MLB Player News

A knee injury and the struggle to find his stroke has pretty much cost Indians catcher Yan Gomes half a season. But he's finally showing signs of life.

Gomes is batting .333 (7-for-21) in his last five games to end a 4-for-37 slide. PITCHf/x reports that he has slammed seven balls with exit velocities of at least 100 mph since June 16 after managing zero before the injury that knocked him out for six weeks. He is simply trying to grind his way through it.

"This game is so frustrating and so hard," Gomes told MLB.com. "And the more and more I think about looking at the board and seeing if I'm getting there, or if I'm going to get talks from you guys where I'm struggling or something, it's just some stuff that I can't even worry about.

"It comes down to good at-bats or hard outs or bloopers - whatever. It's going to work out the way it's supposed to work out. From my career, I know I'm a good hitter. I know things are going to turn out."

Gomes added that he's feeling better at the plate.

"You've just got to take it and know it's a good sign," he said. "I'm seeing the ball well."

The American League starters for the 2015 All-Star Game on July 14 were announced Sunday. The Royals will send four starters to the Summer Classic, with Salvador Perez, Alcides Escobar, Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon leading the votes in their respective positions.

Angels outfielder Mike Trout will make his fourth consecutive All-Star appearance. He received the most votes of any outfielder and the second most on the AL roster.

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Royals
First baseman: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers (injured)
Second baseman: Jose Altuve, Astros
Third baseman: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays (top AL vote-getter)
Shortstop: Alcides Escobar, Royals
Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels
Outfield: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
Outfield: Alex Gordon, Royals
Designated Hitter: Nelson Cruz , Mariners

Rays catcher Curt Casali picked up two RBIs, doubling his season total, without the use of a hit in Tampa Bay's win over the Yankees on Sunday. 

Casali went 1-for-2 on the day to raise his average to .280, but it was his second-innng sacrifice fly and eighth-inning bases loaded walk that lifted his RBI total to three on the season. 

The young catcher has been a find since cracking Tampa Bay's lineup, registering at least one hit in four of his last five starts.

Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, has begun hitting off a tee and also hitting soft toss in batting practice, according to The Providence Journal. His throwing program will begin in August.

Vazquez is still expected to miss the entire 2015 season after undergoing surgery in April.

Tigers catcher James McCann hit his fourth home run of the season during Wednesday's loss to the Pirates.

McCann went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the ninth inning. 

McCann is hitting .500 with seven hits, two home runs and three RBI over his last three games.

Tigers catcher James McCann went 3 for 6 in Tuesday's 14-inning loss to Pittsburgh. 

McCann is 5 for his last 10 with RBI in his last two games. He hit his 11th double and drove in his 16th run. 

Royals catcher Salvador Perez produced the only run of the game for the Royals during Monday's 6-1 loss to the Astros.

Perez hit his 13th home run of the season when he connected off Lance McCullers in the seventh inning. It was his only hit in four at-bats during the game.

Prior to Monday's contest, Perez was hitting .185 with two home runs and four RBI in his last seven games.

Indians catcher Yan Gomes smacked his third home run of the season during Monday's 7-1 win over the Rays.

Gomes hit the solo shot off Kirby Yates in the eighth inning. He finished the game 3 for 5 at the plate with two runs scored and one RBI.

Prior to his three-hit game Monday, Gomes was hitting .108 with one double and five RBI over his last 11 games.

Royals catcher Salvador Perez recorded three RBI in his team's win over the Athletics on Sunday.

Perez went 1 for 4 with a two run home run, his 12th of the season. Perez brought in another run when he reached base on a fielder's choice in the sixth inning.

Perez is hitting .271 with 12 home runs and 33 RBI in 255 at-bats this season.

Tigers catcher James McCann hit a walk-off home run with one-out in the ninth inning on Sunday. 

It was McCann's third career home run, all hit this year. The last two homers have both been walk-offs--he hit an eleventh inning homer to win a game on May 21. 

McCann went 2 for 4 and scored twice. He drove in his 15th run of the season. 

McCann also threw out his MLB leading 13th attempted base stealer of the season. He has thrown out 13 of 27 steal attempts.