MLB Player News

Orioles infielder Danny Valencia continued to hit well Saturday, homering for the second game in a row against the Blue Jays.

Valencia had a two-run shot off starter R.A. Dickey in the third inning of a 6-5 loss. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored.

Valencia is hitting .313 with at least a hit in his first four games. He has driven in four runs and scored three, with four extra-base hits. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has passed a concussion test, MLB.com reports.

Plouffe also did cardio work Friday without issue. He is expected to return from the seven-day concussion disabled list soon.

Rangers third base prospect Mike Olt has been cleared to return to game action, the Dallas Morning News reports.

Olt has been dealing with a vision issue and has not played since April 25. He was prescribed eyedrops and other medication and his condition has improved. Olt will go to extended spring training to work his swing back into form and then return to Triple-A Round Rock. There is no firm timetable for his return.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado enjoyed his 10th multi-hit game of May during Thursday's 12-6 loss to the Blue Jays.

Machado had three doubles, including a two-run hit in the third. He finished 3 for 4 with two RBI and became the only player since 1916 to have multiple three-double games before his 21st birthday.

Machado has a .345/.368/.560 line with three home runs and 12 RBI in 20 May games. He is hitting .330 in 203 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who is on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion, felt "a lot better" Thursday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

"No headaches or anything," Plouffe told the Pioneer Press. "I pretty much feel normal. As far as any timelines, it's still one step at a time."

Plouffe was scheduled to undergo a full-impact test Thursday to determine whether his injury was a concussion.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria admitted Wednesday he was nervous he wouldn't make it through a full season because his legs felt tired at season's outset.

"I felt pretty bad after the first week of the season, like 10 games in. I was kind of scared," Longoria said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "Because in spring training, you probably don't play three-four games in a row at the most toward the end of spring. Once we got like a week, 10 days into the season, I was feeling like, man, my legs were tired. And thoughts started to creep in about how you're going to do it for 162 days."

The Rays made the decision to use Longoria as the DH in an April 10 game against Texas and the slugger said he has felt better ever since. The Rays continue to use Longoria at DH every now and then, and it seems to be the formula to ease the 27-year-old's mind and keep him fresh. Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

"I haven't felt that fatigue," he said. "I feel like my legs are getting stronger and feeling better as the season goes on. And with that worry behind me, I can be focused on other things."

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was placed on the 7-day disabled list Wednesday, despite saying he was "feeling better" a day after getting kneed in the head as he attempted to break up a double play. Plouffe showed sensitivity to light during an exam for concussion-related symptoms.

Plouffe is expected to get a few days off before taking a concussion test. 

"He took a good shot in the head. That's what this rule is for, to protect the player," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Give him a little bit of a break here and do what's right. He was a little woozy and that's why there was concern."

The Twins placed starting third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion Wednesday. Plouffe was injured in Tuesday's game against the Braves after taking a knee to the head.

Eduardo Escobar replaced Plouffe in Tuesday's game. Although no official announcement has been made, Escobar and Jamey Carroll will likely share time at third base in Plouffe's absence.

It's an unfortunate turn of events for Plouffe, who was getting on track offensively in May. He's batting .292 with a .477 slugging percentage, two home runs, six doubles and 13 RBI in 17 May games.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was forced out of Tuesday's game against the Braves after taking a knee to the head while sliding into second base to break up a double play in the 10th inning.

Plouffe went 1 for 4 with an RBI single in the eighth and was replaced by Eduardo Escobar. Plouffe likely will be further evaluated in the near future.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games Monday at Toronto. Longoria went 2 for 4 with one run, one double and two RBI.

"It's the best baseball I've seen him play day in and day out, offensively and defensively," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, per MLB.com. "Every thing about his game has been superb, and it's been fun to watch."

Longoria is batting .393 (22 for 56) with three home runs, eight doubles and 14 RBI during his hitting streak. He's now reached base in a major-league best 43 games this season.

"I think the big thing is not chasing," Maddon said. "You talk about that all the time. Once a major-league hitter establishes his own strike zone and forces a pitcher to come to him more than he permits the pitcher to dictate, that's when he becomes really good."