Max Scherzer, the Detroit Tigers’ undefeated pitcher, has been named an All-Star for the first time in his career and third baseman Miguel Cabrera was voted in as a starter for the first time.
They are two of six Tigers, the most for Detroit since 1985, who were announced Saturday to the American League team for the July 16 midsummer classic.
Joining Scherzer and Cabrera will be Prince Fielder (reserve first baseman), Jhonny Peralta (reserve shortstop) and Torii Hunter (reserve outfielder), along with pitcher Justin Verlander.
"That tells me that I'm still doing good work," the 37-year-old Hunter said after being told of his selection by FOX Sports Detroit's Mickey York. "At my age, this could be my last All-Star Game, so I'm going to certainly enjoy this one."
A seventh Tiger, reliever Joaquin Benoit, also could be added to the A.L. squad. Benoit is one of five candidates in the Final Vote promotion, where fans pick the last player added to each team's roster by voting online.
The other four nominees are also relievers – Toronto’s Steve Delabar, the New York Yankees’ David Robertson, Texas’ Tanner Scheppers and Boston’s Koji Uehara.
Scherzer, 28, is in his sixth season in the big leagues, fourth in Detroit. He’s having a career year with a 13-0 record and 3.09 ERA. Scherzer is scheduled to make two more starts before the All-Star Game.
"It's awesome -- it is like the feeling when I got called up to the majors," said Scherzer, who is the first Tiger to ever start 13-0. "It means even more that I was selected by the players. If Skip lets me start, that would really be great."
For Cabrera, it’s his eighth All-Star invite. Cabrera, contending for his second straight Triple Crown, was edged out in the last week for the most votes overall in the fan balloting by Baltimore’s Chris Davis, the Major League leader in home runs. No Tiger has ever received the most votes.
Detroit’s Jim Leyland is the American League’s manager, but the only Tiger that he added to the roster was Verlander. The other five were voted in by either the fans or the players.
"We did go to the World Series last year," Leyland said after Detroit's
win. "The fans voted for our guys and the players voted for our guys. I
feel very comfortable with it."
The All-Star Game will be played at Citi Field, home of the New York Mets, and will be televised by FOX a week from Tuesday.
