Last year's AL Rookie of the Year and one of the most electrifying young players in the game, Mike Trout hit for the cycle on Tuesday night in a 12-0 rout of the Seattle Mariners at the hands of the Los Angeles Angels. Trout's cycle would start with an infield single in the third-inning, followed by an RBI triple to deep right center field in the fourth-inning. In the sixth-inning, Trout scorched a three-ru ...

It's been Preston Claiborne and Shawn Kelley stealing the show in the bullpen, easily the most dominant makeup of the New York Yankees' roster. With their assistance in the wake of Joba Chamberlain's injury, along with the usual dominance from Dave Robertson and Mariano Rivera, the Yankees' bullpen is one of the best in the game and its future is in no doubt whatsoever, despite New York having one of the ol ...

Tampa Bay Rays manager Joe Maddon says that after reviewing video from yesterday afternoon's game and having a conversation with shortstop Yunel Escobar, he doesn't think that Escobar did anything wrong, and he is right. "He did nothing wrong,'' Maddon said. Escobar, made a gesture after hitting a home run Monday, slashing his arms in an exaggerated safe signal as he crossed home plate. After the game Maddo ...

Cleveland Indians ace Justin Masterson was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday following two dominant outings in which he held his opponents scoreless. In two starts this past week, Masterson pitched 16.0 scoreless innings with a 20/5 strikeout to walk ratio, posting a perfect 0.00 ERA in the process. On Monday, May 13 Masterson pitched a complete-game shutout against the New York Yankees ...

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto was given the honor of National League Player of the Week on Monday, covering games from the week of May 13 through May 19. Over the course of the past week, Votto boasted a major league best batting average of .583, while leading the NL with a .655 on-base percentage and a .917 slugging percentage that was good enough for second in the NL. Votto would also slug two ...

The 2013 MLB Amateur Draft has precipitated much discussion and hype surrounding the likes of top college pitching prospects Mark Appel, Jonathan Gray, Sean Manaea, and even Braden Shipley. While there is no reasonable doubt of the aforementioned prospects’ pitching abilities, focus has been undeniably given towards these arms, particularly in the wake of recent strong performances by Shipley. While attenti ...

Analysts, scouts, talking heads, and even the informal baseball observer have labeled this year’s First-Year Player Draft a lackluster offering of talent compared to years past. Despite the fact that this year’s draft lacks a definitive marquee prep star or can’t-miss phenom, the pool of talented high school and college arms and bats is still rather impressive. Most impressive of all is the quantity and qua ...

The 2013 MLB June Amateur Draft looms in the minds of each of the 30 clubs as June 6th rapidly approaches reality. Clubs have analyzed, researched, and scouted each of the top high school and collegiate players that would offer the best tools available for their organization. Each club sits patiently with their draft boards organized and ready to go, though of course, anything goes on draft day. Players hav ...

Stephen Strasburg can breathe a little easier now. With a 6-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Thursday night, Strasburg garnered his second victory of the season, his first since opening day on April 1. The Washington starter worked eight innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on three hits while striking out four. This was the first time in Strasburg’s major league career that he pitched in the e ...

In the weeks leading up to opening day, Boston was projected for a season of mediocrity in the wake of a 2012 season marred by injury, poor play, and clubhouse disunity. Amongst the many questions surrounding the Boston club heading into the season included whether newcomer third baseman Will Middlebrooks would build off of his success from last season. While having a very respectable rookie campaign in 201 ...

Much has been written recently about the melodramatic confrontation between the overrated, "punk" reliever who never quite reached his potential and perhaps the greatest player any reliever can ever aspire to become. Of course, that's just a narrative and Mariano Rivera and Joba Chamberlain bickering over who was being rude is akin to asking your co-worker to turn his music down when you're on the phone or ...

Justin Upton returned to Arizona and had four hits including a home run to help the Atlanta Braves stop a three-game losing streak. For the most part Upton received a mixed reaction from the Arizona crowd who seemed to enjoy the moment. "It was mixed, and that was what I expected," Upton said. "It is what it is. I tried to have fun with it. This time the fans were yelling at me instead of cheering me, but i ...

Anthony Rizzo agreed to a contract extension worth $41 million that will keep him with the Chicago Cubs through 2019, according to major-league sources. The deal also includes two $14.5 million club options, plus $2 million buyouts. The guaranteed portion of the deal runs from 2013-19. The deal does not include any no-trade protection. Rizzo, 23, is hitting .288/.361/.554 with nine home runs and  hit .285/. ...

The Tampa Bay Rays  were one away from a crushing defeat  when Evan Longoria smashed a two-out home run in the bottom of the ninth  to beat the San Diego Padres 8-7. Tampa Bay led 6-2 most of the game but lost the lead in the seventh when Jesus Guzman  hit a pinch-hit  grand slam to tie the game. For Longoria it was his ninth home run of the year and he is hitting .336  with 26 RBI. After Guzman's slam, Car ...