MLB Player News

Twins first baseman/outfielder Chris Colabello is scheduled to undergo an MRI and X-rays this week on his ailing right thumb, according to the Pioneer Press. Colabello said he still feels numbness and tingling in his right thumb as a result of getting jammed on a pitch during an April 23 game against the Rays, according to the Worcester Telegram.

By most standards, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu had a strong second half, batting .350 with a .513 sluging percentage after the All-Star break.

Though, while he hit for a higher average than in the first half (.292), Abreu saw a drop in home runs, belting just seven in the second half after having 29 before the break.

"It could be some fatigue, but I would say it was a mental fatigue," White Sox strength and conditioning coordinator Allen Thomas said, per the Chicago Sun-Times. "And the league knew him a little better in the second half. He still took singles and the opportunities to get hits, he just missed by a little bit."

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron will serve as the designated hitter in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Royals Thursday, MLB.com reports.

After a sold start to his season in May and June, Cron has slowed down considerably in the second half, hitting just .209/.261/.395 with two home runs in 43 at-bats in September. He wrapped up his first major-league season with a .256/.289/.450 line along with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in 242 at-bats.

Angels first baseman C.J. Cron went 2 for 3 with a three-run home run in his team's 5-0 win over the Mariners Wednesday.

Cron's home run came at an opportune time, as the Mariners turned to the bullpen in the seventh inning only for the Angels first baseman to immediately smack a three-run blast to put the lead out of reach. He has hit .273/.301/.482 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 220 at-bats.

After going three weeks without a home run, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu homered for the second time in as many days Sunday against the Twins, finishing 2 for 4 with two RBI. The solo shot in the ninth inning gave him 35 on the season, tying the White Sox rookie record set by Ron Kittle in 1983.

"He's a good hitter so this isn't a surprise that he hit a home run,” manager Robin Ventura told ESPN.com. "He's been pretty consistent just as a hitter. The power's going to be there. He went through a little stretch where he wasn't hitting many home runs, but it's there."

In addition to the home runs, Abreu is also batting .322 on the season, including .354 since the beginning of June -- a span of 89 games.

"He's a better hitter than he is a power hitter and he's a heck of a power hitter too, so that’s the way I look at him," teammate Paul Konerko said. "He's not just a slugger."

So much for the power outage of White Sox slugger Jose Abreu. Abreu slammed a solo home run in the ninth inning Sunday that went for naught in a loss to Minnesota. It was his first since Aug. 22.

Abreu had already ripped a run-scoring single in the fourth inning as his stat line improved to .322/.384/.604 on the season.

Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron made his return to the starting lineup Friday night against Houston. Cron was not in the lineup since Monday because of a forearm injury, though he did make a appearance Thursday as a defensive substitute. He has five hits over his first 11 at-bats since being called up in September.

Angels designated hitter C.J. Cron has been unavailable since Monday because of a sore wrist, the Los Angeles Times reports. Cron has five hits over his first 11 at-bats since being called up in September. He is expected to return this weekend against the Astros. 

The power surge continued Thursday for Indians first baseman Carlos Santana.

Santana cranked out a 442-foot blast into the second deck in the first inning of the rout of Minnesota. He has four home runs in his last nine games and has improved his stat line to .233/.368/.443. He has 26 homers on the season - one short of his career-high.

Robin Ventura has expressed wonderment as to why White Sox slugger Jose Abreu is no longer slugging. But Ventura has also voiced confidence that the power outage is temporary.

"I'll take my chances with him of still being able to have the power," he told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Why it's not there right now? I don't know."

Abreu hasn't homered since Aug. 22, which covers a span of 16 games. But he has still hit safely in 14 of those games.