MLB Player News

Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford helped power the team to a 9-1 win over the Marlins Friday.

Crawford played just five innings in the game, as he made his impact felt early. He went 1 for 2, with a two-run home run in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the fifth to finish with three RBI and a run scored.

Crawford has been a surprise source of power for the Giants this season, hitting eight home runs in 93 games; his previous career-high was nine in 149 games last year.  Crawford is hitting .242/.323/.419 in 298 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks infielder Chris Owings still doesn't have a timetable for a return, according to MLB.com.

"This isn't what you want to be doing," Owings said. "It's tough, watching the team play on the road and just sitting in the dugout." Owings has been out since late June due to a shoulder injury. He's been able to do strengthening exercises and run the bases, but hasn't been able to swing much. 

Owings is hitting .277/.313/.458 over 238 at-bats. 

Diamondbacks shortstop Chris Owings won't be activated Friday, according to FoxSports.com.

Owings is dealing with a shoulder injury, and is still having some problems. Those issues could sideline Owings for a couple of weeks. Prior to the injury, Owings was hitting .277/.313/.458 over 238 at-bats.

Dodgers second baseman Dee Gordon swiped a league-high 43 bases over the first half of the season while hitting .292/.344/.398 in 359 at-bats.

If Gordon can remain healthy and in the lineup while keeping up his pace, he's on track to become the first players in the majors since 2009 to reach 70 steals. The last National League player to get to 70 stolen bases was Jose Reyes in 2007, when he racked up 78 steals, which was the highest steals count since Marquis Grissom managed the same in 1992. If Gordon can increase his pace slightly, he could become the first player since 1988 to steal 80 bases in a season.

While the Mets might be shopping veteran starting pitcher Bartolo Colon by the July 31 trade deadline, they also appear buyers.

The Mets would like to acquire an upgrade at shortstop over Ruben Tejada and a power-hitting left fielder to join Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson as regulars in the outfield, industry sources told ESPN.

It is also believed Mets general manager Sandy Alderson could be looking to deal outfielders Chris Young and Eric Young.

Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington said Wednesday he hasn't ruled out moving Xander Bogaerts back to shortstop this season. However, manager John Farrell took a different stance Thursday, per MLB.com.

"We don't want to move Xander back and forth. We want some stability defensively," Farrell said. "Until that combination of players changes, we'll stay as is."

John Farrell has expressed support for Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts despite monumental struggles at the plate. The manager is planning to keep Bogaerts in the lineup.

"The one message we've been very strong and clear on is that we're committed to him," Farrell told the Providence Journal. "The one thing that we have to do is be consistent with him. He feels and senses the positive view of him. That is a long-term player for us, and we're not going to abandon someone because there's some growing pains along the way."

Bogaerts owned a .395 on-base percentage and .464 slugging percentage after more than 200 plate appearances. But he is hitting a disturbing .110 with a .151 OBP in his last 106 plate appearances with 29 strikeouts and just four walks. He has been flailing away at pitches out of the zone and has been dropped to ninth in the batting order.

Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson told reporters that shortstop Chris Owings is still not 100 percent from his left shoulder injury. Once he's fully recovered, the team will have him resume hitting, MLB.com reports.

On Sunday, Major League Baseball revealed the National League reserves for the 2014 All-Star Game, which will be held on July 15 at Target Field in Minneapolis.

The following players were selected as reserves:

C Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers
C Devin Mesoraco, Reds
1B Freddie Freeman, Braves
2B Dee Gordon, Dodgers
2B Daniel Murphy, Mets
SS Starlin Castro, Cubs
3B Todd Frazier, Reds
3B Matt Carpenter, Cardinals
IF/OF Josh Harrison, Pirates
OF Charlie Blackmon, Rockies
OF Hunter Pence, Giants
OF Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins

Royals infielder Pedro Ciriaco accepted his assignment to Triple-A Omaha, reports the Kansas City Star. Ciriaco hit .213 over 47 major-league at-bats before being designated for assignment.