday.

Plouffe smacked a double in the first inning, but he was unable to come around and score. His two-run home run came in the ninth inning to bring his team within five, but it was too little, too late. Plouffe has hit .252/.339/.415 with two home runs and 24 RBI in 147 at-bats.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in his team's 4-2 loss to the White Sox Wednesday.

Donaldson's fourth-inning home run put his team up 2-1, and it was a lead they would enjoy until the ninth inning, when a White Sox home run put the A's down for good. Donaldson has hit .267/.344/.491 with nine home runs and 28 RBI in 165 at-bats.

Scuffling Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe is catching a break Saturday against Detroit ace right-hander Max Scherzer.

Plouffe is hitless in his last 19 at-bats. His last hit was recorded on May 5.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado hit his first home run of the season Friday, in a 4-3 win over the Astros.

Machado, who has gotten off to a slow start since returning from a knee injury, was 1 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored, on a solo home run. He also struck out once, while raising his batting average to .161 in 31 at-bats.

Machado has his first home run and extra-base hit out of the way, and still has just one RBI in eight games.  

Royals infielder Danny Valencia came to life Wednesday, recording his first three-hit game of the season in an 8-0 win over the Padres.

Valencia went 3 for 5 in the game, with an RBI single in the first. He also added a double later, and also scored once in the win.

Valencia is hitting .273/.294/.394 in 10 appearances as a part-time player this season.  

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar picked the right moment to hit his first home run of the season, knocking a solo home run in the top of the 10th inning Monday to lead his team to a 1-0 win over the Indians.

Escobar came into the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning and remained in to play shortstop. He's done a great job in limited action this season, hitting .333/.370/.500 with one home run, six RBI and one stolen base in 42 at-bats.

Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said Sunday he doesn't have a primary shortstop, as he continues to rotate between Pedro Florimon and Eduardo Escobar. Danny Santana has also joined the mix after his promotion from the minors Saturday.

"Whoever is out there that day is my shortstop," Gardenhire said, per MLB.com. "I have confidence in anybody I put out there."

Gardenhire said he wants to give Florimon as many opportunities to start because of his defense, but his poor start offensively has kept him from being the everyday shortstop.

"He's been fighting it a little bit [offensively]," Gardenhire said. "You watch him with that glove and the way he makes it easy out there, and that's why you love him so much. But Esco has been swinging good, and Santana is ready to rock and roll. I can promise you that."

Whether or not Ned Yost terms his third base situation a platoon, it appears Mike Moustakas has been benched against left-handers. He is out again Saturday for the Royals against Detroit southpaw Drew Smyly with Danny Valencia taking his place.

Moustakas has struggled mightily against all pitchers. But he has just one hit all year against lefties.

The Indians have promoted middle infielder Jose Ramirez from Triple-A Columbus after placing second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.

Ramirez impressed during a short stint with Cleveland in 2013. It remains to be seen how much playing time he receives with veterans Mike Aviles and Ryan Raburn also on the roster.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was able to get through his first game of the season without any issues, according to the Baltimore Sun. 

Though Machado went 0 for 5 at the plate, he was able to show off his glove. "Manny saved us two or three runs tonight defensively," manager Buck Showalter said. Showalter said he kept asking Machado how he felt throughout the game. By the sixth inning, he knew Machado was fine.

Machado received a standing ovation in his first at-bat since knee surgery. As a rookie, he hit .283 in 667 at-bats.