MLB Player News

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria, who was given a start at designated hitter Wednesday in Texas, has hit well to begin the year with a .370 average entering the game. That said, this is the deepest into a season Longoria has ever gone without hitting a home run, MLB.com reports. 

"I just think they're not giving him pitches to hit for power with," manager Joe Maddon said. "That's part of the issue. His swing is outstanding. He's probably fouled back his pitch a couple of times. I think he looks really good at the plate also. I like his willingness to take the ball the other way right now. That's part of what I'd like to see us do more consistently. We talked about it last year. There's a lot of good stuff in the opposite field."

Longoria does not have any extra-base hits to this point with just three RBI and a .357 slugging percentage. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria made his first start of the season at DH Wednesday at Texas. Manager Joe Maddon told reporters it was planned because of Thursday's off-day and we could see a similar trend before or after off days this season.

Longoria entered play Wednesday batting .370 (10 for 27) with no extra-base hits and two RBI in eight games.

Eduardo Escobar made just his second start of the season Tuesday at Kansas City, but he was one of the few Twins' players to make an impact in a 7-4 loss. Escobar homered and drove in two runs, while going 3 for 4.

"I want to make sure everybody gets involved," manager Ron Gardehire said, per MLB.com. "'We'll mix it up and try to score more runs."

Despite heading into the season with just 51 games of experience at the major-league level, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado was still lauded enough for his baseball acumen that he was installed as the No. 2 hitter in the lineup.

After starting the year with at least one strikeout in his first three games, Machado has sliced down on his whiffs and tallied just one strikeout in his past three outings while producing his first multihit performance in that span.

"You know, I'm a big leaguer and everyone here knows what they have to do in each position where you hit in the order," Machado told MASNsports.com about hitting second. "It's baseball mentality and everyone here has it. ... These are things you already should know."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria reached base four times in a loss to Texas Monday. 

The All-Star third baseman went 3 for 3 to raise his average to .417. All three hits were singles and he scored a run.

Longoria has hit in all but one game with three multi-hit games. But he's yet to get his first extra-base hit and has just two RBI. 

Rangers prospect Mike Olt has struggled to get things going early on at Triple-A Round Rock.

After doubling in the season debut, Olt has gone 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last three games. He is batting .167 (1 for 16) with an RBI, two walks and 10 strikeouts through four games.

Olt played 16 games last season for the Rangers and hit .152/.250.182 with five RBI in 33 at-bats.

After driving in three runs in his last two games, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson failed to make much of an impact during Sunday's series finale against the Astros.

He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Donaldson is mired in a 3-for-25 slump in his first seven games played. The A's will face the Angels and the Tigers this week. He hit .200/.226/.340 with a homer and two RBI in 50 at-bats against the Angels and .286/.375/.357 with two RBI in 14 at-bats against the Tigers last season.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar finished 2 for 4 with an RBI during his first start of the season in Minnesota's 9-5 loss to Baltimore on Friday. Escobar had served only as a pinch hitter in two of the first three games of the season before being inserted at shortstop against the Orioles.

"We have to mix it up a little bit and get everybody some at-bats," Gardenhire told MLB.com about Escobar's appearance.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 4 with his first RBI of the season during Baltimore's 9-5 victory over Minnesota on Friday. Machado continues to serve as the second hitter in the Orioles' lumbering batting order and has collected a hit in three of his first four games.

Friday's outing also represented the first time the 20-year-old did not strike out during a game as he is carrying a .167 batting average.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit his first home run of the season Thursday.

Plouffe hit a solo shot off Rick Porcello in the fourth inning. Plouffe hit 24 home runs in just 464 plate appearances last season, and could be in line for more now that he's in a full-time role.