MLB Player News

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria continued his recent success at the plate on Monday, recording three hits in a 4-2 loss to the Royals in Kansas City.

Longoria doubled in the second, singled in the sixth and reached on an infield single in the ninth. He finished 3 for 4, raising his batting average to .414 on the year. He has a hit in all but one of his eight games played.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) will continue to go through baseball activities Sunday. If Machado checks out OK Monday, then he could progress to the next step in his rehab.

"His next step is hopefully running full speed," manager Buck Showalter said, per MLB.com. "The last thing he’s had yet to do is sprint. And to be able to do it the next day and the next day so to speak. I don’t know when that’s going to be."

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado continues to recover from a knee injury, and was able to do some baseball activities Thursday. Beyond running, it is not clear what these activities entailed, but MLB.com reports he felt good the following day.

Machade remains without a concrete timetable for his return from knee surgery, but it is a good sign that he has been cleared to begin running. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria didn't hit his first home run of the season until the 12th game a year ago, but he didn't feel like waiting that long this time around.

Longoria took Blue Jays reliever Esmil Rogers deep in the seventh inning for a three-run blast to cap off a 7-2 win. He finished the game 2 for 4 with one run scored and three driven in, while striking out in each of his other two at-bats.

Longoria is hitting .400 through the season's first four games, with three runs scored and four driven in. He hit 32 home runs a year ago.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe came up big on several occasions Thursday afternoon against the White Sox in Chicago.

Plouffe trimmed a two-run deficit in half with an RBI single in the seventh inning. He then tied the game with a run-scoring single off Matt Lindstrom in the ninth inning. He finished 2 for 4 with one walk, one run scored and two RBI in a 10-9 victory. He's hitting .533 (6 for 13) with five RBI in three games.

Royals manager Ned Yost said Danny Valencia could be in the starting lineup at third base on the days a left-handed starter is on the hill. However, manager Ned Yost wanted to stress it wasn't because of starting third baseman Mike Moustakas' struggles against left-handed pitchers.

"It's not because I don't think Moose can't hit a tough lefty. It's more trying to keep Danny sharp than it is worrying about Moose hitting against a lefty," Yost said, per MLB.com.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (knee) said Monday he still isn't sure when he will be able to play in a game.

"You want to, but you don't know how this is going to pan out," Machado said of putting a timetable on his return, per MASNsports.com. "The surgery I had for it, you can't put a timetable to it.

"I'm doing some stuff. Not necessarily running, but we're at the point that we need to start strengthening it a little more, just to get back on the ground and start sprinting and getting back to 100 percent. Getting the quads stable enough to continue doing what I've been doing."

Rays left fielder David DeJesus will be the team's leadoff hitter for Monday's season opener against the Blue Jays. He will be followed by right fielder Wil Myers, second baseman Ben Zobrist, third baseman Evan Longoria, first baseman James Loney, center fielder Desmond Jennings, DH Matt Joyce, catcher Jose Molina and shortstop Yunel Escobar.

The Orioles made several roster moves Sunday as they finalized their opening day roster.

The Orioles placed four players on the 15-day disabled list. They were Michael Almanzar (left patellar tendinitis), infielder Manny Machado (knee surgery), outfielder Francisco Peguero (right wrist tendinitis) and outfielder Nolan Reimold (neck). They also placed pitcher Edgmer Escalona (shoulder) on the 60-day disabled list.

The Orioles also selected the contracts of outfielder Delmon Young and reliever Evan Meek, while pitcher Mike Belfiore was desginated for assignment and Johan Santana, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, was reassigned to minor-league camp.

Orioles infielder Manny Machado was able to take ground balls Tuesday, according to the Baltimore Sun.

Machado will begin the year on the disabled list, but the team has been quiet about a possible return date. As long as Machado continues to get through workouts with no issues, he could return shortly after the start of the year. Machado hit .283/.314/.432 in 667 at-bats last year.