MLB Player News

The Royals announced Thursday infielder Pedro Ciriaco has accepted an outright assignment to Triple-A Omaha. He was designated for assignment Saturday.

First returns on the decision made by the Diamondbacks to start Chris Owings over Didi Gregorius at shortstop: Not bad.

Owings has displayed no power this season with just one extra-base hit in 37 at-bats and a major league homerless streak that has reached 92 at-bats. But he is batting .297 with three stolen bases.

He is also trending downward. Owings has just three hits in his last 19 at-bats. His lack of power indicates that he must improve his patience at the plate and ability to make consistent contact. He has just one walk with eight strikeouts.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon didn't waste any time getting his team on the scoreboard Tuesday against the Tigers, as he hit a leadoff home run off Max Scherzer in the bottom of the first, putting Los Angeles up 1-0. It was Gordon's first home run.

Gordon finished the game 2 for 5. He's hit safely in six of eight games. Gordon is batting .357 (10 for 28) with one home run, two doubles, four RBI, four runs, two walks and three stolen bases in eight games.

Mets infielder Ruben Tejada picked up his first multi-hit performance of the season Tuesday, in a 4-0 win over the Braves.   

Tejada went 2 for 3 in the game, driving in one run with each single. He also scored twice and walked once, while striking out once in the win.

Tejada raised has batting averaging to .286 on the season with Tuesday's performance, though he also boasts a .400 on-base percentage through seven games. 

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford played well Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, driving in two runs in a 7-3 win. Crawford brought in both runs in the fifth inning with a two-run single, and finished 2 for 4 in the game with two strikeouts.

Crawford is now hitting .261 in seven games, with a .393 on-base percentage thanks to five walks.   

The Royals have promoted right-hander Aaron Brooks to join their bullpen and designated infielder Pedro Ciriaco for assignment.

The 23-year-old Brooks has yet to make his major league debut.

Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts notched his first career three-hit game on Thursday against the Orioles.

Bogaerts, who batted fifth in the lineup, cranked out singles in the second, fourth and seventh innings, respectively. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored in a 4-3 victory. He has six hits in his first nine at-bats to start the season.

Emerging Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts has been placed in a power position in the lineup for the first time in his young career. He will bat fifth Thursday night againt Orioles left-hander Wei Yin-Chen.

Bogaerts is off to a promising start with two hits and three hits in two games for a .625 on-base percentage.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon will start Sunday Night against the Padres.

Gordon reached four times during his first start of the season. He's expected to platoon against right handers, but could work his way into more action if he gets off to a hot start. He'll hit eighth against Andrew Cashner. 

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings will break camp with the big-league team, beating out fellow shortstop Didi Gregorius. Gregorius will start the year in the minors, the team announced.

Owings batted .288/.351/.442 with one home run and six RBI over 52 Cactus League at-bats. He went 1 for 4 with a walk in Australia.