RONALD BLUM ADVERTISING RONALD BLUM AP Baseball Writer NEW YORK — Less than three months after making his major league debut, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is an All-Star, one of two rookies selected along with Los Angeles Dodgers
RONALD BLUM
AP Baseball Writer
NEW YORK — Less than three months after making his major league debut, Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant is an All-Star, one of two rookies selected along with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Joc Pederson.
But there was no room on the roster for Alex Rodriguez, enjoying a renaissance in his return to the New York Yankees following a season-long drug suspension.
Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal also was a first-time selection Monday for the July 14 game in Cincinnati. Grandal became the third All-Star this year who served a drug-related suspension for conduct connected to the Biogenesis of America clinic. Seattle slugger Nelson Cruz and St. Louis shortstop Jhonny Peralta were elected by fans to start.
Peralta’s double-play partner, Kolten Wong, was not selected for a reserve spot. The 2008 Kamehameha graduate and UH-Manoa standout finished second in fan voting to Gordon by nearly 2 million votes.
Albert Pujols of the Angels will start at first base for the AL in place of Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera, who injured a calf muscle Friday. Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen will start in the NL outfield instead of Miami’s Giancarlo Stanton, who broke his hand on June 26.
The 23-year-old Bryant made his big league debut April 17 and began Monday with a .279 average, 12 homers and 49 RBIs.
“Obviously, I’ve been at some All-Star Games, but I don’t think anything can compare to making the major league All-Star team,” he said. “It is kind of weird right now. We have a game in an hour, so I’m trying not to get too excited and whatnot, but obviously it’s pretty cool.”
He’s open to participating in the Home Run Derby.
“It’s all happened so quick. I’ve just been having so much fun with this, my baseball career,” Bryant said. “Right now, it’s a pretty special feeling for me.”
Pederson, who also expects to be in the derby, had 20 homers but was hitting just .234. He was especially pleased fellow players elected him.
“They respect the way I play the game,” he said.
A record six Royals were picked for the game, with players electing pitcher Wade Davis, and AL manager Ned Yost of Kansas City selecting reliever Kelvin Herrera. They join Royals outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon, catcher Salvador Perez and shortstop Alcides Escobar, who were elected on Sunday as starters.
“The one thing that Kelvin did that a lot of these guys didn’t do was pitch in Game 7 of the World Series last year,” Yost said. “That was kind of the deciding factor for me.”
Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas is among the five players on the AL fan ballot for the 34th and final roster spot. Rodriguez is not.
The three-time MVP, who turns 40 on July 27, has 16 home runs and 47 RBIs for the Yankees after missing last year because of a drug suspension
“We spent a lot of time debating his name,” said Yost, who preferred the versatility of an extra infielder or outfielder. “We felt we were covered in the DH. … We wanted to get Alex Rodriguez on there and couldn’t.”
The league that wins the All-Star Game gets home-field advantage in the World Series.
Rodriguez is hitting .284 during a season in which he passed Willie Mays for fourth on the career home run list and topped 3,000 hits. But Texas’ Prince Fielder, who was elected by players, joined Cruz as the only DHs on the AL roster.
“As I’ve said all season, my number one goal is helping the Yankees win a championship. I’m excited that we’re in a good position to get there,” Rodriguez said in a statement. “Of course it would have been an honor to represent the American League next week, but I’ll have fun cheering on the guys who were put on the team and watching them protect home field.”
Yankees reliever Dellin Betances was elected by players, and first baseman Mark Teixeira was picked to fill Cabrera’s roster spot. But this will be the first All-Star Game with no Yankees starters since 1999.
St. Louis tops the NL with five players. Peralta was elected to start along with outfielder Matt Holliday, who isn’t sure when he’ll be activated from the disabled list. Catcher Yadier Molina and reliever Trevor Rosenthal were elected by players, and NL manager Bruce Bochy of San Francisco picked pitcher Michael Wacha.
Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman was elected by players and is the second member of the hometown Reds on the NL roster. Third baseman Todd Frazier was elected to start.
Pittsburgh pitcher A.J. Burnett, in his 17th and what he says will be his final season, became an All-Star for the first time. At 38, he’s the oldest player headed to the game.
Washington outfielder Bryce Harper, a three-time All-Star at age 22, is the youngest. Harper said Monday he won’t participate in the Home Run Derby because his father isn’t available to pitch to him following shoulder surgery.
There are 16 All-Stars born outside the 50 states, including six Venezuelans, five Dominicans, three Cubans, one Canadian and one Puerto Rican.
AL starting pitchers include Seattle’s Felix Hernandez, Detroit’s David Price, Chicago’s Chris Sale, Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, Oakland’s Sonny Gray and Tampa Bay’s Chris Archer. Among the NL starting pitchers are Washington’s Max Scherzer, San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, the Dodgers’ Zack Greinke, the Mets’ Jacob deGrom, Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole and Atlanta’s Shelby Miller.
“New team. New league. It’s just getting a look at everybody,” said Scherzer, who left Detroit to sign a $210 million deal with the Nationals. “Everybody’s getting their first look at me and the things I’ve done. I’m sure they’ll make adjustments the rest of the year. That’s why it’s going to be a difficult challenge for me.”
Joining Moustakas on the ballot for the AL’s final spot are Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts, Detroit outfielder Yoenis Cespedes, Minnesota second baseman Brian Dozier and Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner. The NL ballot includes pitchers Johnny Cueto of Cincinnati, Jeurys Familia of the Mets, Clayton Kershaw of the Dodgers and Carlos Martinez of the Cardinals along with Colorado shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Voting runs until Friday afternoon.
MLB All-Star Game
Tuesday, July 14
At Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati
(x-inactive; r-injury replacement)
AMERICAN LEAGUE
STARTERS
C: Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: x-Miguel Cabrera, Tigers; Albert Pujols, Angels
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros
3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays
SS: Alcides Escobar, Royals
OF: Mike Trout, Angels
OF: Lorenzo Cain, Royals
OF: Alex Gordon, Royals
DH: Nelson Cruz, Mariners
RESERVES
Pitchers
Chris Archer, Rays
Dellin Betances, Yankees
Brad Boxberger, Rays
Zach Britton, Orioles
Wade Davis, Royals
Sonny Gray, Athletics
Felix Hernandez, Mariners
Kelvin Herrera, Royals
Dallas Keuchel, Astros
Darren O’Day, Orioles
Glen Perkins, Twins
David Price, Tigers
Chris Sale, White Sox
Catchers
Russell Martin, Blue Jays
Stephen Vogt, Athletics
First Baseman
r-MarK Teixeira, Yankees
Second Basemen
Brock Holt, Red Sox
Jason Kipnis, Indians
Third Baseman
Manny Machado, Orioles
Shortstop
Jose Iglesias, Tigers
Outfielders
Jose Bautista, Blue Jays
Adam Jones, Orioles
J.D. Martinez, Tigers
Designated Hitters
Prince Fielder, Rangers
CANDIDATES FOR FINAL VOTE
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox
OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Tigers
2B: Brian Dozier, Twins
OF: Brett Gardner, Yankees
3B: Mike Moustakas, Royals
___
NATIONAL LEAGUE
STARTERS
C: Buster Posey, Giants
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks
2B: Dee Gordon, Marlins
3B: Todd Frazier, Reds
SS: Jhonny Peralta, Cardinals
OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals
OF: Matt Holliday, Cardinals
OF: x-Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins; Andrew McCutchen, Pirates
RESERVES
Pitchers
Madison Bumgarner, Giants
A.J. Burnett, Pirates
Aroldis Chapman, Reds
Gerrit Cole, Pirates
Jacob deGrom, Mets
Zack Greinke, Dodgers
Mark Melancon, Pirates
Shelby Miller, Braves
Jonathan Papelbon, Phillies
Francisco Rodriguez, Brewers
Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals
Max Scherzer, Nationals
Michael Wacha, Cardinals
Catcher
Yasmani Grandal, Dodgers
Yadier Molina, Cardinals
First Basemen
Adrian Gonzalez, Dodgers
Anthony Rizzo, Cubs
Second Basemen
DJ LeMahieu, Rockies
Joe Panik, Giants
Third Baseman
Nolan Arenado, Rockies
r-Kris Bryant, Cubs
Shortstop
Brandon Crawford, Giants
Outfielders
Joc Pederson, Dodgers
A.J. Pollock, Diamondbacks
Justin Upton, Padres
CANDIDATES FOR FINAL VOTE
SP: Johnny Cueto, Reds
RP: Jeurys Familia, Mets
SP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers
SP: Carlos Martinez, Cardinals
SS: Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
