MLB Player News

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.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon is hoping to seize the job at second this year, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Gordon believes he's more equipped now to handle the job. "They’ve given it to me and I’m going to seize it this time," Gordon said. "I didn’t seize it in the past. I was too immature or didn’t know myself."

He added that he believes he's ready now. "I’m ready to play for a high-profile club. I can play every day and I’m going to do what I can to show them I’m persistent and I’m accountable."

The 25-year-old is hitting .295 in 44 at-bats this spring. He's currently involved in a platoon.

The Padres optioned infielder Ryan Jackson and outfielder Alex Castellanos to Triple-A El Paso Monday, while also reassigning outfielder Alex Dickerson and pitchers Tony Sipp, Kevin Quackenbush and Blaine Boyer to minor-league camp.

Dodgers infielder Dee Gordon got the start at second base in the team's second game in Sydney, Australia Saturday, and made the most of his opportunity.

Gordon reached base four times in five trips Saturday, with three singles -- one double -- and a hit by pitch. He scored twice and drove in one run in a 7-5 win.

Gordon has struggled in his major-league career, batting just .256 in 181 games, but will be in a timeshare at second base to open the season. 

Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado is batting cleanup in his team's regular-season opener against the Dodgers in Australia.

Prado made 28 of his 149 starts last season in the No. 4 spot in the order, batting .296/.349/.470 in 115 at-bats from that spot in the lineup. The entire Diamondbacks lineup: CF A.J. Pollock, 2B Aaron Hill, 1B Paul Goldschmidt, 3B Prado, LF Mark Trumbo, C Miguel Montero, SS Chris Owings, RF Gerardo Parra, P Wade Miley.

The Dodgers will open the season with veteran Justin Turner starting at second base Saturday against the Diamondbacks, with Dee Gordon coming off the bench.

Turner finished the spring batted .355 in 23 at-bats, second on the team among hitters with as many trips to the plate. Gordon was productive as well, with a .286 batting average and nine stolen bases in 42 at-bats, and will likely still see playing time moving forward. 

Veteran reliever Ross Ohlendorf headlines a group of Nationals sent to Triple-A Syracuse on Thursday. The others are shortstop Zach Walters, catcher Jhonatan Solano and pitcher Christian Garcia. Dispatched to minor league camp were pitcher Manny Delcarmen , first baseman Brock Peterson and second baseman Will Rhymes were optioned to minor league camp.

Ohlendorf had experienced back spasms this spring that have limited him to one inning in which he surrendered two runs on four hits.