MLB Player News

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez nearly lifted his batting average 60 points during Wednesday's spring game against the Twins. Alvarez provided most of his team's offense during a 7-4 loss, going 4 for 5 with one run and three RBI. He hit his second home run of the spring -- a solo shot off Vance Worley in the third inning. Alvarez came into the game batting .191 and left it hitting .250 (13 for 52) through 18 games. He also has five doubles and 10 RBI.

Rockies infielder Chris Nelson is considered the favorite to win the starting third-base job, with prospect Nolan Arenado likely headed to Triple-A Colorado Springs to open the season, according to The Denver Post. The paper suggests, however, Arenado could be one Nelson cold streak away from being recalled. Entering play Wednesday, Arenado was batting .288 (15 for 52) with four doubles, four homers and 12 RBI in 18 spring games.

The Rockies optioned infielder DJ LeMahieu to Triple-A Colorado Springs Wednesday, which leaves Reid Brignac and Jonathan Hererra fighting for the spot on the bench as a utility infielder. LeMahieu hit .231 (9 for 39) with one triple, two doubles and four RBI in 19 spring games.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado collected his first RBI of the spring in Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Twins. He singled in his first at-bat before driving in a run on an error in the fourth inning. Machado finished 1 for 3 in the 9-5 loss.

The 20-year-old is batting .261 (12 for 46) through 18 spring games with a .326 slugging percentage.

Rangers general manager Jon Daniels told MLB.com on Tuesday that prospect Mike Olt will concentrate on playing third base at Triple-A Round Rock.

Olt batted just .194 with two homers and five RBI in 19 Cactus League games before being optioned last week. The 24-year-old played a couple of different positions while in camp with Texas.

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria hasn't hit a home run this spring, but that would be more concerning if Longoria's other numbers were lacking, which they are not. The 27-year-old third baseman is batting .395 (15 for 38) with four runs, eight doubles and 10 RBI in 14 spring games. He also owns a .605 slugging percentage and 1.034 OPS.

Longoria has dealt with his injury issues the last two seasons, but when he's been in the lineup, he's continued to post solid numbers. Longoria has a .507 slugging percentage and .867 OPS since 2011, despite being limited to 207 games. 

He continues to justify his status as the second-highest drafted third baseman in Head-to-Head and Rotisserie formats behind Miguel Cabrera.

Minnesota third baseman Trevor Plouffe returned to the lineup Friday and went 2-for-3 with a double during the Twins' 9-7 loss to the Yankees in Grapefruit League action. The outing was Plouffe's first exhibition game since March 8 as he had been nursing a lingering calf injury.

Projected to serve as the team's starting third baseman this season, Plouffe notched his fifth multi-hit performance of the spring to push his batting average to .433 after 10 games.

The Orioles optioned third baseman Danny Valencia to Triple-A Norfolk Thursday.

Valencia was in the middle of a solid spring, hitting .323/.417/.484 in 36 plate appearances, but the 28-year-old will open the season at Triple-A after hitting .188/.199/.299 in the majors last season.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe suffered no setbacks in his minor-league action, manager Ron Gardenhire told MLB.com, and Plouffe is on track to re-join the Twins in Grapefruit League action Friday.

Plouffe has been dealing with a calf injury that has kept him out since March 10 but is expected to be ready by opening day.

Colorado top prospect Nolan Arenado was very hot early in the spring but had since scuffled pretty badly, reports MLB.com. On Tuesday, he warmed up again. The Rockies' top position prospect at third base, Arenado had four early spring home runs only to struggle thereafter. He went 3 for 4 on Tuesday and is now batting .314 on the spring. 

With incumbent third baseman Chris Nelson struggling this spring with a .238 average, the 22-year-old Arenado is trying to win a starting job.

"Nolan needs to keep a good pace, slow the game down," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "He's done a nice job this spring. It's good to see him get a few more hits."