Dodgers pitchers Clayton Kershaw, Tony Gonsolin are selected to All-Star team
The full list of this year’s All-Stars was revealed with two more Dodgers making the cut.
Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin were named National League pitchers Sunday for the 2022 All-Star Game, which will be played July 19 at Dodger Stadium.
“I think it’s been a couple years since I got to be in an All-Star Game and something at Dodger Stadium too is special. I don’t take that for granted,” Kershaw said after Sunday’s 11-9 victory against the Chicago Cubs. “I hope I didn’t take anybody’s spot that was more deserving than me, but now that it’s official and I get to do it I am very excited about it.”
The Angels’ Shohei Ohtani, who was already voted in as the American League’s starting designated hitter, was also chosen as a pitcher — the second straight season he’s been selected to do both.
He is the only player in history to get in as a position player and pitcher. He’s the 10th pitcher in Angels history to get selected to multiple All-Star Games and the second in team history to do so in consecutive years. He was named the AL starting pitcher in 2021 and also batted leadoff.
The Dodgers rally from 5-0 and 8-3 deficits and defeat the Cubs, 11-9
“It’s a huge honor and I would like to give it my best for all the people that voted for me,” Ohtani said through the Angels’ public relations staff Sunday .
Ohtani and Kershaw were MLB selections, while Gonsolin was a player ballot selection.
This makes All-Star nod No. 9 for Kershaw, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, and the first for Gonsolin, who is 11-0 with a 1.62 ERA.
“It’ll feel more surreal next week when I’m there, but today, it just feels like we just played another ball game,” Gonsolin said.
Dodgers left-hander Julio Urías was not included in the list of All-Star pitchers, despite being in the midst of another strong season. First baseman Freddie Freeman — who went four for five with two RBIs, including a solo home run on Sunday — and catcher Will Smith — who contributed two RBIs in five at-bats — also weren’t included on the final All-Star list.
Asked whether Urías, Freeman and Smith deserve to be All-Stars, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said: “I think that all three guys are worthy of it. … I’m certainly biased, but it’s hard for me to not see those three guys on the All-Star team.”
Roberts said before Sunday’s game that he thought Urías was snubbed last season as well.
Urías gave up five runs in two innings on Sunday. The team knew which players had made the All-Star team, but Urías said it was not even in his head when he went out to pitch.
The Los Angeles Angels took a 2-0 lead in Baltimore on Sunday, but the Orioles rallied for their eighth consecutive victory.
Freeman, Smith and Urías said they were not disappointed. Freeman commended the players having great seasons who did make the team. Smith said he thought he had a chance, but wasn’t fazed he didn’t get it. Urías said in Spanish that All-Star selections are the kinds of things that are out of his control.
The pitchers and reserve players get voted on through a player ballot, then are selected by the commissioner’s office.
Angels right-fielder Taylor Ward was also among players making a case for an All-Star selection, but was not picked for a reserve role. It is possible Ward, Urías, Freeman or Smith get invited as replacements for any players who end up skipping the game because of injuries or availability issues.
Dodgers shortstop Trea Turner and outfielder Mookie Betts were already named All-Star starters, along with the Angels’ Mike Trout.
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