MLB Roundup:
First baseman Freddie Freeman of the Atlanta Braves topped Los Angeles Dodgers phenom Yasiel Puig in fan voting for the final spot on the National League roster and reliever Steve Delabar of the Tornto Blue Jays received the nod in the American League for Tuesday night's All-Star Game in New York's Citi Field.
A record 79.2 million votes were cast during the past week at MLB.com, teams' official websites and Twitter for the last player on each team, surpassing the previous best of 68.6 million in 2009. The results were announced Thursday.
Freeman secured his first All-Star berth with 19.7 million votes, winning a close battle with Puig, the Dodgers rookie who has taken the NL by storm in a little more than a month in the big leagues. Both Freeman nd Puig received record support, surpassing the 15.6 million votes that Shane Victorino totaled in 2009.
---The Milwaukee Brewers placed outfielder Ryan Braun on the bereavement list Thursday with what the team called a family medical emergency.
Braun, whose name is linked to Major League Baseball's investigation of the Biogeneis clinic that allegedly provided players with performance-enhancing drugs, had just returned to the Brewers' lineup this week after missing a month with a thumb injury.
The Brewers plan to make a move to fill Braun's roster spot after Thursday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
---New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez wants to return to the team in late July, provided he clears multiple hurdles in the coming days.
Rodriguez, according to CBS Sports, has told close friends and associates that he is aiming for a July 22 return when the Yankees are in Arlington, Texas, to play the Rangers. Before that can become reality, Rodriguez faces a meeting with MLB investigators about his alleged connection to the Miami Biogensis lab with reported ties to at least 15 active major leaguers, including All-Star Ryan Braun.
Per CBS, Rodriguez plans to invoke the "Jenkins Rule," which is the baseball equivalent to taking the fifth. Reporter Jon Heyman cited "people involved in the case" in stating Rodriguez's intention to give baseball executives the silent treatment. The Jenkins Rule is named for Ferguson Jenkins, the Hall of Fame pitcher who refused to answer questions about his recreational drug use. That meeting is scheduled for Friday, an off day for Rodriguez from his current rehab assignment in a bid to return from offseason hip surgery.
--Major League Baseball Players Association director Michael Weiner lashed out Thursday at leaks of players names and information in relation to the investigation of Andy Bosch's defunct Biogenesis anti-aging clinic.
In his statement, Weiner said: "The leaking of confidential information to members of the media interferes with the thoroughness and credibility of the Biogenesis investigation. These repeated leaks threaten to harm the integrity of the Joint Drug Agreement and call into question the required level of confidentiality needed to operate a successful prevention program. It would be unfortunate if anyone prejudged the results of the investigation based on unsubstantiated leaks that are a clear violation of the Joint Drug Agreement."
On Tuesday, an ESPN.com story cited "several sources" that said Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Braun will be among as many as 20 players who will be suspended following the All-Star break next week.
---Former Philadelphia Phillies catcher Darren Daulton has been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an infiltrative form of brain cancer.
Typically, patients with this type of cancer survive for only one to three years.
Daulton, who works for 97.5 FM The Fanatic, was a member of the Florida Marlins' World Series-winning team after 14 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies. Daulton, 51, learned he had cancer June 27.
---San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey tops the list of the most popular jersey sales on MLB.com since the start of the 2013 season.
New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera and St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina round out the top three. New York Mets third baseman David Wright and pitcher Matt Harvey are fourth and fifth, followed by Nationals left fielder Bryce Harper.
---The St. Louis Cardinals recalled ight-handed pitcher Carlos Martinez from Triple-A Memphis and optioned right-handed pitcher Michael Blazek to Memphis.
Martinez, 21, made seven relief appearances (0-0, 4.50 ERA, eight innings pitched, nine strikeouts) for the Cardinals in May. Martinez was a starter with Memphis beginning with his initial option from St. Louis on May 27. He posted a 3-2 record with a 1.98 ERA in eight starts. He struck out 35 batters in 41 innings pitched, walking 16.
