MLB Player News

Witt went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's loss to Detroit.

Witt turned in one of his strongest personal performances of the young season, recording his first three-hit game and first multi-XBH effort of the year. Thursday's showing raised the star shortstop's OPS to .708, though he has yet to homer. His numbers have been trending upward, as Witt is slashing .313/.371/.469 over his past eight games with five doubles, five RBI, three runs and a stolen base, leaving little cause for concern with the 25-year-old.

Peete hit for the cycle in High-A Peoria's win over Wisconsin on Thursday.

Peete actually had only one hit (a double) entering the seventh inning, but he was part of an offensive explosion late in the game and completed his cycle in the ninth with a triple. Acquired from the Mariners over the offseason in the Brendan Donovan trade, Peete is slashing .256/.360/.605 with three home runs and one stolen base in his first 10 contests with Peoria. The 20-year-old has a 26.0 percent strikeout rate, which is high but is down from last year's 30.6 percent mark. Making enough contact will likely be the determining factor in whether Peete reaches his high ceiling.

Holliday (wrist) will resume a rehab assignment with High-A Frederick this weekend, his father -- former big leaguer Matt Holliday -- said Thursday on Cardinal Territory.

Holliday had been at Triple-A Norfolk earlier this week but got pulled off his rehab stint due to soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist. Matt revealed that the soreness was on the opposite side of the wrist from where his son had hamate surgery and was likely a result of overcompensating. It is not viewed as a significant setback, and Holliday could return to Norfolk as soon as Tuesday as he ramps up his rehab.

Cruz went 2-for-5 with an RBI, a double, a run scored and two stolen bases Thursday against the Nationals.

Cruz started his fifth straight game with a lefty starter on the mound, and he's only been benched once against southpaws this season. He continued his hot start to the campaign, doubling in a run in the fifth inning. Cruz also swiped two bases, giving him nine across 19 games while being caught just once.

Williams and Atlanta agreed on a minor-league contract Thursday.

Williams elected free agency Wednesday after being designated for assignment by Atlanta on Monday, but he will now return to the organization. The 29-year-old will look to impress with Triple-A Gwinnett in an attempt to potentially earn another shot with the major-league roster later this year.

Brito went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.

Brito swung a hot stick upon his call-up from Triple-A Columbus, going 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles in his first three games in the wake of Gabriel Arias' hamstring injury, which will keep him sidelined until mid-May at the earliest. Brito has moved in the other direction lately, going 1-for-18 with two walks and eight strikeouts over his last six contests.

Duran started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.

Duran gave the Rangers a cushion with a two-run single in the ninth inning. His name popped up in the starting lineup for a fifth consecutive game, this time as a replacement for the resting Corey Seager. His previous starts came at third base for a banged up Josh Jung and in the outfield for the then-injured Wyatt Langford, both of whom have returned and were in the lineup Thursday. The steal was the third in the last four games for Duran, who stole 11 bags in a part-time role last season.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Muncy suffered a bruised hand earlier in the series when he was hit by a pitch, and the Athletics are wrapping up their four-game set versus Texas with a day game after a night game, so manager Mark Kotsay will elect to give the young infielder a breather. Darell Hernaiz will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who started in each of the Athletics' first 18 games of the season while slashing .288/.338/.485 with two home runs, two steals, 13 runs and five RBI.

Arias is hitting .542 with two home runs, one steal, a 12.9 percent walk rate and a 6.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 plate appearances for Double-A Portland.

His first homer of the season April 14 was a majestic shot to center-right field -- an impressive feat for a righty-hitting 20-year-old who is the third-youngest hitter at Double-A, behind Jesus Made and Leo De Vries. His second homer of the season April 15 was hammered to the pull side and he also stole his first base in that game. Arias' hit tool has long been one of the more advanced in the minors, and he seems to be heading for a power breakout in the upper levels.

Seager is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Seager will receive his first day off of the season after he started each of the Rangers' first 18 contests. Ezequiel Duran will fill in at shortstop for Seager, who is batting just .152 through 13 games in April but has contributed three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs and one stolen base.