MLB Player News

Ramirez will bat second and play left field Wednesday against the Red Sox, Jordan Bastian of MLB.com reports.

Ramirez played some outfield in the spring and after sitting out the team's opener, Ramirez will get a chance to make the start in left Wednesday. Ramirez fares better against righties and with the right-handed Buchholz on the mound, he'll get the call over Collin Cowgill while Marlon Byrd slides over to right field to make room for him.

Bregman will open 2016 with Double-A Corpus Christi, Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Bregman hit .294/.366/.415 with four home runs, 34 RBI and 13 stolen bases over 66 games between Low-A Quad Cities and High-A Lancaster last season. The second overall pick of the 2015 draft, he will likely spend the majority of his first full professional season with the Hooks.

Moustakas will bat second against the Mets on Tuesday, Jeffrey Flanagan of MLB.com reports.

It appears as though the two-hole will be Moustakas' primary spot in the batting order, as expected. Moustakas went 0-for-4 with a strikeout in Sunday's opener, but he reached on an error in the first inning and came around to score the Royals' first run of the season. The 27-year-old went 18-for-54 (.333 average) with five doubles, three home runs and a 3:7 BB:K during Cactus League play.

Donaldson went 1-for-3 with his first homer of the year and a walk in Monday's road win over the Rays.

The Jays' MVP third baseman did that 41 times last year, and while that may be tough to replicate, Donaldson's a good bet to get into the 30s again. After his three-strikeout effort in the opener, any Donaldson owner whose heart was inexplicably aflutter has to feel soothed by this game.

Escobar finished Monday's opener against the Orioles with a pair of doubles and an RBI in four at-bats.

The shortstop showed a little bit of pop last year for Minnesota and managed to do the same today. Escobar actually improved his power stroke after the All-Star break in 2015, mashing eight of his 12 homers and 19 of his 31 doubles after the Midseason Classic. For now, he's hitting seventh in the Twins' order.

Almanzar only got one hit in 12 spring training plate appearances, striking out three times.

The 25-year-old hit .225 last year in his first full season in Triple-A Norfolk; coupled that with the fact that the Orioles have a star third baseman in Manny Machado, and Almanzar seems destined for another season in Norfolk.

Longoria was 2-for-4 with a double and RBI in Sunday's 5-3 loss to the Blue Jays.

The veteran third baseman was responsible for the first run of the Rays season, plating Logan Forsythe with a two-out third-inning single off Jays starter Marcus Stroman. Longoria was also Tampa's first baserunner of 2016, as he doubled to right field in the first. Although he had a generally unremarkable spring at the plate, the former All-Star did manage two homers, and was able to get some rest days in the latter stages of the exhibition slate. Apparently refreshed for Opening Day, he appeared to be the only Rays hitter to figure out Stroman in an otherwise dominant performance by the Blue Jays ace.

Plouffe went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored on Friday against the Nationals.

The 29-year-old is batting .360/.400/.660 during 50 at-bats this spring, while adding four home runs and 14 RBI. Plouffe provides a good source of power for the Twins at third base and in fantasy leagues. In 2015, Plouffe hit 22 home runs and had 86 RBI. If he can continue his spring training form and improve upon his .244 batting average from last season, Plouffe could be due for another good season.

Longoria is "fine" and will play one of the next two days according to manager Kevin Cash, Greg Auman of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Cash described Longoria as "more or less resting", and emphasized that he's continued to do all of his regular work in the batting cage and the field despite not having participated in game action since last Sunday. Although he is not expected to play in the Rays' Wednesday tilt against a Red Sox split squad, Longoria is on track to be in the starting lineup for Tampa's Opening Day tilt versus the Blue Jays.

Machado went 1-for-4 with his fifth home run of the spring Tuesday against the Braves.

Machado enjoyed a breakout season in 2015 and it is scary to think he has a 35 home run, 20 steal season under his belt at 23-years-old. With five home runs this spring, Machado seems apt for a repeat performance. The Orioles shuttled him around the order this spring, but he led off Tuesday and that seems to be his most likely landing spot in the order. If he is eventually lowered to third, Machado becomes a strong candidate for 100 RBIs.