Aguilar joins Cain, Yelich, Hader in ASG

MILWAUKEE -- Relief ace Josh Hader, outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich and first baseman Jesús Aguilar are headed to the All-Star Game for the Brewers.
Aguilar made the National League roster on Wednesday when it was announced he won the Camping World Final Vote, which determined the final All-Star roster spot in each league via fan balloting.
"We've got the best record in the National League, so we should have some All-Stars," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after Sunday's 10-3 win over the Braves at Miller Park. "That means we have guys having big years, and we earned a bunch of guys on the team. There should be more."
Cain is a second-time All-Star, having played for the American League in 2015. Hader and Yelich made the cut for the first time, and Aguilar would be a first-time All-Star, too.
:: Complete All-Star Game coverage ::
All three were voted onto the team via the Player Ballot.
"I'm going to just try to enjoy it as much as I can," Yelich said. "I've been to one before as a fan, I think that was 2010 [in Anaheim] right after I got drafted. It's one thing to make it to the big leagues, but it's another thing to make it to an All-Star Game. It's a pretty cool honor and an experience you should appreciate and take in."
Added Cain: "It's a great experience. Everybody should get a chance."
For Hader, the Midsummer Classic is close to home. He grew up in Millersville, Md., a half-hour drive from Nationals Park.

"It's definitely special," Hader said. "Last year, I was able to play in front of my family and friends in D.C., but to go back there for the All-Star Game, words just really can't describe it."
One can't quibble with any of the Brewers' selections, particularly Hader, the 24-year-old left-hander in his first full season as a reliever who has flourished in the role. Entering Sunday's series finale against the Braves, Hader led Major League relievers with a 50.9 percent strikeout rate, putting him on pace to join Aroldis Chapman (52.5 percent in 2014) and Craig Kimbrel (50.2 percent in '12) among the only pitchers in Major League history to pitch more than a handful of innings in a season and strike out more than half of the batters they faced.
"It's extraordinary," Brewers general manager David Stearns said. "He's surpassed all of our expectations, and I had pretty high expectations coming into this year on what he could accomplish. He's teaching us how valuable a bullpen person can be." 
If Cain and Yelich have not surpassed expectations, they certainly have met them since the Brewers acquired both outfielders within 24 hours in late January. Cain came via the richest free-agent contract in Brewers history, a five-year, $80 million deal. Yelich came via a trade with the Marlins for four premium prospects, including Lewis Brinson.

So far, those investments have paid off.
Cain just returned to the Brewers' lineup on Sunday after a stint on the disabled list for a groin strain. He entered Selection Sunday fourth in the NL with a .394 on-base percentage, and despite missing a dozen games during his DL stint, led NL position players at 3.9 Wins Above Replacement.
"He's done everything we could've asked him to do," Stearns said. "What everyone sees him do on the field is impactful, and who he is when he's off the field has added a very nice dimension to our club. He's been great, I'm really happy we have him."
It marks the first time since 2014 and the eighth time in the last 13 years that the Brewers have at least three All-Stars. The Brewers earned their selections by going 54-36 in their first 90 games for the NL's best record.
"It's nice to represent Milwaukee in something like the All-Star Game," Cain said, "but there's still a long way to go."

On Tuesday, while watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.

The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.