MLB Player News

Marlins rookie outfielder Marcell Ozuna is still striking out like crazy, but he has certainly been productuve when he does make contact.

Ozuna has fanned at least once in every game since May 2. His strikeout total in nine games since then is 16, but yet he is 12 for 39 in June with two home runs, six RBI and six runs.

His stat line on the year is .266/.310/.441. He's on pace to drive in 100 runs this season.

Rockies right fielder Charlie Blackmon had not had a hit since June 7 entering play Thursday. He sure busted out in a big way against Atlanta.

Blackmon cut loose from his slump with a solo home run in the third and added two doubles, including a two-RBI job in the eighth that capped the rout. The leadoff hitter now has 12 homers and 43 RBI on the season.

A week after claiming minor league outfielder Darin Ruf avoided any breaks or fractures in his right knee or left wrist following an outfield collision on June 2, the Phillies have announced that he indeed has a small fracture in the wrist.

General manager Ruben Amaro, however, told the Philadelphia Daily News that the diagnosis does not change the timetable of Ruf's eventual return to baseball activities. The team has yet to pinpoint a return date.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen filled up the stat line Wednesday, going 2 for 2 with two walks, one home run, two RBI and one stolen base in his team's 4-2 win over the Cubs.

McCutchen gave his team a quick lead with a two-run home run in the first inning, and he would reach safely in each of his successive plate appearances Wednesday. He has hit .318/.434/.542 with 10 home runs, 35 RBI and eight stolen bases in 236 at-bats.

Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen went 2 for 4 with a home run and three RBI in his team's 6-2 win over the 6-2 win over the Cubs Monday.

McCutchen hit his two-run homer in the third inning and added his third RBI on a double in the fifth. He has gotten off to a great start in June, going 12 for 32 with four home runs and eight RBI in eight games. He has hit .309/.423/.509 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and seven stolen bases in 230 at-bats.

Giants first baseman Brandon Belt took grounders before Monday's game, Comcast SportsNet Bay Area reports.

Belt wasn't able to grip the ball with his other hand, as he continues to recover from a fractured thumb. He'll try and continue to ramp up baseball activities in advance of a potential rehab assignment.

The Dodgers aren't ready to promote outfielder Joc Pederson for a few reasons, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Rosenthal wrote the most obvious reason is because the Dodgers' outfield situation remains crowded.

However, the Dodgers remain hesitant to promote Pederson because they feel he is still not a finished product. He is striking out every 3.5 plate appearances and still needs to work on improving against left-handed pitchers. The team also wants to see Pederson mature, as he has failed to run out grounders on multiple occasions.

Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter hit a two-run homer in Sunday's 5-0 win in Toronto, his first long ball since April 4. Carpenter's second homer of the season gave him 23 RBIs.

The leadoff hitter finished 2 for 5, raising his average to .299/.390/.394.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Saturday that injured first baseman Brandon Belt could begin baseball activities within the next week, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

"He's been running around a little bit, riding the bike, doing some one-arm swinging," Bochy said. "I think within a week he'll be doing some baseball activities, but he can pick up the conditioning to see if we can speed up this process."

Out since May 9, Belt had pins removed from his fractured thumb Friday. If Belt responds positively next week, it's possible he could go out on a rehab assignment the following week.

The Pirates exploded for 15 runs Friday night, so they didn't need a double and home run by Andrew McCutchen to beat Milwaukee. But they got them anyway.

McCutchen doubled in a run to open the scoring in the first and slammed a solo shot in the third before going hitless in his last three at-bats.

He has three home runs, five RBI and six runs in the last five games combined to raise his slugging percentage to .489, its highest point since May 13.