MLB Player News

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was forced to leave Sunday's game with a left quadriceps contusion, the club announced.

Segura was injured in a collision with Gerardo Parra on a force play at second base. It was initially feared the injury was more serious as Segura was down for an extended period, but it appears he'll be day-to-day.

Segura is 9 for 20 to open the season.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura boosted his season line to .500/.550/.722 with a 3-for-4 performance in his team's 9-2 loss to the Diamondbacks Saturday night. Segura also batted second in the lineup for the second straight game after hitting eighth in his first three games of the year.

Segura is quickly earning his team's trust atop the lineup and he should remain a fixture in the 2-hole for as long as he's producing.

Twins infielder Eduardo Escobar finished 2 for 4 with an RBI during his first start of the season in Minnesota's 9-5 loss to Baltimore on Friday. Escobar had served only as a pinch hitter in two of the first three games of the season before being inserted at shortstop against the Orioles.

"We have to mix it up a little bit and get everybody some at-bats," Gardenhire told MLB.com about Escobar's appearance.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado went 1 for 4 with his first RBI of the season during Baltimore's 9-5 victory over Minnesota on Friday. Machado continues to serve as the second hitter in the Orioles' lumbering batting order and has collected a hit in three of his first four games.

Friday's outing also represented the first time the 20-year-old did not strike out during a game as he is carrying a .167 batting average.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe hit his first home run of the season Thursday.

Plouffe hit a solo shot off Rick Porcello in the fourth inning. Plouffe hit 24 home runs in just 464 plate appearances last season, and could be in line for more now that he's in a full-time role.

Double-A Harrisburg will open the season with nine of the Nationals' top 30 prospects on its roster, according to The Washington Post.

Among those nine prospects are the team's top three hitting prospects ranked by Baseball America. They are Anthony Rendon (No. 1), Brian Goodwin (No. 3) and Matt Skole (No. 4). They will be joined by pitcher prospect Nathan Karns (No. 5).

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez collected a hit for the second straight contest on Wednesday night against the Cubs. He singled in the eighth inning and finished 1 for 4 in the 3-0 win.

Alvarez has gone 2 for 8 (.250) with an RBI thus far.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria had a nice night at the plate Wednesday in an 8-7 walk-off win over the Orioles in the second game of the season. 

But while Longoria went 2 for 4 in the game, his best asset continues to be his defensive play at third base. Longoria made countless stops that could have saved runs on Wednesday after coming up with a great play in Tuesday's opener. 

Longoria singled twice Wednesday and has started the season 3 for 8 (.375) at the plate with a run scored. 

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura has gone 4 for 7 (.571) through the first two games with two of those hits going to the opposite field. The 23-year-old showed his power hitting the other way during spring training as he slugged a healthy .550 in 60 at-bats.

"It's natural," Segura told MLB.com. "I always seem to hit the ball the other way. Sometimes, I don't try to go over there, and it happens."

Manager Ron Roenicke said he's pleased with Segura's start to the season.

"The guys in the league that hit well for an average, that's where they hit," Roenicke said, referring to the opposite-field approach. "That keeps you on the offspeed stuff. I think if he's going to hit in this league and hit for a high average, he has to do that."

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe didn't collect any hits Wednesday in a walk-off win over the Tigers. He stole his first base of the season, however. 

Plouffe went 0 for 2 with two walks and a strikeout in the game. He came around to score on a Wilkin Ramirez double in the seventh. Plouffe is batting .167 on the year after going 1 for 4 with a double and a run scored in the opener.