MLB Player News

Pirates first baseman Pedro Alvarez suffered a hyperextended elbow and will miss a few games while recovering, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Alvarez indicated that the elbow is fine and the Pirates said he can work out as tolerable. The former third baseman is spending his first spring training at first base and said last week he feels comfortable with the shift.

Alvarez hit .231/.312/.405 with 18 home runs, 56 RBI and eight stolen bases in 398 at-bats.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura has been working on making his swing less flat-footed, per the team's offical website.

The 24-year-old has been impressing his observers with his swing as of late due to a subtle change in mechanics.  One of those observers includes Brewers manager Ron Roenicke.

"I just like his at-bats and the new mechanics of his swing. I like what he's doing," Roenicke said. "He's [staying] back, which should allow him to see the ball better."

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado powered a three-run home run over the left field wall in Saturday's win 7-5 win over the Cubs. Arenado was ecstatic to power through the pitch, reports the Denver Post.

"It always feels good to hit the ball hard and drive the ball," Arenado said. "But there's still a lot of work to be done. I’m not feeling totally comfortable up there, but it was nice to see the ball well today."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria appears to be penciled in the cleanup spot in the lineup, after manager Kevin Cash revealed that he's striving to have more of an everyday lineup once the season starts, per MLB.com.

Longoria played 103 of his 162 games last season at the No. 4 spot. He hit .264/.333/.403 with 13 home runs and 64 RBI over 390 at-bats at cleanup.

Cubs third baseman Mike Olt clubbed a two-run homer off Athletics starting pitcher Barry Zito during Thursday's spring game. He connected on an 0-2 changeup.

“It’s one of the best at-bats I’ve had in a while,” Olt said, per MLB.com. 

Olt spent some time this offseason working on refining his swing.

“I feel like it’s night and day,” Olt said of his swing now compared to last season. “Last year, I said I felt my swing was there, but secretly I knew in my head I was swinging at pitches I wasn’t supposed to. I’m feeling like I’m tracking the ball a lot better this year and a lot of the changes we’ve made to my swing are the reason why.”

Pirates infielder Pedro Alvarez is feeling comfortable at first base, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

After playing third the past couple of seasons, Alvarez will transition to first base full-time in 2015. The 28-year-old is still getting used to the position, but he seems comfortable with the change.

"It’s just a matter of getting used to seeing the field from that point of view, get the reps in so that the responsibilities that come with playing the position become second nature," he said. "That’s just with time and repetitions."

Alvarez hit .231/.312/.405 over 398 at-bats last season. 

Twins manager Paul Molitor marked infielder Eduardo Escobar as "an important part" of the team in 2014 and believes he will be the same this season, the Star Tribune reports.

"He was an important part of our team last year," Molitor said. "He will be this year, too."

Escobar delivered the best performance of his career in 2014, hitting .275/.315/.406 with six home runs and 37 RBI in 433 at-bats. However, he arrived at camp to learn he was in a competition for the shortstop role with last year's center fielder, Danny Santana. Breaking the news to Escobar was a delicate conversation for the manager.

"Obviously," Molitor said. "You’ve got a guy who came in and played every day for you last year, and then you’re thinking about doing something different. I’ve tried to explain it to him the best I could. His answers, at least for now, are, 'No problem. I understand.'"

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado is in the team's lineup Thursday after going 0-for-3 in his spring debut the previous day while playing in his first game since August, masnsports.com reports.

"It's great to be back out there, great to get it rolling. It's fun to go get some [at-bats] and make some plays," Machado said Wednesday. "I was just excited to be back on the field playing and trying to get back into that rhythm. It's going to take some time, but it's good we're out there playing and running around."

When asked about the last time he was this excited to play baseball, Machado said, "I can't remember. I guess the day before I got hurt, or the day I got hurt. It was just overall a great feeling to get back out there and get in the groove of things and get out there rolling. I'm excited to get out there and get my at-bats and get where I need to be."

Machado was limited to 82 games last season and underwent season-ending knee surgery for the second straight year. He's in the leadoff spot Thursday so that he can receive extra at-bats.

Braves infielder Jace Peterson has the inside track to start at second base for the club this season and manager Fredi Gonzalez was impressed with his play in the spring training debut Wednesday. Peterson doubled and drew two walks in the game.

"He smoked that ball," Gonzalez said. "I like his ability and that you can run him out there at shortstop and let him play that position. We'll play him back and forth on the diamond and see what happens."

Gonzalez knows he has the ability to step in and play very soon.

"You like his baseball abilities, his makeup and his character," Gonzalez said. "He's not just a throw-in [in the trade], he's a baseball player."

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado struggled with an 0-for-3 day at the plate in his first game since back from an elbow injury.

Manager Buck Showalter was happy Machado finally got on the field, according to MASN.com.

"Manny needs to play in some games. He's tired of all the work. You think of all the work he's done since he was able to start going on the field after the surgery and you think about the last time he got to play a lot," Showalter said. "We'll try to get as many reps for him as we can, because physically it's not a challenge for him. He's in good shape."