MLB Player News

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe, who is on the seven-day disabled list with a concussion, felt "a lot better" Thursday, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

"No headaches or anything," Plouffe told the Pioneer Press. "I pretty much feel normal. As far as any timelines, it's still one step at a time."

Plouffe was scheduled to undergo a full-impact test Thursday to determine whether his injury was a concussion.

With the Rockies demoting Josh Rutledge on Wednesday, DJ LeMahieu is expected to take over the starting second base job. Owned in six percent of leagues, it might benefit an owner in a deeper format to take a closer look at the 24-year-old. 

LeMahieu has never hit below .314 in any of his five minor league campaigns (he has a .321 career minor league BA). In 306 major league at-bats, he has a .294 average. I wouldn't expect much in the way of power or speed from LeMahieu, but 20 doubles the rest of the way (assuming he gets regular at-bats) wouldn't be out of the question, and you can pretty much bank on the average to be there. 

In NL-only, he's a must-add. But I would consider adding him in formats as shallow as 15-team Roto leagues (at MI or UT), based on his promise in batting average. 

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria admitted Wednesday he was nervous he wouldn't make it through a full season because his legs felt tired at season's outset.

"I felt pretty bad after the first week of the season, like 10 games in. I was kind of scared," Longoria said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "Because in spring training, you probably don't play three-four games in a row at the most toward the end of spring. Once we got like a week, 10 days into the season, I was feeling like, man, my legs were tired. And thoughts started to creep in about how you're going to do it for 162 days."

The Rays made the decision to use Longoria as the DH in an April 10 game against Texas and the slugger said he has felt better ever since. The Rays continue to use Longoria at DH every now and then, and it seems to be the formula to ease the 27-year-old's mind and keep him fresh. Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

"I haven't felt that fatigue," he said. "I feel like my legs are getting stronger and feeling better as the season goes on. And with that worry behind me, I can be focused on other things."

With Josh Rutledge's demotion to Triple-A Wednesday, Rockies infielder DJ LeMahieu is expected to assume a starting role.

LeMahieu has started four of seven games since being called up May 16, and he is hitting .412 with two extra-base hits and two RBI in 17 at-bats. He will likely be the full-time starter at second base with Rutledge gone. 

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was placed on the 7-day disabled list Wednesday, despite saying he was "feeling better" a day after getting kneed in the head as he attempted to break up a double play. Plouffe showed sensitivity to light during an exam for concussion-related symptoms.

Plouffe is expected to get a few days off before taking a concussion test. 

"He took a good shot in the head. That's what this rule is for, to protect the player," manager Ron Gardenhire said. "Give him a little bit of a break here and do what's right. He was a little woozy and that's why there was concern."

Rockies second baseman DJ Lemahieu went 3 for 4 in Tuesday's win over Arizona.

Lemahieu doubled twice and knocked in two runs. He's 6 for 13 to open 2013 for the Rockies and is proving to be a solid backup to primary second baseman Josh Rutledge.

The Twins placed starting third baseman Trevor Plouffe on the 7-day disabled list with a concussion Wednesday. Plouffe was injured in Tuesday's game against the Braves after taking a knee to the head.

Eduardo Escobar replaced Plouffe in Tuesday's game. Although no official announcement has been made, Escobar and Jamey Carroll will likely share time at third base in Plouffe's absence.

It's an unfortunate turn of events for Plouffe, who was getting on track offensively in May. He's batting .292 with a .477 slugging percentage, two home runs, six doubles and 13 RBI in 17 May games.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe was forced out of Tuesday's game against the Braves after taking a knee to the head while sliding into second base to break up a double play in the 10th inning.

Plouffe went 1 for 4 with an RBI single in the eighth and was replaced by Eduardo Escobar. Plouffe likely will be further evaluated in the near future.

Nationals infield prospect Anthony Rendon has started the process of learning to play second base. He made his fifth start at the position for Double-A Harrisburg Monday.

It begs the question with Danny Espinosa struggling: Are the Nationals looking for Rendon to possibly take over at second base at the major-league level? Nationals manager Davey Johnson said that's not the plan quite yet.

"We like him -- we like him a lot," Johnson said of Rendon, per FOX Sports. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he’s not there yet. He’s not (playing second) specifically. He’s just occasionally going over there."

Johnson added reserve infielder Stephen Lombardozzi and Triple-A infielder Zach Walters are options ahead of Rendon, who is widely considered the team's best prospect, if the team made a decision to replace Espinosa in the starting lineup.

Rendon continues to rake for Harrisburg. His slash line through 30 games is .346/.654/1.136. He has two triples, six home runs, 11 doubles and 23 RBI.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games Monday at Toronto. Longoria went 2 for 4 with one run, one double and two RBI.

"It's the best baseball I've seen him play day in and day out, offensively and defensively," Rays manager Joe Maddon said, per MLB.com. "Every thing about his game has been superb, and it's been fun to watch."

Longoria is batting .393 (22 for 56) with three home runs, eight doubles and 14 RBI during his hitting streak. He's now reached base in a major-league best 43 games this season.

"I think the big thing is not chasing," Maddon said. "You talk about that all the time. Once a major-league hitter establishes his own strike zone and forces a pitcher to come to him more than he permits the pitcher to dictate, that's when he becomes really good."