MLB Player News

Rangers prospect Mike Olt has struggled to get things going early on at Triple-A Round Rock.

After doubling in the season debut, Olt has gone 0 for 12 with eight strikeouts in his last three games. He is batting .167 (1 for 16) with an RBI, two walks and 10 strikeouts through four games.

Olt played 16 games last season for the Rangers and hit .152/.250.182 with five RBI in 33 at-bats.

Through three games at Triple-A, Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado already has two home runs and two doubles. He's hitting .538 thus far.

If Chris Nelson falters at third, Arenado could push for a job with the major-league club. The 21-year-old Arenado didn't live up to expectations in 2012, though he still performed well. With a little more seasoning, he could be ready to contribute soon. 

After driving in three runs in his last two games, Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson failed to make much of an impact during Sunday's series finale against the Astros.

He went 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Donaldson is mired in a 3-for-25 slump in his first seven games played. The A's will face the Angels and the Tigers this week. He hit .200/.226/.340 with a homer and two RBI in 50 at-bats against the Angels and .286/.375/.357 with two RBI in 14 at-bats against the Tigers last season.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura, who was forced out of Sunday's game with a bruised left thigh, was held out of the starting lineup in Monday's series opener against the Cubs. Segura told MLB.com he is "still sore" after a second-inning collision Sunday.

The Brewers have listed Segura as day to day. He is hitting .450 (9 for 20) with a home run and two RBI through his first six games.

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).