MLB Player News

Like most of his teammates, Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton is enduring a slow start to the season.

Stanton is batting just .167 through nine games, but more alarming he's yet to record a home run or RBI.

Stanton's slow start could have to do with his plate discipline, accordng to the Sun-Sentinel.

According to FanGraphs.com, Stanton is swinging at a career-high 38.1 percent of pitches outside the strike zone. His career average is 34.4 percent. Also, Stanton has swung at a career-low 45.2 percent of pitches inside the strike zone, which is well below his career average of 65.7 percent.

"He's just got to get a good pitch to hit and let it go," manager Mike Redmond said. "He has to be ready every at-bat and every pitch. He's one of those guys too that just needs to have a good at-bat, hit a ball hard and hopefully that will get him locked in."

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper is the fourth player in MLB history 21 years old or younger with four homers in his team's first eight games, according to Elias Sports Bureau. The others in this exclusive club are Al Kaline (Tigers, 1955), Carlos May (White Sox, 1969) and Miguel Cabrera (Marlins, 2004).

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler will be suspended for his bat-wielding incident, according to CBSSports.com Baseball Insider Jon Heyman. Soler was ejected from a Class A game Wednesday night after charging the opposing dugout with a bat.

The Mets continue to monitor the situation regarding Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, according to the New York Daily News.

Though the Mets aren't sure if the Marlins would deal Stanton, who voiced his displeasure after the team's firesale in the offseason, the Mets realize if a trade would arise, the team would likely have to include top prospects Zack Wheeler and Travis d'Arnaud.

"In a heartbeat," said one Mets official, who is not in general manager Sandy Alderson's inner-circle of decision makers but has a voice in discussions. "Nothing against those kids, but it’s Giancarlo."

Another Mets' official seems to be in agreement.

"If you could do that, you would have to," the official said. "You trade the pitcher for the everyday player almost every time."

Cubs prospect Jorge Soler was ejected from Wednesday's game for Class A Daytona after charging at the opponent's dugout with a bat, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The incident started when Soler appeared to have his hand stepped on while at second base and after the benches cleared, he had to be restrained by teammates from going after the players on Class A Clearwater.

The 21-year-old did not hit any players but smashed the bat against the dugout walls.

Soler went went 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored before getting tossed. He is batting .435.

Marlins right fielder Giancarlo Stanton went 1 for 3 in the team's 8-0 loss to the Braves Wednesday to raise his line to .167/.342/.233 in 38 plate appearances. However, Stanton has driven in zero runs in nine games.

The Marlins' offense figures to struggle this year, and Stanton is 0 for 6 with three strikeouts with runners in scoring position.

Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper hit his team-leading fourth home run of the season in Wednesday's win over the White Sox, adding a single to up his line to .394/.394/.788 in 33 plate appearances.

Harper has hit safely in seven of eight games this season, looking every bit the MVP candidate in his sophomore year.

Matt Carpenter put together his best game of the season with four hits, a home run, two runs and two RBI in five at bats for the Cardinals Wednesday against the Reds.

Carpenter is now hitting a robust .400/.462/.629 with six RBI. He's showing why the Cardinals are willing to carve out places in the lineup even if he has to play out of his normal position -- Wednesday marked his second game at second base this season, and if he continues to hit like this the Cardinals will be loathe to put him on the bench regardless of his fielding chops.

When Daniel Descalso got the start over Matt Carpenter at second base for the Cardinals in David Freese's return from the DL Tuesday, the Fantasy owners who targeted Carpenter as their eventual second baseman were worried. Even when he returned to the lineup Tuesday, it didn't eliminate those feelings of doubt given that he was replacing Freese rather than Descalso.

You can breathe, Carpenter owners. Both he and Freese were in the lineup Wednesday, with Carpenter at second base, and as of the seventh inning, our ace in the hole had gone 3 for 4 with a homer. I'd say his role is safe.

And I maintain he's Martin Prado, Part 2.

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton continues to work on his plate discipline and has started to show some patience after starting the season hitting .174 through his first seven games.

Stanton told the Palm Beach Post that he saw two pitches that he wanted to hit among the 21 thrown to him Monday against the Braves. He instead drew three walks.

"We got to keep talking to him about it, trying to get him to relax and be patience," manager Mike Redmond said. "That's half the battle. Everybody wants to get hits and get off to a quick start, but at the same time you got to relax and slow the game down, let the game come to you."

Stanton has mustered just four hits and struck out 11 times but has seven walks. He received 46 walks in 123 games last season. Though pitchers continue to work around him, Redmond hopes that the 23-year-old can turn things around soon.

"Somebody is going to make a mistake and he's going to make him pay," Redmond said. "Once he does that that will alleviate any stress."