Pitchers and reserves have been named to the American League and National League All-Star Teams, as announced today by Major League Baseball, the Major League Baseball Players Association and All-Star Game managers Tony La Russa of the National League and Ron Washington of the American League. The 2012 American League and National League All-Star rosters were unveiled this afternoon on the 2012 All-Star Game Selection Show Presented by Taco Bell on TBS.
In addition to the starters who were elected by the fans, pitchers and reserve players were named to the All-Star Game rosters by the Player Ballot – a vote of the players, managers and coaches – and by the All-Star Game managers in conjunction with MLB. In making their selections, the managers have ensured that each of the 30 Major League Clubs will be represented in the All-Star Game.
American League position players who are invited to the 83rd Midsummer Classic as a result of Player Balloting are catcher Matt Wieters of the Baltimore Orioles; first baseman Paul Konerko of the Chicago White Sox; second baseman Ian Kinsler of the Texas Rangers; shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians; third baseman Miguel Cabrera of the Detroit Tigers; outfielders Adam Jones of the Orioles and teammates Mike Trout and Mark Trumbo of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; and designated hitter Adam Dunn of the White Sox.
Angels rookie Trout will become the seventh youngest A.L. All-Star position player in the 79-year history of the Midsummer Classic, including the fifth youngest A.L. All-Star outfielder. The only six A.L. All-Star non-pitchers younger than Trout, who will be 20 years and 11+ months on July 10th, were catcher Butch Wynegar (20/4+ mos., 1976 ASG), outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr. (20/7+ mos., 1990 ASG), catcher Ivan Rodriguez (20/7+ mos., 1992 ASG), Hall of Fame outfielders Mickey Mantle (20/8+ mos., 1952 ASG) and Al Kaline (20/9+ mos., 1955 ASG) and outfielder Claudell Washington (20/10+ mos., 1975 ASG). (Data provided by the Elias Sports Bureau) In addition, Trout’s 832,439 write-in votes are the most that any player has received since Freddy Sanchez of the Pittsburgh Pirates, hosts of the 2006 All-Star Game, drew 856,685 that year.
Dunn has made his second career All-Star team and his first in 10 years one year after batting .159 with 11 home runs and 42 RBI in his first season with the White Sox.
A.L. pitchers who have made the 2012 All-Star Game as a result of the Player Ballot include starters David Price of the Tampa Bay Rays; CC Sabathia of the New York Yankees; Chris Sale of the White Sox; Justin Verlander of the Tigers; and Jered Weaver of the Angels. Since Sabathia is currently on the disabled list, his replacement is C.J. Wilson of the Angels, per Washington’s choice. Sabathia will be recognized as an All-Star and has been invited to Kansas City with full All-Star honors. The relievers who are All-Stars via the Player Ballot are Jim Johnson of the Orioles; Chris Perez of the Indians; and Fernando Rodney of the Rays.
Washington’s seven selections, in conjunction with MLB, included three position players: catcher Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins; shortstop Elvis Andrus of the Rangers; and designated hitter Billy Butler of the host Kansas City Royals. The four pitchers who are among Washington’s selections are reliever Ryan Cook of the Oakland Athletics; starter Matt Harrison of the Rangers; starter Felix Hernandez of the Seattle Mariners; and reliever Joe Nathan of the Rangers.
The 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote sponsored by Firestone will determine the 34th A.L. roster spot, a competition that will feature pitchers Jonathan Broxton of the Royals; Yu Darvish of the Rangers; Ernesto Frieri of the Angels; Jason Hammel of the Orioles; and Jake Peavy of the White Sox.
National League position players who are invited to the All-Star Game as a result of Player Balloting are catcher Yadier Molina of the St. Louis Cardinals; first baseman Bryan LaHair of the Chicago Cubs; second baseman Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros; shortstop Starlin Castro of the Cubs; third baseman David Wright of the New York Mets; and outfielders Ryan Braun of the Milwaukee Brewers, Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies and Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
N.L. pitchers who have made the All-Star Game as a result of the Player Ballot include starters Matt Cain of the San Francisco Giants; R.A. Dickey of the Mets; Lance Lynn of the Cardinals; and Washington Nationals teammates Gio Gonzalez and Stephen Strasburg. The relievers who are All-Stars via the Player Ballot are Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds; Joel Hanrahan of the Pirates; and Craig Kimbrel of the Atlanta Braves.
The 37-year-old knuckleballer Dickey, who was a first round pick in 1996, will make his Midsummer Classic debut in his 10th Major League season. With 12 wins so far this year, Dickey is bidding to become the first knuckleballer to post a 20-win season since Joe Niekro of the Astros in 1980.
The 23-year-old Strasburg, the top pick in the 2009 MLB First-Year Player Draft, has reached the All-Star Game faster than any other pitcher who was the Draft’s number one overall selection. He is the fourth pitcher who was the top overall choice to make the Midsummer Classic, joining Floyd Bannister (1976 Draft, 1982 ASG), Mike Moore (1981 Draft, 1989 ASG) and Andy Benes (1988 Draft, 1993 ASG).
La Russa had nine selections to fill out the remainder of the N.L. roster. The four position players chosen by the manager, in conjunction with MLB, are catcher Carlos Ruiz of the Philadelphia Phillies; shortstop Ian Desmond of the Nationals; and outfielders Jay Bruce of the Reds and Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins. The five pitchers who are among La Russa’s selections are teammates Cole Hamels and Jonathan Papelbon of the Philadelphia Phillies; Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers; Wade Miley of the Arizona Diamondbacks; and Huston Street of the San Diego Padres.
The 2012 All-Star Game MLB.com Final Vote sponsored by Firestone will determine the 34th N.L. roster spot. The competitors are Braves teammates Michael Bourn (OF) and Chipper Jones (3B); third baseman David Freese of the Cardinals; outfielder Bryce Harper of the Nationals; and second baseman Aaron Hill of the D-backs.
