MLB Player News

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."

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt , who is on the minor-league disabled list with an eye issue, began a hitting program with Triple-A hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

General manager Jon Daniels told ESPN Sunday that eye specialists have not been able to locate a problem with Olt's vision. Olt was hitting .139 with a home run and six RBI in 20 minor-league games.

"You always like to have answers," Daniels said. "You deal with what you have."

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez hit his eighth home run, the decider in a 1-0 win Sunday over Houston.

Alvarez continues to struggle with his average (.201) and making contact (31.5 percent strikeout rate), but his power continues to show up. He's on pace for another 30 home run season with Sunday's blast.

The Orioles recalled third baseman Danny Valencia from Triple-A Norfolk Sunday before a game against the Rays, MLB.com reports. 

Valencia has hit .306 with 11 home runs over 171 plate appearances at Norfolk this season. He fills the team's need for a right-handed hitter with Nolan Reimold on the DL.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura went 3 for 4 in Saturday's victory over St. Louis.

Segura scored a run and had two RBI with his fourth triple. Segura is hitting .361/.404/.542 in 158 at-bats after he hit .258/.315/.325 in 151 at-bats last season.

Orioles third baseman Danny Valencia is expected to be recalled Sunday after not being in the lineup for Triple-A Norfolk Saturday, MASN Sports reports.

Valencia has hit .306/.339/.600 with 11 home runs in 171 plate appearances at Triple-A this season. He would fill the team's need for a right-handed hitter with Nolan Reimold on the disabled list.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson hit his sixth home run of the season Friday in a win over the Royals.

Donaldson hit a solo blast in the seventh inning off James Shields to score the first run of the game for the A's.

He finished 2 for 3 and is batting .323 on the year. Donaldson has hit in six straight games with three doubles, two homers and two RBI over that span.