MLB Player News

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.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had a nice night at the plate Wednesday in an 8-7 walk-off win over the Orioles in the second game of the season. 

But while Longoria went 2 for 4 in the game, his best asset continues to be his defensive play at third base. Longoria made countless stops that could have saved runs on Wednesday after coming up with a great play in Tuesday's opener. 

Longoria singled twice Wednesday and has started the season 3 for 8 (.375) at the plate with a run scored. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe didn't collect any hits Wednesday in a walk-off win over the Tigers. He stole his first base of the season, however. 

Plouffe went 0 for 2 with two walks and a strikeout in the game. He came around to score on a Wilkin Ramirez double in the seventh. Plouffe is batting .167 on the year after going 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored in the opener. 

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar took over at shortstop late in Wednesday's game against the Tigers. He ended up playing the role of the hero. 

Escobar, who took over for Pedro Florimon, the starter, blasted a walk-off double to left-center field off Phil Coke in the bottom of the ninth to send the Twins to victory, 3-2. He drove in the game-tying and winning runs. 

Escobar went 1 for 1 in the game and is now 1 for 2 on the season. The 24-year-old has come off the bench in both games. 

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who has never hit higher than sixth in his young MLB career, is embracing manager Buck Showalter's decision to bat him second in Tuesday's season opener at Tampa Bay.

"Buck does everything for a reason," Machado said. "He's trusting me and he has faith. He's going to put the best nine guys out there, nine guys who are going to help this team win, so that definitely boosts my confidence going into opening day, knowing that your manager and your teammates have faith in you. It's going to be great. I'm excited for it and I'm excited to get the season going."