MLB Player News

Coming into this season, Pedro Alvarez had rightfully earned the reputation for being an all-or-nothing hitter. So far this year, he has done nothing to dispel that image and everything to reinforce it.

Alvarez has five home runs, but he has been striking out more often and walking less. He's also batting just .178, and he has yet to get a base hit on a flyball that stayed in the park. Some of that may be bad luck, but it hasn't helped that he has already produced eight infield flies. Those strikeouts and popups are products of an increasingly undisciplined approach, as Alvarez is swinging at pitches more often, particularly at those outside the strike zone.

Owners could live with Alvarez hitting .250, as long as he produces power, and in past seasons -- both in the majors and the minors -- he has shown the potential to do just that. Until he shows progress, though, find a place on your bench for the Pirates' slugger.

In my preseason projections, I had Jean Segura hitting four home runs this season. Now that the Brewers' shortstop has reached that total in early May, it appears I have some re-thinking to do.

All four of Segura's homers have come at Miller Park, which is one of the National League's three best home run venues. My meager expectations for Segura's power were largely based on his stats from Double-A Arkansas (seven home runs in 374 at-bats) and Advanced Class A Inland Empire (three home runs in 185 at-bats). However, according to the Minor League Park Multipliers on Baseball Think Factory, those parks have been among the most difficult in which to homer in the Texas and California Leagues, respectively.

An improved hitting environment alone won't make Segura a power hitter, but the display of early season thump makes the 23-year-old a little more intriguing. If you're thinking of selling Segura high, consider holding on to him a little longer.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura is slugging .523 in 111 at-bats this season.

Segura's power surge is surprising considering what he's done in the minors. Segura had a .464 slugging percentage in 2010, his highest full season rate in the minors. Much of Segura's success has been reliant on a 15.4 percent home run per fly ball rate. Segura wasn't selected as a power hitter, and won't continue to be one, but it's been nice for Fantasy owners to get some added power from an unexpected place.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria drove in four runs Monday in an 8-7 loss to Toronto. Longoria hit a grand slam in the third inning off Mark Buehrle for his seventh homer of the season. 

Longoria went 2 for 5 i and is batting .305. He's hit in eight of his last 10 games with two homers and nine RBI over that span.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit his fourth home run Sunday against Cleveland, a two-run shot in the second inning.

Plouffe finished 1 for 2 with a walk and raised his line to .238/.326/.463. His line this year is nearly identical to last year's .235/.301/.455 campaign except with a few more walks, as the power he showed in 2012 with 24 home runs has been maintained so far.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado made his presence felt late in Saturday's contest against the Rays.

Arenado took starter David Price deep for a grand slam in the seventh inning to break the game open. He finished 1 for 5 with a run scored and four RBI in a 9-3 victory.

Arenado has homered twice in his last five games. He is hitting .347 (8 for 23) with two homers and seven RBI over that span. The 22-year-old is hitting .308 through his first 27 at-bats after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hit safely for the seventh time in the last eight games Saturday night against the Rockies. He went 2 for 4 with a run scored in the 9-3 loss. Both of his hits went for singles.

Longoria is batting .312 through 29 games with six homers and 15 RBI.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura hit his fourth home run Saturday against the Cardinals. Segura belted the two-run shot off starter Adam Wainwright in the first inning on the third pitch of the game.

He also singled in the fifth, finishing 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored in a 7-6 defeat.

Segura is batting .336/.385/.533 with four home runs and 13 RBI over 107 at-bats.

After having his 11-game hitting streak snapped the day before, Orioles third baseman Manny Machado began working on a new one Saturday against the Angels. He went 2 for 5 with a homer and a pair of runs scored. The 20-year-old also stole his third base in a 5-4 win.

Machado launched a solo shot off starter Tommy Hanson in his first at-bat before leading off the fifth inning with a single.

He is batting .393 (22 for 56) in his last 13 contests with two home runs and eight RBI.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit his third home run of the season as part of a 2-for-5 game against the Indians Friday. The solo homer and single boosted his line to .230/.310/.419 through 85 plate appearances.