MLB Player News

Martin went 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly during the Twins' 2-1 loss to the Reds on Friday.

Martin's sacrifice fly in the fifth inning plated the Twins' only run during Friday's loss. Martin has been effective at the plate as of late, having reached base safely in 11 of his last 12 games. Over his last eight games, Martin has gone 9-for-20 (.450) with one steal (on three attempts), one home run, two RBI, five walks and six runs scored.

Dezenzo (elbow) will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Corpus Christi on Friday.

Dezenzo sustained a sprained elbow while playing for Team Italy in the World Baseball Classic last month. The 25-year-old appeared in 34 games for the Astros last season, slashing .245/.321/.367 with two homers, 10 RBI, 17 runs scored, one stolen base and an 11:37 BB:K across 109 plate appearances.

Hernaiz went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Thursday's loss to the Rangers.

With Max Muncy getting the day off, Hernaiz drew the start at the hot corner and swiped his second base of the season. Playing time has been tough to come by for the utility infielder, and the results have been lackluster when he's been called upon as he's slashing .200/.238/.200 in 21 plate appearances. Hernaiz figures to see occasional action as a fill-in option for Muncy, Jeff McNeil and Jacob Wilson, and he's already played at least three games at second base, third base and shortstop this season.

Witt went 3-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI and three runs scored in Thursday's loss to Detroit.

Witt turned in one of his strongest personal performances of the young season, recording his first three-hit game and first multi-XBH effort of the year. Thursday's showing raised the star shortstop's OPS to .708, though he has yet to homer. His numbers have been trending upward, as Witt is slashing .313/.371/.469 over his past eight games with five doubles, five RBI, three runs and a stolen base, leaving little cause for concern with the 25-year-old.

Holliday (wrist) will resume a rehab assignment with High-A Frederick this weekend, his father -- former big leaguer Matt Holliday -- said Thursday on Cardinal Territory.

Holliday had been at Triple-A Norfolk earlier this week but got pulled off his rehab stint due to soreness in his surgically repaired right wrist. Matt revealed that the soreness was on the opposite side of the wrist from where his son had hamate surgery and was likely a result of overcompensating. It is not viewed as a significant setback, and Holliday could return to Norfolk as soon as Tuesday as he ramps up his rehab.

Brito went 0-for-3 with a walk in Thursday's 4-2 win over Baltimore.

Brito swung a hot stick upon his call-up from Triple-A Columbus, going 5-for-12 with a pair of doubles in his first three games in the wake of Gabriel Arias' hamstring injury, which will keep him sidelined until mid-May at the earliest. Brito has moved in the other direction lately, going 1-for-18 with two walks and eight strikeouts over his last six contests.

Duran started at shortstop and went 2-for-4 with a double, a stolen base, two RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 9-6 win over the Athletics.

Duran gave the Rangers a cushion with a two-run single in the ninth inning. His name popped up in the starting lineup for a fifth consecutive game, this time as a replacement for the resting Corey Seager. His previous starts came at third base for a banged up Josh Jung and in the outfield for the then-injured Wyatt Langford, both of whom have returned and were in the lineup Thursday. The steal was the third in the last four games for Duran, who stole 11 bags in a part-time role last season.

Muncy is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers.

Muncy suffered a bruised hand earlier in the series when he was hit by a pitch, and the Athletics are wrapping up their four-game set versus Texas with a day game after a night game, so manager Mark Kotsay will elect to give the young infielder a breather. Darell Hernaiz will check in at third base in place of Muncy, who started in each of the Athletics' first 18 games of the season while slashing .288/.338/.485 with two home runs, two steals, 13 runs and five RBI.

Arias is hitting .542 with two home runs, one steal, a 12.9 percent walk rate and a 6.5 percent strikeout rate in 31 plate appearances for Double-A Portland.

His first homer of the season April 14 was a majestic shot to center-right field -- an impressive feat for a righty-hitting 20-year-old who is the third-youngest hitter at Double-A, behind Jesus Made and Leo De Vries. His second homer of the season April 15 was hammered to the pull side and he also stole his first base in that game. Arias' hit tool has long been one of the more advanced in the minors, and he seems to be heading for a power breakout in the upper levels.

Seager is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.

Seager will receive his first day off of the season after he started each of the Rangers' first 18 contests. Ezequiel Duran will fill in at shortstop for Seager, who is batting just .152 through 13 games in April but has contributed three home runs, eight RBI, seven runs and one stolen base.