MLB Player News

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera did some back-tracking Tuesday, according to MLB.com.

During Monday's session with the media, Cabrera admitted his recovery from groin surgery hasn't been perfect. "There are times when I feel good, but there are always muscles that are tightening, muscles that are not functioning properly,” Cabrera told USA Today reporter Jorge Ortiz. He added that both he and Justin Verlander were struggling with their recovery from surgeries, but both agreed not to make excuses for their performances. 

Cabrera back-tracked on those statements Tuesday, telling reporters he was "good" when asked about those quotes. While Cabrera's numbers are lower than usual, he's still been exceptional on offense. Over 343 at-bats, Cabrera is hitting .306/.364/.534, with 14 home runs. 

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.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes experienced more hamstring tightness during Saturday's loss to the Mariners, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Cespedes is expected to serve as a designated hitter during Sunday's series finale at Safeco Field.

Cespedes is hitting .249 with 14 homers and 56 RBI in 349 at-bats. The injury is not expected to impact his status in this year's Home Run Derby.

Mariners shortstop Brad Miller was ejected from Saturday's game against the Athletics for arguing balls and strikes.

Miller was tossed by home plate umpire Bob Davidson after arguing following a strikeout in the bottom of the fourth inning. He owns a .206/.276/.333 with eight homers and 24 RBI in 267 at-bats.

The Royals optioned infielder Christian Colon to Triple-A Omaha Friday, in order to clear a roster space for the return of Norichika Aoki from the disabled list.

Colon appeared in six games with the Royals, going 4 for 12 with three runs scored.  

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez has continued his hot-hitting ways in the month of July, as he put together another multi-hit effort in a 16-4 win over the Royals.

Four days after slugging his career-high 12th home run of the season, Martinez was held in the yard Thursday. He still managed to make his impact felt, reaching base three times and driving in three runs, while going 2 for 3 with a walk. He added a pair of runs scored in the win.

Martinez is hitting .429/.462/.829 with three home runs and nine RBI in nine July games.  

Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera came back from his first off-day of the season reinvigorated Thursday, as he reached base four times in a 16-4 win over the Royals.

Cabrera went 2 for 3 in the game, and he drove in three runs in the first four innings as the Tigers ran up the score. He also walked twice and scored once in the big win.

Cabrera got off to a slow start -- by his standards -- but is back to seventh in the American League with a .926 OPS. He is batting .315/.376/.550 while ranking second in the AL with 73 RBI in 87 games. 

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday against the Dodgers for the first time all season. As manager Brad Ausmus put it: "Miggy's earned a day off."

"I think he's the one guy who hasn't had a day off all year," Ausmus said, per MLive.com. "The best time would have been Sunday if they hadn't changed it to a night game, because historically he and David Price, the numbers are in Price's favor. But when they changed it to a night game, it kind of changed my thought process.

"It's tough to play matchups with Miggy because he hits most people. We're playing outside the division. We're actually playing outside the league, if you want to get technical. So that was kind of the thought process behind it."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley went 3 for 4 with two doubles, a home run and three RBI in his team's 5-3 win over the Yankees Tuesday.

Brantley drove in a run in the first inning with a double and did the same in the fifth with another double. He then swatted a solo home run in the seventh inning to provide his team with an insurance run they wouldn't need. Brantley, who has collected multiple hits in five straight games, owns a .328/.391/.529 line with 14 home runs and 60 RBI in 329 at-bats.

Athletics outfielder Yoenis Cespedes will be looking for his second straight title when he participates in this year's Home Run Derby.

Cespedes was officially selected to be part of the AL team this season Tuesday. He more than doubled any of his competitors in the first round last season by hitting 17 home runs, adding six more in the second round to cruise into the Finals, where he defeated Bryce Harper 9-8. Named as a reserve to the AL All-Star squad Sunday, Cespedes has hit 14 home runs in 332 at-bats this season.