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Fresh off facial fractures, Bregman mashes 2 homers in 2nd game back

Just a week after suffering facial bone fractures from a deflected foul ball, infielder Alex Bregman insisted on playing in Sunday's regular-season finale to gather crucial plate appearances before the postseason. Working strictly as the designated hitter to minimize potential physical risks, the slugger quickly quieted any concerns about his tracking ability by crushing two home runs during his initial two plate appearances.

Craig Counsell noted that decisions regarding returning the player to his defensive position at third base will depend on ongoing daily evaluations and health considerations.

The pair of deep drives at Tropicana Field raised the veteran's seasonal home run total to 28, capping off a productive second-half performance that placed him near the top of FanGraphs WAR leaderboards among major leaguers since the All-Star break. The previous injury occurred in Cincinnati when a batted ball struck him while waiting on deck, but Sunday's offensive display demonstrated that his batting vision remained sharp as his club prepares for playoff action.

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