MLB Player News

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.

After initially classifying his calf injury as a minor setback, the Twins will shut down third baseman Trevor Plouffe for a "week-plus," manager Ron Gardenhire told MLB.com on Sunday. Gardenhire said the injury would have landed Plouffe on the disabled list had this been the regular season and the team will exercise caution moving forward. Plouffe apparently aggravated a strained left calf injury during workouts Sunday.

MLB.com reports Twins general manager Terry Ryan said third baseman Trevor Plouffe re-injured his calf Sunday morning, but it's considered a minor setback and he's listed as day to day. Plouffe is batting .407 (11 for 27) with one double and six RBI in nine spring games.

The Philadelphia Phillies continued shaping their roster Saturday and reassigned the following players to their minor-league camp: pitchers Jonathan Pettibone, Adam Morgan, Ethan Martin, J.C. Ramirez, Joe Savery and Kyle Simon, catcher Tommy Joseph, third baseman Cody Asche, outfielder Zach Collier and second baseman Michael Martinez.

After accidentally wearing wearing the wrong jersey (No. 98), Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson belted a pair of home runs in Friday's Cactus League contest against the Mariners. However, Donaldson's numbers won't count since the game was washed away in the third inning. "I don't know if it was the number or not," Donaldson said. "But I might give it another shot."

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon -- headed to the minors no matter what he does in spring training -- hit his third home run of the spring on Wednesday. Rendon is now batting .400 with three home runs and eight RBI in nine games.

Rangers first baseman Mike Olt has talked a lot in spring training about his willingness to play wherever the team asks, and he seems intent on proving that. With Leonys Martin nursing a hamstring injury, Olt was penciled into the lineup in right field for spring training game, a position he has played just five games at in his career. Unfortunately. Olt was scratched from the lineup, with a trip to the dentist in his near future. It is not clear what he issue is exactly, but it is not expected to be serious.