Tucker completes Houston's All-Star trio with third selection

MINNEAPOLIS -- Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker, who hasn’t played since he fouled a ball off his shin June 3, was named to his third consecutive American League All-Star team on Sunday. He’ll join fan-voted starters Jose Altuve (second base) and Yordan Alvarez (designated hitter) as Houston’s representatives at the 2024 MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard on July 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Tucker, who was elected by the players, still leads the Astros in bWAR (3.6) despite playing in only 60 games. Tucker is slashing .266/.395/.584 with 19 home runs, 40 RBIs and 10 stolen bases and has more walks (46) than strikeouts (41) in 262 plate appearances.

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Tucker suffered a shin contusion on a foul ball and has been slow to recover, meaning he likely won’t play in the All-Star Game. He’s hitting in the batting cage and running on a treadmill, but has yet to do any baseball activities on the field. He was voted to the All-Star team as a reserve in 2022 and 2023. Tucker was 0-for-2 in the 2022 Midsummer Classic and 0-for-1 with a walk last year.

“The three All-Stars are well-deserving,” Astros manager Joe Espada said. “I’m proud of the player [Tucker] is and how hard he’s worked to put himself as one of the best players in the league. We need to get him back in the lineup.”

Alvarez was struck on the right knee by a pitch Saturday and had to leave the game. He wasn’t in the starting lineup for Sunday’s series finale in Minnesota. Espada said Alvarez has expressed his desire to play in this year’s All-Star Game, which he hasn’t done in the past two seasons because of injury.

Alvarez, who was the top vote-getter in the AL at DH, missed the 2022 game with a hand injury and the 2023 game with an oblique injury after being picked as a reserve each time. Alvarez is batting .298 with 19 homers and 50 RBIs, hitting .352 with 10 doubles, 10 homers and 28 RBIs and a 1.205 OPS since June 1.

Altuve, selected to his ninth All-Star Game and sixth as a starter, hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2018. He was previously named an All-Star in ‘12, 2014-18, ‘21 and ‘22 and this year topped the Rangers’ Marcus Semien in the fan vote.

Astros starting pitcher Ronel Blanco wasn’t selected to the AL roster despite going 8-3 with a 2.53 ERA, allowing 58 hits in 96 innings and .174 opponents’ batting average. Blanco threw an April 1 no-hitter against the Blue Jays, but was suspended 10 games for having a foreign substance in his glove in his May 14 start.

“He’s an All-Star in my book,” Espada said.