MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson hit a two-run homer off Reds starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo during Tuesday's 7-3 win. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs.

Donaldson, who has a career-high 11 home runs, is batting .333 (11 for 33) with one double, two home runs, four walks, six runs and six RBI in his last nine games.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said Monday the plantar fasciitis in third baseman Evan Longoria's right foot has improved enough for him to play third base on the turf at Tropicana Field, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Longoria was the team's DH for four games from June 13-16 on the team's last homestand because of the injury. He returned to the field for a home game Monday against the Blue Jays. Longoria had played the field in every game of the team's road trip from June 18-23.

"I think he's mellowing a little bit and understanding it's good for him to be able to do that," Maddon said. "I think there was a time that he just did not want to DH, period. A lot of young players don't want to DH because they're baseball players and belong on the field. However, when you play on this stuff here it's a different world, and even if you're chronologically young, this can totally beat down your body and make it old fast."

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt has slugged seven home runs in 21 games since returning to the lineup at Triple-A Round Rock after missing several weeks dealing with vision problems.

Olt is batting just .250 (20 for 80) in his last 21 games, but he has a .563 slugging percentage and .914 OPS in that span. Olt also has four doubles, 13 walks, 15 RBI and 17 runs since returning to the lineup.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria homered Saturday during a loss at New York. Longoria went deep for the 17th time this season. 

He took CC Sabathia deep in the second inning for a solo shot with no outs. He finished 2 for 3 with a walk. The Yankees intentionally walked him to get to rookie Wil Myers with the bases loaded. Myers delievered a grand slam. 

Longoria scored twice in the game and is batting .307. He's gone 7 for 15 over his last four games with a double, three homers and five RBI. 

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson had a big game Thursday against the Rangers, but a base-running mistake loomed large.

Donaldson went 3 for 5, including a ninth-inning single to represent the tying run with two outs. The next batter singled and Donaldson tried to score when the ball got away from the center fielder. He ran through the stop sign and was thrown out at the plate in a 4-3 loss.

 "As soon as I saw it hit his chest, I was gone," Donaldson said. "It took a perfect throw to get me. It sucks to lose a game that way, but you take that chance. It was frustrating because it was the worst outcome we could have had."

Donaldson is batting .309 with an .872 OPS in 275 at-bats. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit two homers and had reached 500 career RBI in Thursday's 8-3 win over the Yankees.

Longoria had solo homers off starter Andy Pettitte in the sixth inning and Joba Chamberlain. He finished 2 for 3 with a walk, two runs scored and three RBI, improving his batting average to .307.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar clubbed his third home run Thursday against the White Sox.

Escobar hit a solo shot in the fourth inning off John Danks. He was one of four Twins to homer off Danks. Escobar is now hitting .236.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had three singles in a 6-2 win over the Red Sox Wednesday.

Longoria was 3 for 5 with a run and RBI. He is hitting .304/.362/.539 in 280 at-bats. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado had another multi-hit game Tuesday in Detroit. Machado became the first player to 100 base hits this season with two in the 5-2 win. 

Machado, who leads the majors with 101 hits, went 2 for 5 with yet another double as he continues to lead the majors in two-baggers by a wide margin with 33. He's batting .324 and has five homers, 37 RBI and 46 runs scored. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria will play third base in the second game of Tuesday's doubleheader at Boston, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Longoria felt fine after starting at third in the opener. 

Longoria, who had been limited to playing designated hitter while he was dealing with plantar fasciitis, went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored in the 5-1 loss to the Red Sox in the opener. He's batting .303 on the year.