MLB Player News

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes and Reds third baseman Todd Frazier survived tiebreaking swing-offs in the first round before eventually meeting in the finals of Monday's Home Run Derby, where Cespedes picked up his second straight title with a 9-1 knockout of Frazier.

Cespedes' three first-round homers earned him a swingoff with Athletics teammate Josh Donaldson, and after Donaldson managed just one home run three swings, the outfielder delivered homers in each of his first two swings to advance. He defeated Orioles outfielder Adam Jones 9-3 in the second round after Jones managed four first-round shots, then took down Jose Bautista, who had a competition-best 10 homers in the first round, by a score of 7-4 in the AL Final. Twins home-field competitor Brian Dozier hit just two home runs in the first round, failing to advance.

Frazier played the role of underdog throughout, hitting just two home runs as the first batter in the competition but managing to slide into a swing-off with Rockies first baseman Justin Morneau after Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig failed to hit a single home run before recording seven outs. Frazier went first in the swing-off and managed one home run in three swings but advanced after Morneau went 0 for 3. The Reds third baseman took down Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki 6-2 after Tulowitzki hit four first-round homers. Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton earned a bye after hitting six massive blasts in the first round, but he bowed out to Frazier 1-0 after a long break.

Cespedes joined Ken Griffey as the only players to win back-to-back Home Run Derby titles. He'll likely enter the 2015 competition as the favorite to make it three in a row.

The American League unveiled the following batting order for Tuesday's All-Star game: Shortstop Derek Jeter, left fielder Mike Trout, second baseman Robinson Cano, first baseman Miguel Cabrera, right fielder Jose Bautista, designated hitter Nelson Cruz, center fielder Adam Jones, third baseman Josh Donaldson and catcher Salvador Perez.

Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon registered three hits in his team's 10-3 win over the Phillies in Philadelphia.

Rendon singled in the first and sixth innings, respectively. He doubled in a run in the ninth inning and finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored and one RBI. He enters the All-Star break with a .287/.343/.490 with 13 homers and 53 RBI in 359 at-bats.

Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar cranked out three hits in his team's win over the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday.

Escobar doubled in two runs in the opening frame and added two singled. He finished 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBI in a 13-5 victory. It was his third three-hit game of the season and his first since June 6. He enters the break with a .271/.313/.404 slash line with three homers and 21 RBI in 255 at-bats.

Twins third baseman Trevor Plouffe posted his second three-hit game since returning from the disabled list, in a 13-5 win over the Rockies in Colorado on Sunday.

Plouffe doubled in the opening frame, tripled in the fifth and recorded a single in the seventh inning. He fell a home run shy of a cycle and finished 3 for 5 with three runs scored. He owns a .245/.317/.409 slash line with six homers and 42 RBI in 298 at-bats.

Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado doubled twice in Sunday's 3-for-4 performance with an RBI against the Angels. Arenado has 19 doubles and 30 RBI heading into the All-Star break.

He's hitting .289/.314/.461 in 228 at-bats.

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Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar went 2 for 5 with a solo home run in his team's 9-3 win over the Rockies Saturday.

Escobar has put together back-to-back multihit efforts after going 0 for 15 in his previous four games. Prior to this two-game stretch, the shortstop's last multihit performance came back on June 15. He has hit .263/.303/.394 with three home runs and 19 RBI in 251 at-bats.

The Padres optioned pitcher Jesse Hahn to Triple-A El Paso Saturday and recalled infielder Jace Peterson.

The team brought an extra infielder into the fold while Tommy Medica deals with an injury. Hahn, who won for the fifth time in his last six starts Friday, is expected to return to the team after the All-Star break. He owns a 2.21 ERA and 47:16 K:BB ratio in 40 2/3 innings.

Brewers shortstop Jean Segura was placed on the bereavement list Saturday, the team announced. Segura will miss an undetermined amount of time while in the Dominican Republic after suffering a loss in his family, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.