Manny Machado

Even though his major league career is just four games old -- and he began this past week playing at Double-A Bowie -- Orioles rookie third baseman Manny Machado has been named American League co-Player of the Week. Machado will share the honor with Red Sox first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. Called up before Thursday's game against the Royals, the 20-year-old Machado went 6-for-16 with three homers, one triple, one double, five runs and seven RBIs over four games. On Friday, he became the 12th player in major league history to record a two-homer game before his 21st birthday.

Manny Machado, the Orioles organization's top position-player prospect, hit for the cycle Saturday for Double-A Bowie in an 8-7 win over Trenton. Machado, ranked the 11 th best prospect in baseball by Baseball America, completed the feat with a game-winning, two-run homer to left in the eighth inning. The 20-year-old Machado was 4-for-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored on the night. His third-inning double scored Rhyne Hughes from second. Machado, the third overall pick in the 2010 MLB Draft out of Miami Brito Private, is hitting .262 with 26 doubles, four triples, 10 homers and 57 RBIs this season.

Manny Machado, the Orioles' 20-year-old phenom, is in tonight's starting lineup versus the Kansas City Royals, batting ninth and playing third base. Machado, who will wear No. 13, received a warm welcome from some teammates as he walked around the clubhouse. But at least one player didn't even know that the infielder had been called up from Double-A. Machado met with infield instructor DeMarlo Hale and will meet with the press at 3:45. Still, no corresponding move has been announced to make room for Machado on the 25-man roster.

Orioles third baseman Manny Machado returned to camp Tuesday morning after missing Monday's workout to have additional testing for his physical. The 20-year-old planned to be a full go for Tuesday's workout, which included a variety of drills, including sliding, bunting for base hits and hitting off the curveball machine. “[I'm a] full go,” Machado said. “I'm ready to get back out there. I was bored yesterday. I'm ready to come back out here and participate with the team.” Machado said the test was for “something personal,” but Orioles manager Buck Showalter alluded that Machado had some sort of acid reflux issue show up on his tests.

The problem with talent like Manny Machado's is it's hard to accept that it can sometimes fail. And baseball is a game of failure. Machado, recently ranked the ninth-best prospect in the minors by Baseball America, represented the Orioles on Sunday during the MLB Futures Game, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs. And same as any other time Machado plays, expectations were high. "People come out and expect Superman instead of looking at a guy who's a baseball player," said Gary Kendall, Machado's manager with the Double-A Bowie Baysox.

When Manny Machado was announced to the sellout crowd Sunday night before the first home playoff game at Camden Yards in 15 years, the Orioles' rookie third baseman jogged to the first base foul line. And then he subtly tipped his cap to the Yankees, just a quick acknowledgement to the other team. If you blinked, you missed it. “Yeah, I went out there and waved over there to [Joe] Girardi and Derek [Jeter] and their teammates just out of respect,” Machado said. “They are also in the playoffs, and I just wanted to tip them off. We're in the postseason and you've got to tip your hat over there.” No big deal.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Orioles manager Buck Showalter won't announce his Opening Day starting lineup until after today's workout at Tropicana Field, but he did reveal some interesting tidbits about the batting order that he plans to send out to face reigning AL Cy Young Award winner David Price. In his first Opening Day start, third baseman Manny Machado will hit out of the No. 2 spot, a place we've seen Machado hit over the final week of spring games. With a left-handed hitter, either Nick Markakis or Nate McLouth, leading off tomorrow, it will allow Showalter to flip sides with right-handed hitting Machado.

Manny Machado is getting his second straight start at third base tonight against the Royals, hitting eighth in the Orioles lineup. Initially it appeared that Machado would get most of his at bats against left-handed pitching, but he's agains starting tonight against Royals right hander Luke Hochevar. Machado was 2-for-4 with a triple and runs scored in his major league debut on Thursday. Wilson Betemit, who has spent the major of his time the last month at third base, is making his first start at first base since July 3 in Seattle.

After registering his first hit in his big league debut Thursday night, Manny Machado expressed disappointment that his milestone didn't come in an Orioles win. But in his second major league game Friday against the Kansas City Royals, the 20-year-old not only helped the O's to victory. He hit his way into the franchise's record books. Machado whipped Camden Yards into a frenzy by hitting his first two career home runs in a 7-1 win, becoming the youngest Oriole to hit two in a game.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Buck Showalter said he had been looking for a night off for shortstop J.J. Hardy, and Monday made sense, especially considering Hardy is 2-for-27 against Texas right-hander Ryan Dempster in his career. “It's just a good time, I've been thinking about it for a while,” Showalter said. “J.J., you've seen the level he plays the game at. … There's nobody more deserving [of a rest].” It helps, Showalter said, that he now has three other players who can handle shortstop: Omar Quintanilla, Robert Andino and rookie Manny Machado.