MLB Player News

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."

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt , who is on the minor-league disabled list with an eye issue, began a hitting program with Triple-A hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

General manager Jon Daniels told ESPN Sunday that eye specialists have not been able to locate a problem with Olt's vision. Olt was hitting .139 with a home run and six RBI in 20 minor-league games.

"You always like to have answers," Daniels said. "You deal with what you have."

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his eighth home run, the decider in a 1-0 win Sunday over Houston.

Alvarez continues to struggle with his average (.201) and making contact (31.5 percent strikeout rate), but his power continues to show up. He's on pace for another 30 home run season with Sunday's blast.

The Orioles recalled third baseman Danny Valencia from Triple-A Norfolk Sunday before a game against the Rays, MLB.com reports. 

Valencia has hit .306 with 11 home runs over 171 plate appearances at Norfolk this season. He fills the team's need for a right-handed hitter with Nolan Reimold on the DL.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 4 in Saturday's victory over St. Louis.

Segura scored a run and had two RBI with his fourth triple. Segura is hitting .361/.404/.542 in 158 at-bats after he hit .258/.315/.325 in 151 at-bats last season.

Orioles third baseman Danny Valencia is expected to be recalled Sunday after not being in the lineup for Triple-A Norfolk Saturday, MASN Sports reports.

Valencia has hit .306/.339/.600 with 11 home runs in 171 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. He would fill the team's need for a right-handed hitter with Nolan Reimold on the disabled list.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson hit his sixth home run of the season Friday in a win over the Royals.

Donaldson hit a solo blast in the seventh inning off James Shields to score the first run of the game for the A's.

He finished 2 for 3 and is batting .323 on the year. Donaldson has hit in six straight games with three doubles, two homers and two RBI over that span.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado snapped a nine-game homerless streak Thursday, as he went deep in an 8-6 loss to the Giants.

Arenado went 1 for 4 in the game, with a solo home run, his first since May 5. He also struck out once.

Arenado is batting .259 since May 1, with three home runs and seven runs scored. 

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez stole the third base of his career Thursday night against the Brewers as part of a 0-for-2 day that also featured one walk and one run scored.

Alvarez entered play Thursday with just two steals in 354 games and 1,370 career plate appearances. He recorded one stolen base in each of the last two years. Alvarez has hit just .188/.237/.336 with six home runs in 139 plate appearances this season.

The Rockies recalled infielder DJ LeMahieu from Triple-A Colorado Springs prior to Thursday's game against the Giants. LeMahieu will available to play.

LeMahieu hit .364 with one home run and 22 RBI in 143 at-bats before being promoted.