Yoenis Cespedes continues to shine - MLB

Yoenis Cespedes carried a truckload of question marks into the 2012 season. He had never played professional baseball outside of Cuba. He was considered extremely raw offensively and defensively. And the A’s committed four years and $36 million to him, which looked like an overpay at the time.

But things seem to be working out pretty well.

Cespedes homered and tripled in the A’s 6-1 defeat of the Orioles on Saturday night in Baltimore and is now batting .302/.361/.541 with 14 dingers and 53 RBI through the first 68 games of his major league career. He also made an impressive running catch in center field, covering a ridiculous amount of ground in a short amount of time to rob a would-be double from the O’s Omar Quintanilla.

Cespedes, 26, is already one of the most exciting players in baseball and could get even better as he grows more comfortable. Oakland is 10 games above .500 and currently leading the pack in the AL Wild Card hunt.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson, and Tommy Kahnle were activated by the New York Yankees ahead of their weekend series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots after a 1-0 loss at Seattle, optioning infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Aaron Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.

New York is missing centerfielder Harrison Bader, who strained his right hamstring against the Mariners and went on the injured list the next day.

Left-hander Carlos Rodón, sidelined since spring training by a sore left forearm and an ailing back, was transferred to the 60-day injured list.