MLB Player News

Mets first baseman Justin Turner was sent to Double-A Birmingham to continue a rehab assignment Monday, and has performed well in two games.

Turner is 3 for 6 in two games at the level, with three singles. He's hoping to be activated this weekend, and could return Friday. Turner was hitting .266/.307/.330 in 94 at-bats in the majors. 

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller went just 3 for 17 (.176) in the last four games leading into the All-Star break, including six strikeouts, to lower his batting line to .246/.324./.393. Strikeouts have been an issue for Miller thus far in the major leagues, as he has whiffed 16 times in 68 plate appearances (23.5 percent). 

One of the biggest issues for prospects coming up to the major leagues is making contact with the advanced breaking balls major-league pitchers possess in comparison to their minor-league brethren. According to Brooks Baseball, Miller has swung and missed at less than 10 percent of all fastballs (including cutters), but he is well over 10 percent on every other pitch type, including over 20 percent on sliders. If he is to hit for average like he did in the minors -- no stint worse than .294 -- he'll have to show an ability to adjust to the slow stuff.

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera made some nice plays in the field and had a double in Tuesday's All-Star Game win at Citi Field in New York.

Cabrera, batting third, doubled into the right-center gap and scored a run in the 3-0 win.

He finished 1 for 3 with a strikeout and enters the second half of the season batting .365 with 30 homers and 95 RBI. Cabrera is looking for his second consecutive Triple Crown and trails only Chris Davis in homers at the break. Davis has 37. 

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes put an exclamation mark on the Home Run Derby by smashing a 455-foot bomb to straightaway center field to win it Monday night. Cespedes became the first player in history to win the derby despite not making the All-Star team.

Cespedes defeated Bryce Harper in the championship as he hit nine home runs in the final round to Harper's eight. Cespedes bashed monstrous home run after monstrous home run and easily led everyone after a first round 17.

The 27-year-old, batting .225 on the year with 15 homers and 43 RBI, hasn't homered in a game since going deep twice back on June 21 at Seattle.

Mets infielder Justin Turner has moved his rehab assignment up to Double-A Binghamton, ESPN reports Monday. All signs continue to point to Turner rejoining the Mets Friday.

Turner, who is rehabbing from an intercostal injury, was with Class A St. Lucie for one game and went 0 for 4 with a walk. He has been out since the middle of June. 

Turner, who has made 16 starts at various positions, is batting .266 with six RBI and six doubles in 44 games over 94 at-bats.

Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper will bat ninth for the first time in his career during Tuesday's All-Star Game.

Harper will play center field, and hit behind DH Michael Cuddyer. He'll oppose AL starter Max Scherzer. Harper is hitting .264/.371/.522 in 201 at-bats. 

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt homered and extended his modest hitting streak to five games Saturday at San Diego. Belt supplied two hits and three RBI to back Tim Lincecum's no-hit performance.

Belt had his first multi-hit game in July Saturday. He is batting .250 (10 for 40) with one triple, two home runs, three doubles, four RBI, seven walks and eight runs in 11 July games.

Some have suggested that Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera should sit out the All-Star Game to rest his ailing back, MLive.com reports Sunday. Manager Jim Leyland never suggested that, however. 

"No," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "That was never an issue."

Cabrera did remove himself from consideration to participate in the Home Run Derby, but was always expected to play in the Midsummer Classic. 

The defending American League Most Valuable Player and Triple Crown winner will be making his first All-Star start. He's batting .367 with 30 home runs and 95 RBI entering Sunday. 

Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf homered in the first game of the club's doubleheader Saturday against the White Sox.

Ruf finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored, a walk and an RBI. Even with an 0 for 4 in the second game of the doubleheader, Ruf owns a brilliant .375/.483/.750 line in eight games this season.

Mets infielder Justin Turner is scheduled to begin a minor-league rehab assignment with Class A St. Lucie Sunday, ESPN reports. Turner went 0 for 4 and served as a designated hitter for the Gulf Coast League Mets Saturday. He is expected back at some point next week when the Mets resume the second half of the season.