MLB Player News

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson struck out three times in a game for the first time this season Wednesday, going 0 for 4 in a loss to Cleveland. Despite the hitless game, Donaldson has still hit .294/.375/.468 with three home runs in 144 plate appearances this year.

At the beginning of the season, Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt was a prime minor-league stash candidate. A top prospect who has shown the willingness to play all over the field to get his bat in the lineup, Olt seemed like a great bet to make an impact at the major-league level before long. Whether by trade or injury, it looked like we would see Olt again before long as he seemed intent on forcing his way into the lineup.

Unfortunately, Olt is batting just .139 with one home run at Triple-A Round Rock, and he has already struck out in 32 of his 72 at-bats. Olt's extended slump to begin the season has the Rangers so baffled that he has been placed on the disabled list until they can find the source of his issues. Right now, the team is targeting his eyesight as the source, but visits with specialists have yet to find anything.

Olt entered the season ranked 22nd in Baseball America's prospect rankings, But after a month-plus of the season, it is starting to look like Olt might not even be worth a roster spot for most Fantasy owners, especially in leagues that do not allow an extra spot for minor-league players.

There are guys down in the minors who stand a better chance of making a Fantasy impact this season at this point. 

The Rangers placed first baseman Mike Olt on the disabled list while playing with Triple-A Round Rock Tuesday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. Olt is dealing with an eye issue. 

Expected to see a specialist in 10-14 days, Olt could be cleared to return to action following his visit. The infielder has hit just .139 with one homer and 32 strikeouts over 20 games this season and Texas feels the eye issue could be a big reason for his struggles. 

Consider me among the buyers on the Brewers' Jean Segura. I know he didn't hit many home runs in the minors, but if I may quote the Baseball America Prospect Handbook from 2012, the last year he was eligible:

"His bat is lightning-quick, and he could consistently bat .290 with as many as 20 homers at his peak."

Granted, age 23 isn't considered a player's peak, but given Segura's contact rate, as long as he's capable of putting a charge in the ball, he's a good bet for double-digit homers. As of now, I'll predict 15 for him.

The stolen bases and batting average are almost assured at this point, so 15 are enough to make him a high-end shortstop. Right now, I rank him 10th at the position, but I've been toying with moving him ahead of Asdrubal Cabrera and Elvis Andrus for a few days now.

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.