MILWAUKEE — With Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp officially out of next week's All-Star game, Braves third baseman Chipper Jones was announced to take his place.
That means Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun, having finished third on the players' ballot, will officially start in the outfield for the National League. This starting nod will be Braun's fifth consecutive in All-Star games, as fans voted him in all four of the previous seasons. Braun is also just the fifth Brewer ever to be named to five All-Star games, joining Robin Yount and Gorman Thomas.
With better numbers this season than at the same time in 2011, it's clear that Braun's vote suffered a bit due to the controversy that marred his offseason, before breaking the starting lineup as a replacement. So far in 2012, Braun is batting .309 with 22 home runs and 55 RBI.
The Brewers star outfielder will be joined Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera and Cardinals outfielder Carlos Beltran in the National League outfield.
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