Wieters on the Mark for Orioles; Hudson Leads Padres Past Rangers

Players of the Day for Thursday, March 17, 2010

American League

Matt Wieters

Baltimore bats were booming as the O's banged out 20 hits in a 13-3 win over the Pirates. Matt Wieters, in as a DH, had four for himself, going 4-for-5 with two singles, two doubles, two runs and two RBI.

Entering his third season, Wieters has yet to live up to his expectations. As a rookie in 2009, he hit .288 with 9 home runs and 43 RBI in 96 games. The power numbers were a little better in 2010 - 11 bombs and 55 RBI - but that was over a 130-game span in which the catcher struggled at the plate, batting just .249.

Lots of players really begin to find their stride in their third season, and if that's the case for Wieters, the Orioles may find themselves closer to the top of the AL East standings than the bottom.

National League

San Diego pounded Texas, 15-5, getting 19 hits off five Texas hurlers. Leading the barrage with a 3-for-4 effort was newly-acquired Orlando Hudson, who belted a pair of doubles and a single, scored twice and drove in two runs.

The well-traveled Hudson spent last season in Minnesota, where he batted .268 in 128 games. A veteran of nine seasons in the majors, Hudson has played with the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Twins and Diamondbacks and is a career .280 hitter.