MLB Player News

I'm with colleague Nando Di Fino in declaring the Phillies' Darin Ruf one of the more underowned hitters in Fantasy.

Granted, most 27-year-olds who hit .266 with seven home runs in 305 at-bats at Triple-A prior to a midseason promotion aren't so deserving of a second look. But last year, Ruf led all minor-leaguers with 38 home runs, and he did it at Double-A, which is usually a tougher adjustment than Triple-A. Maybe losing the battle for the starting left field job in spring training put him in a funk. Since arriving in the big leagues July 6, he has looked much more like the player who compiled a .299 batting and .380 on-base percentage over five minor-league, reaching base in all 24 of the games he's played so far.

But his greatest attribute is power. The 400-foot shots come so effortlessly for him. He has two already, including one against Kris Medlen over the weekend that would have left all 30 ballparks. He also has two home runs of more reasonable distance, giving him four in 81 at-bats.

And I predict more to come, making Ruf an ideal waiver claim for all those owners who lost Nelson Cruz to the Biogenesis suspensions.

After knocking in his 100th run Tuesday against the Indians, Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera became just one of six players in baseball history with 100 RBI in 10 straight seasons, according to Elias.

The other five to accomplish the feat dating back to 1901 are Lou Gehrig, Jimmie Foxx, Alex Rodriguez, Al Simmons and Albert Pujols.

"Nothing surprises me that that guy does," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said, per MLive.com. "I hate to say that I take him for granted, but we've been together quite a while now. He's awful good. Everybody knows that."

Mariners rookie shortstop Brad Miller has committed six errors and owns a .957 fielding percentage in his first 34 games since his promotion from the minors. 

"It’s still early," Mariners acting manager Robby Thompson said, per The Seattle Times. "Yeah, there’s been some balls and plays he feels he should have made. I’m not going to sit here and say the game is speeding up on him. He moved through the system rather quickly and he’s up here. It’s kind of youth now that’s showing a little bit. All this experience he and (Nick) Franklin are getting, offensively and defensively, they’re only going to get better from it."

With his home run Tuesday, Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper passed Ken Griffey Jr. for the most home runs before age-21.

With 39 home runs already, Harper only trails Mel Ott and Tony Conigliaro. Harper will turn 21 in October, but would have to hit 17 home runs to tie Conigliaro, which doesn't seem likely. Still, passing Griffey in any category is a pretty high honor for a 20-year-old. 

Harper is hitting .271/.365/.526 in 266 at-bats. 

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen extended a handful of minor streaks Tuesday, as he continued to swing a hot bat in a 4-3 win over the Marlins.

McCutchen picked up his fourth multi-hit game in a row by going 2 for 3, while adding a pair of RBI, his fourth game in a row with at least one. McCutchen also walked once in the win, the third straight game he has done so.

McCutchen has been on fire in August, batting .600 with five RBI, four walks, four runs scored and three doubles in five games. He is hitting .309 on the season with an .884 OPS. 

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera, who continues to play through a nagging abdominal injury, picked up his 100th RBI on the season during a win at Cleveland Tuesday. 

Cabrera went 2 for 4 in the game with an RBI double in the fifth inning. He also scored a run and is batting .361 on the year. Cabrera now has at least 100 RBI in 10 consecutive seasons. 

Phillies first baseman Darin Ruf has been as good as advertised so far this season, hitting .299 with three home runs and a .907 OPS through 23 games. And with Ryan Howard's return still far off -- if he comes back at all -- Ruf looks to have the starting first base job locked up for essentially the rest of the season. 

Ruf hit .317 with 38 home runs in Double-A last year. He had three straight seasons of 30 or more doubles heading into 2013, and had an .882 OPS over five minor league seasons. He strikes out a decent amount, but nothing egregious for a power hitter. And he's sporting a cool .413 OBP so far this season. 

While it's understandable to expect a rookie hitter to see a drop-off after a big start like this, Ruf could still finish 2013 with a .280 average and double-digit home runs. He's worth an add in most 12-team Roto formats as a corner infielder. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt managed three singles, two runs and one walk Monday against the Brewers. It was the second time in four games Belt managed three hits.

Despite his recent three-hit games, Belt is batting .241 (7 for 29) with one triple, one home run, three RBI, five runs and six RBI in his last 11 games (eight starts).

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera returned to action Monday in a 4-2 comeback win at Cleveland. After missing four starts with an abdominal injury, Cabrera went 1 for 4 with a walk in the game. 

The 30-year-old continues to bat .359 on the season to lead the majors and has 32 homers and 99 RBI to go with the high average. 

Astros outfielder J.D. Martinez, who sprained his wrist July 26 and is on the disabled list, does not currently have a timetable to return to the lineup, MLB.com reports.

Manager Bo Porter said Martinez will do rehab work in Houston, but it is uncertain whether or not he'll need a minor league rehab assignment.

"I haven't had time to sit down with [trainer] Nate [Lucero} and map out his progress, but I know J.D.'s working hard and he'll be around the park while we're here," Porter said.