MLB Player News

Angels outfielder Kole Calhoun underwent surgery to repair a fractured right hamate bone Tuesday, the team announced. He's expected to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Calhoun, 25, batted .174 with an RBI in 21 games in the majors last season.

Indians manager Terry Francona said catcher Carlos Santana is day-to-day with a bruised left thumb, an injury he suffered Monday against the Yankees. Yan Gomes replaced Santana in the lineup Tuesday.

Francona added he's hopeful Santana will need just a few days off before returning to the lineup.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana was held out of the starting lineup Tuesday against the Yankees after suffering a bruised left thumb Monday. Yan Gomes, who was recalled from Triple-A Columbus after Lou Marson (neck) was placed on the 15-day disabled list, started at catcher for Cleveland.

Santana is considered day-to-day after X-rays came back negative on his thumb.

Astros first baseman/outfielder Chris Carter has struggled during the first week of the season.

Carter was touted as a sleeper due to his prestigious power potential. Playing in Houston, where the left-field fence is short, was supposed to help him in that area. Carter clubbed 16 home runs in just 260 plate appearances in Oakland last season. 

Not surprisingly, strikeouts have been an issue. Carter owns a career 33.3 percent strikeout rate in the majors, and has 13 strikeouts in 27 plate appearances already this season. 

Almost like clockwork, Reds first baseman Joey Votto is among the National League leaders in on-base percentage and has fashioned a clip of at least .400 since the second game of the season. Votto finished 1 for 4 and collected two walks for the fourth time this season during Cincinnati's 13-4 rout at St. Louis Monday.

He is still hitting just .240 after seven games with just one extra-base hit -- a rare triple -- but has produced a stellar .472 OBP that is fueled by his NL-leading 10 walks. Votto has now reached base safely in 17 of his 36 plate appearances this season.

Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt had a sacrifice fly Monday against the Pirates, giving him an RBI in five straight games. It ties a career-best streak he set last September.

Goldschmidt is batting .417 (10 for 24) with two homers, four doubles, seven runs and eight RBI during a five-game hitting streak. He has three multi-hit games in that span.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana, who suffered a bruised left thumb during Monday's game against the Yankees and had to be taken for X-rays, was rewarded with positive news, reports MLB.com. Santana did not break the thumb. 

The X-rays came back negative and Santana is considered day-to-day. 

Indians shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera had a base hit Monday in the home opener for Cleveland against the Yankees. He scored a run in the 11-6 loss. 

Cabrera's had a nightmarish start to the season, hitting .083 over his first six full games before Monday. After going 1 for 3 against N.Y., he's hitting a robust .111. 

Cabrera, who also had an error Monday, is 3 for 27 with a home run, two RBI and seven strikeouts.

Indians catcher Carlos Santana suffered a scary injury Monday in the home-opening loss to the Yankees. Santana was crossed up on a Chris Perez fastball and took it flush off the wrist of his glove hand. 

He went down in pain as Vernon Wells took third base on the passed ball. Santana was diagnosed with a left thumb contusion but needs X-rays to determine the severity, according to MLB.com. He was replaced by Lou Marson. 

Santana was 1 for 2 with two walks before leaving and is batting .500 with a hit in six of his seven games, including two homers and five RBI. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard is still looking for his first extra-base hit of the season.

The 33-year-old came into the season with more questions than usual. Howard struggled after returning from injury last season, hitting just. 219/.295/.423 in 292 plate appearances. He did, however, manage to hit 14 home runs.

Howard has gotten off to a poor start, but there's no reason to think he'll suddenly stop hitting for power. His age and drop-off from last season are legitimate concerns, though.