MLB: Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Nolan Arenado among 12 1st-time All-Star starters
NEW YORK — Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa
and Nolan Arenado led a new generation of All-Stars, among 12
first-time starters elected by fans for the July 11 game at Marlins
Park.
"I've got to call my
family and tell them to book a flight to Miami. They're going to be
excited," Judge said after rosters were announced Sunday.
The dozen first-time starters are the most since voting was returned to fans in 1970.
Just
one player was picked from the World Series champion Cubs: reliever
Wade Davis, who wasn't even with Chicago when it ended a 108-year title
drought last fall. The Cubs had seven All-Stars last season, including
their entire starting infield.
"Frankly, we haven't had many guys who were all that deserving," Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta.
Just past the halfway point, the Cubs are 41-41.
"Maybe this is actually a good thing. Right now, rest is not a bad word," said Chicago's Joe Maddon, who will manage the NL.
In
a sign of the generational change, the All-Stars with the most
selections are Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw with eight
and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina with seven. Detroit's Miguel
Cabrera, the senior All-Star last year with 11 selections, wasn't picked
for the first time since 2009.
Two
of the first-time starters are from the Houston Astros, who have the
best record in the major leagues: Correa, the shortstop drafted first
overall in 2012, and outfielder George Springer. Second baseman Jose
Altuve was elected to his third start.
"It's
something that you dream about since you are a little kid, since you
get drafted, since you sign a professional contract," Correa said.
Houston
pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. were picked, as well,
giving the Astros five All-Stars, tied for the most with the New York
Yankees, Cleveland and Washington. Keuchel is hurt and won't pitch.
Nationals
outfielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy and first baseman
Ryan Zimmerman were elected to start, and Max Scherzer and Stephen
Strasburg were selected for the pitching staff. Harper led fan voting
with 4.63 million ballots.
"Definitely humbled by fans, the way they treat me," Harper said.
At 32, Zimmerman is an All-Star for the first time since 2009, when he was a reserve third baseman.
"Yeah, sports are funny, man," Zimmerman said. "It's just a crazy path to get back, but it's also pretty cool."
Judge,
the 6-foot-7 rookie who leads the major leagues with 27 home runs,
topped the AL with 4.49 million votes. He is joined in the outfield by
Springer and Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, who hopes to return in
time from a torn thumb ligament.
Cleveland's
Jose Ramirez overtook Minnesota's Miguel Sano in the final days of
balloting to win the AL third base spot by about 54,000 votes, Toronto's
Justin Smoak bounced back to beat Kansas City's Eric Hosmer by 555,000
at first base, and Tampa Bay's Corey Dickerson rallied to win at
designated hitter by nearly 75,000 over Seattle's Nelson Cruz. The
Royals' Salvador Perez won at catcher.
Arenado overtook the Cubs' Kris
Bryant, last year's NL MVP, to win at third base by 180,000. Arenado
will be joined in the NL lineup by Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart,
Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, Miami outfielder Marcell Ozuna and
San Francisco catcher Buster Posey.
"It would be even more fun if there were a few more guys going from the team," said Posey, whose Giants are last in the NL West.
There
were 11 first-time starters last season in San Diego, the last year the
winning league received home-field advantage in the World Series. Under
baseball's new labor contract, the Series now starts in the ballpark of
the pennant winner with the better record.
Catcher
Gary Sanchez, injured second baseman Starlin Castro and pitchers Dellin
Betances and Luis Severino also were picked from the Yankees. Cleveland
is sending pitchers Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller, shortstop Francisco
Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley.
"I'm
just happy for Cleveland," said the Indians' Terry Francona, who will
manage the AL. "I think the fans and the city — everybody should be
proud."
Marlins
outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was picked as a reserve and plans to
defend his Home Run Derby title on July 10. Judge also has been invited,
and Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger, who leads the NL with 24
homers, has said he will participate.
"It is going to be amazing," Stanton said. "Either way, the week was going to be cool, but this makes it even cooler."
The
NL-leading Dodgers will send Bellinger, Kershaw, shortstop Corey Seager
and closer Kenley Jansen to Miami, but nobody from Los Angeles was
elected for the starting lineup by fans. Jansen was upset with his own
fanbase for letting down Seager and third baseman Justin Turner.
"I'll say it loud and clear again: It's the Dodger fans' fault," Jansen said.
Among
other strong candidates overlooked were Carlos Carrasco, Jacob deGrom,
Gio Gonzalez, Ivan Nova, Roberto Osuna, Anthony Rizzo, Travis Shaw,
Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton and Alex Wood.
Rosters
were cut from 34 per league to 32 under the new labor deal, and online
voting determines the last spot on each roster. Elvis Andrus, Xander
Bogaerts, Didi Gregorius, Logan Morrison and Mike Moustakas are the AL
candidates, and Justin Bour, Bryant, Anthony Rendon, Mark Reynolds and
Turner are on the NL ballot.
The
AL had won four straight and went 11-3 in the years the All-Star Game
determined World Series home field. Marlins Park is the third of four
straight NL ballparks to host the All-Stars and will be followed by
Washington in 2018.
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