MLB Player News

Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson homered for the third time this spring and second time in three games Tuesday against the Twins. He hit a solo home run off Ricky Nolasco in the fifth inning.

Donaldson has homered off Nolasco, David Buchanan and Seth Rosin this spring. He is batting .364 (12 for 33) with six RBI in 13 spring games.

Twins utility man Eduardo Escobar, who has been said to be pushing Danny Santana for the starting shortstop role, got some extra work in the outfield Monday.

Escobar started the game at third base but was moved to the outfield in the fifth inning. Minnesota likes the options Escobar gives them, reports MLB.com.

"It's a good thing for us," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "We like versatility. [Eduardo] Nunez has also been out there, and now Escobar is out there. Versatility is important when you carry 12 pitchers because you don't have much of a bench."

Cody Asche is heating up as Phillies' spring training enters its home stretch. 

Asche shook off a slow start and finished Monday hitting .231. He hit a two-run homer in the second inning, giving him three on the spring, along with seven RBI. 

"Cody has a nice swing working," Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. "He's making good contact. Another thing that he's doing is laying off pitches, avoiding strikeouts and having the count come back to him for strikes to hit. He continues to do real well, a real steady bat for us."

Braves' infielder Jace Peterson sat out Monday's game, the second straight day he's missed with a finger injury. 

A runner stepped on Peterson's hand during a play at second base last week, and his pinky finger became infected. The nail had to be removed, but manager Fredi Gonzalez said that Peterson would be back in the lineup on Tuesday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Nationals manager Matt Williams said Monday that third baseman Anthony Rendon is still dealing with knee soreness and remains without a timetable for a return, MASNsports.com reports.

Rendon will rest the knee, and the continued issue has put his status for Opening Day in doubt. He's just 2 for 9 this spring.

Third baseman Anthony Rendon, who has been dealing with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee, has been cleared to participate in baseball activities, per ESPN, and will begin work in order to return to the Nationals' lineup. 

"He'll start to throw. He'll start to run," manager Matt Williams said. "He'll start to do the things he needs to do ... but with that type of nagging injury, it can stay around awhile."

The plan is to give Rendon at least 20 spring at-bats in order to be ready for Opening Day. 

Twins manager Paul Molitor isn't sure what to do with Danny Santana. 

Originally expected to be the Twins starting shortstop, Santana has been pushed in camp by Eduardo Escobar. 

One option would be to move Santana back to center field, where he started 62 games last season. But on Saturday, Molitor said he hadn't considered that as an option. 

Molitor also said he wasn't ready to name Santana the Opening Day shortstop, leaving him without a position, per Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. 

Santana is hitting .321 this spring. 

Braves second baseman Jace Peterson is suffering from an issue with his finger.

Peterson's hand was stepped on during a game a few days ago, and the pinky on his throwing hand became infected. 

Peterson said it wasn't serious, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's David O'Brien. He's been able to keep playing and made several plays in the field during Saturday's game.

Peterson hit .113 with the Padres last season.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe has worked out a couple of times at first base this week and expects to make an appearance at first base in a spring game soon, according to The Star Tribune.

The Pirates are making an adjustment to infielder Pedro Alvarez's stance to help improve his offensive output. 

Working with hitting coach Jeff Branson, Alvarez is resting his bat on his shoulder before starting his swing, instead of holding it off the shoulder. 

“We're trying to ... figure out ways to get him relaxed at the plate and take the tension out of him at the plate,” Jeff Branson said, per Travis Sawchik of Trib Total Media. “You'll see him start on the shoulder and take it off when he's ready to hit."

It seems to be working. Alvarez is hitting .381 this spring, with two home runs and eight RBI.