MLB Player News

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez has heated up the past couple of days, but that's to be expected given his approach.

Alvarez still has a decent walk rate and an astronomical strikeout rate. His 32.2 percent strikeout rate ranks as the seventh highest in the league. While his average has been limited by a .245 BABIP, he's not a candidate to hit over .245 due to the abundance of strikeouts. His approach makes him a candidate to go on runs like this, but he's not a candidate to improve on last season's performance. 

After scrambling to reach Phoenix following his promotion early Sunday morning, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado made his long-awaited MLB debut later that day against the Diamondbacks. Arenado, who was on the road with Triple-A Colorado Springs in nearby Tucson prior to the call-up, started at third base and went 0 for 3 with a walk while serving as the No. 7 hitter.

"I was nervous," Arenado told The Denver Post. "It was a dream come true. It was a lot of fun to be out there with the guys. I just wish we had won."

The Rockies had pondered recalling Arenado, considered the team's best position prospect since Troy Tulowitzki, over the past week as regular third baseman Chris Nelson floundered. The early promotion means the 22-year-old will reach arbitration sooner, but Colorado management insisted it is not concerned with that future scenario.

"It came to the point where we are trying to put our best club on the field," assistant general manager Bill Geivett said. "You see a player mature on and off the field. And (part of it is) how he responded to not making the club. He went down and showed he was ready. Every decision we make is to try and win games."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura, who missed Saturday's game with a split nail on the index finger on his right hand, returned to the starting lineup Sunday afternoon against the Dodgers.

Segura slapped a single in the opening frame for his only hit of the day. He finished 1 for 4 in a 2-0 defeat.

Segura has gone 11 for 34 (.324) with five runs scored, six stolen bases and three RBI in his last nine games. He is hitting .349 with one homer and six RBI in 83 at-bats.

A's third baseman Josh Donaldson entered Sunday's series finale against the Orioles with eight RBI in the previous eight contests. He added to that total by going 1 for 3 with two RBI and a pair of walks in the 9-8 win.

The 27-year-old doubled home two in the sixth inning.

Donaldson is batting .483 (14 for 29) in the last nine games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado extended his hitting streak to seven games with a big performance on Sunday against the A's. He went 4 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Machado singled twice before plating Nate McLouth with another base hit in the seventh inning. In the ninth, he doubled home another run.

The 20-year-old is batting .433 (13 for 30) during his streak with five RBI, five runs scored and two stolen bases.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar started a second straight game for the first time this season Sunday against the Rangers. Manager Ron Gardenhire wanted to find Escobar more playing time since he's batting .483 (14 for 29) through 14 games.

"He's doing great," Gardenhire said, per MLB.com. "That's why I ran him back out there again today to find another spot for him. He's swinging it really good. You never know how long you're going to stay on that surfboard before someone knocks you off. So you just ride it and go from there."

Gardenhire has been pleasantly surprised with Escobar's power. Escobar has a .690 slugging percentage.

"He's got some pop," Gardenhire said. "It's surprising. And he has a cannon for an arm. He's a nice player. There's a reason why we got him in that trade, and he's showing us why."

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura rejoined the starting lineup Sunday against the Dodgers after being scratched Saturday with a split nail on the index finger on his right hand. Segura did appear as a pinch hitter Saturday, striking out in his only at-bat.

Segura is batting .354 (28 for 79) through 11 games. He also has a .393 on-base percentage, .481 slugging percentage and .874 OPS.

Rockies prospect Nolan Arenado will make his major-league debut Sunday at Arizona after being recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs following his fast start in the minors. Arenado, viewed as the club's second-best overall prospect by MLB.com, served as the starting third baseman and hit seventh in the batting order.

Rockies third base prospect Nolan Arenado is expected to be promoted to the major leagues Sunday after third baseman Chris Nelson was designated for assignment following Saturday's game against the Diamondbacks, according to multiple sources.

Arenado is one of the top prospects in baseball, ranked as a top 100 prospect by Baseball America (No. 52) and MLB.com (No. 62). Arenado is off to a stellar start at Triple-A Colorado Springs, batting .364 with three home runs, 11 doubles and 21 RBI in 18 games.

Arenado is expected to play regularly for the Rockies.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria got his average back over the .300 mark for the first time since April 16 on Saturday night against the White Sox. He went 4 for 6 with an RBI and two runs scored in the 10-4 win.

The 27-year-old doubled in the third inning before collecting three singles, including one that drove in Matt Joyce in the ninth.

Longoria saw his average rise from .277 to .303 in the victory.