MLB Player News

Orioles utility infield candidate Danny Valencia showed some late-game heroics in Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Red Sox. Valencia, who had been dealing with tendinitis in his knee last week, made a pinch-hit appearance and crushed a solo home run off Terry Doyle in the ninth inning to give the Orioles an 8-7 victory. He is batting .323 with a home run and four RBI in 31 at-bats this spring.

Pirates third baseman Pedro Alvarez will likely start the season in the four-hole, MLB.com reports. Alvarez is batting .161 with three RBI in 31 at-bats this spring. Manager Clint Hurdle expects him to pick it up once the season starts.

"We'll be best served when he puts his foot down and takes ownership of that spot," Hurdle said. "You'd like to find a guy you can put in there and leave alone, and Pedro is definitely one we're considering."

Alvarez played just 19 games last season, hitting .170 with two homers and three RBI. 

The Rangers made another wave of roster cuts Tuesday, optioning pitchers Jeff Beliveau and Wilmer Font, outfielder Engel Beltre and first baseman Mike Olt to Triple-A Round Rock. Texas also moved first basemen Brandon Allen and Brandon Snyder, catchers Jose Felix and Juan Apodaca, pitchers Collin Balester, Neal Cotts, Evan Meek and Yoshinori Tateyama to its minor-league camp.

Olt is viewed as one of the club's top prospects, but struggled during his spring audition and hit just .194 in Cactus League play. The 24-year-old did manage two homers and should rise to the Rangers later in the year.

Trevor Plouffe is expected to play in a Twins minor-league game on Tuesday, Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com reports. The third baseman hasn't played since he suffered a calf injury March 10. Barring a reaggravation of the injury, Plouffe is expected to be available for the Twins on opening day. He owns an .878 OPS in 30 spring training appearances so far.

Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson hit his first official home run of the spring off White Sox pitcher Chris Sale on Saturday. Donaldson had homered twice this spring but both games were rained out and didn't count. He's had a disappointing spring with three singles in 27 at-bats coming into Saturday.

"I actually feel pretty good about where I am right now," Donaldson told MLB.com before the game. "I think I've lined out about 15 times. It's one of those things where, by the time the season rolls around, they're falling in."

Donaldson could serve as the team's regular third baseman this season, but offseason trade acquisition Jed Lowrie could also be a factor at the hot corner for the Athletics.

MASNSports.com reports Saturday that Orioles utility infield candidate Danny Valencia is dealing with a case of tendinitis in his knee. The Orioles gave him an MRI, which ruled out structural damage.

The Nationals made their second round of cuts Thursday, starting with optioning outfielder Eury Perez to Triple-A Syracuse. They also sent Nathan Karns, Sandy Leon and Anthony Rendon to Double-A Harrisburg, while reassigningPatrick McCoy, Will Rhymes and Matt Skole to minor-league camp.

The Nationals reassigned infield prospect Anthony Rendon to minor-league camp Thursday. Rendon hit .375 (12 for 32) with four doubles, four homers, seven runs and 11 RBI in 13 spring games. Rendon is considered a top-100 prospect by MLB.com (28th) and Baseball America (30th).

Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez is really struggling this spring swinging the bat. He went 0 for 2 on Monday and has gone just 2 for 22 this spring overall for the Pirates. He has one double -- his only extra-base hit -- and two RBI with four strikeouts to this point.

The St. Paul Pioneer Press reports Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe underwent an MRI on his right calf. Manager Ron Gardenhire said the results of the MRI came back "favorable," reports MLB.com. Plouffe said the "grab" was less painful this time than when he was injured earlier this spring, but he added he is probably still out at least a week.