MLB Player News

Hernandez went 2-for-5 with a double and three strikeouts in a game with Laguna of the Mexican League on Friday.

The 27-year-old has hit above .290 in three of his last four 500 at-bat seasons between High-A and Double-A ball. No longer playing for an affiliated team, his chances of reaching the majors are looking slim.

Santana was 1-for-3 with a two-run homer in Friday's 6-5 loss to the Mets.

The veteran slugger put the screws to an Addison Reed pitch in the ninth with two outs, making matters highly interesting until Jeurys Familia came on to get the final out after some struggles of his own. Santana has endured a rough start to the season, managing a .207/.294/.448 line through the first eight games. However, the considerable pop he carries in his bat figures to afford him plenty of playing time and opportunity to break out of his current slump.

Howard was 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Phillies' loss to Washington on Friday night.

The 36-year-old Howard now has four home runs and seven RBI but it comes with a weak .219 average. The Phillies are in rebuilding mode, and Howard would be on another roster if the Phillies could find a taker, but he's past his prime and there just isn't much demand for the aging slugger.

Calhoun went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer and a walk Friday at the Twins.

Calhoun's first blast of the year gave the Angels a lead in the seventh inning in a game they'd go on to lose. He's been warming up lately as he's posted multiple hits in each of his last three contests with three of those hits going for extra bases. In addition, he's now hit safely in each of his last seven games.

Votto went 1-for-4 with a three-run homer Friday at the Cardinals.

Votto's first homer of the year pulled the Reds within a run of the Cardinals in the third inning of a game they'd go on to lose. He's gotten off to a slow start, as the bomb was also his first extra-base hit in 10 games this season. In addition, he's only driven in runs in two of his last nine starts. There's no doubt that better days are coming for the Reds' slugger.

Colabello is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Red Sox.

Justin Smoak will draw the start against Rick Porcello, sending Colabello to the bench against a right-hander for the second time in three days. Colabello hit .321 in 333 at-bats last year, but he's off to a miserable start this season with one hit and six strikeouts in 19 at-bats.

Freeman said he is "frustrated" with his start to the 2016 season but is "100 percent healthy," Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

The first baseman admitted that a lack of bat speed is the reason for his early-season slump, but he refused to say there was anything physically wrong with his body. Freeman battled a right wrist issue over the last four months of 2015 and did not take regular batting practice as a precaution during spring training. He is 1-for-24 (.045) with nine strikeouts since hitting a home run on Opening Day.

Rizzo went 0-for-4 against the Reds yesterday, his fourth hitless game in a row.

Rizzo drove in six runs on Apr. 7, but since then he's just 1-for-22 with the lone hit a single. On the plus side, he's drawn five walks in that span. There's absolutely no reason to worry about him right now.

Howard went 1-for-2 with his third home run of the season in Thursday's win over the Padres.

Now in his 13th season, the veteran is off to a concerning start. Over the past three seasons, April has typically been one of Howard's best months. There are many factors working against the 36-year-old, including his age and lack of talent around him. Howard has had a great career, but at this point there are plenty of better options at first base.

Howard went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk in Thursday's win over the Padres.

The home run was notable because it came off a lefty. Howard would not have been in the lineup if Darin Ruf (shoulder) had been available to start. Manager Pete Mackanin told Evan Webeck of MLB.com that Ruf will return to starting against lefties this weekend despite Howard's performance on Thursday.