MLB Player News

Plouffe went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI Wednesday against the Phillies.

Plouffe drove in the first run of the game with a first-inning RBI single before scoring the eventual game-winning run in the seventh inning. This was the first time he's posted multiple hits in back-to-back games in over a month, and he's now slashing .254/.277/.386.

Donaldson was battling a stiff neck all day Wednesday, but talked his way into the lineup, Sportsnet's Barry Davis reports.

He went 1-for-3 with a double, a run and two strikeouts before getting replaced by Darwin Barney on defense in the bottom of the ninth inning. The fact that he was removed in the ninth inning is not necessarily a big deal, as Barney is an excellent defender, but it may point to the fact that his neck pain got to be too much as the game went on. The Blue Jays have an off day Thursday, so hopefully that allows Donaldson to get right in advance of this weekend's series against the White Sox.

Moncada went 1-for-5 with an RBI single in his debut for Double-A Portland on Tuesday.

One year ago at this time, Moncada was struggling at Low-A Greenville (.200 average, .289 OPS), but he's been on a tear since, posting a combined line of .309/.421/.498 with 11 homers and 81 steals (91 attempts) over 117 games at Greenville and High-A Salem. His assignment in Portland is to continue to hone his considerable raw material while sticking at second base, the only position he's played since entering the organization. With second base in Boston blocked by Dustin Pedroia, Moncada's athleticism opens up the possibility of him transitioning to third base or left field, areas where the organization has limited depth.

Alvarez homered twice and knocked in five runs in a 3-for-5 game Tuesday against the Padres.

Alvarez is finding his stroke in June, as he has now hammered six of his nine home runs this month. He upped his batting line for the month to a stellar .340/.373/.745 with Tuesday's effort and is now hitting .240/.318/.473 on the season. That's right about in line with his .236/.309/.440 career mark and approximately what can be expected from Alvarez going forward.

Ramirez went 2-for-4 with two runs scored, two RBI and his fourth home run in Tuesday's win over the Rays.

Ramirez now has 20 extra-base hits after he managed just 23 in 97 games last season. His .292/.357/.425 batting line is above average across the board not just for second basemen but for the entire league, and all three marks would represent career highs for the young switch hitter.

Bregman (head) will be held of the lineup at Double-A Corpus Christi on Tuesday as a precaution, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports.

The report notes that Bregman's "fine," suggesting he avoided a concussion after being drilled on the head by a 94 mph fastball Monday. It sounds like Bregman could be back in action with Corpus Christi as soon as Wednesday. The 22-year-old is making a case to bypass the Triple-A level and reach the majors, slashing .304/.412/.571 with 14 homers through 57 games with the affiliate.

A three-home run week helped Donaldson beat out fellow Blue Jays Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders to earn the AL Player of the Week award for the fourth time in his career.

Donaldson went 12 for 27 with three homers, four doubles, a triple and nine runs driven in to win the award for the first time in 2016. The 30-year-old led the league in total bases (27) and extra-base hits (8) for the week ending June 19th and tied for first in slugging percentage (1.000). After a somewhat slow start (by his standards), Donaldson looks more like the reigning MVP at the start of summer.

Chapman, 23, is slashing .230/.323/.451 with 15 home runs, 36 RBI and four steals through 68 games for Double-A Midland.

Chapman got off to a fast start in 2016, but has come crashing back down to earth. A huge red flag is his strikeout total, which sits at 98 in 68 contests. It remains to be seen if Chapman will be able to hit for average at the higher levels. Chapman has not hit above .250 in any single year since entering the minors.

Longoria went 1-for-4 with a two-run homer Monday in Cleveland.

Longoria is having a major bounce-back season, slugging a career-high .551 with 18 homers in 66 games. The 30-year-old third baseman proved capable of such sustained production early in his career, so enjoy the ride.

Bregman left Monday's game at Double-A Corpus Christi after being hit in the head with a pitch.

Bregman exited the game after the incident and could be held out of Tuesday's game for precautionary reasons, though no announcement has yet been made. The 22-year-old is having a great season, batting .304 with 14 home runs and 44 RBI.