Devers, Bogaerts elected All-Star starters

For the last several years, Red Sox teammates Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers have anchored the left side of the infield and the middle of the batting order while forming a bond that resembles something between brothers and best friends.

Now, they will share something special together when they stand next to each other at shortstop and third base, respectively, as starters at the All-Star Game on July 13 in Denver.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: July 13 on FOX

"Everyone knows how close I am with Xander," Devers said. "He's one of my closest friends. He helps me out a ton. I'm just super excited for him and happy that we'll be able to share the field together."

For the mentor in this relationship, the 28-year-old Bogaerts, this will be his third All-Star appearance and second as a starter.

What will be truly special for Bogaerts this time around is that he can share it with Devers, who is an All-Star for the first time.

“I think they feed off each other a lot,” said Red Sox righty Nathan Eovaldi. “They’re always hanging around each other and giving each other a hard time, but keeping each other on their toes. We have expectations of how we think guys should play and they live up to it every day. It’s great having them over there defensively, offensively. And it’s a great thing for them to be able to make the All-Star Game.”

Devers, in his age-24 season, is putting it all together. He made the All-Star team on the same day he had another monster game, belting a three-run homer as part of a five-RBI performance in a 15-1 win over the Royals. In 77 games this season, Devers is slashing .288/.359/.582 with 20 homers and 69 RBIs.

"So far, he's definitely been the best player on our team," Bogaerts said. "He's becoming someone that you can lean on, just knowing what you're going to get every day when he shows up. He's maturing in front of our eyes."

“He’s been very solid,” said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. “He’s controlling the zone and he’s in a great groove. Like I’ve been saying all along, usually he struggles the first part of the season and then he gets hot with the weather. Let’s see where it takes him.”

As for Bogaerts, he has become a perennial force and he’s been particularly impressive of late. On Thursday, he extended his on-base streak to 26 games, during which he has a slash line of .357/.421/.561. For the season, Bogaerts is slashing .329/.391/.550 with 13 homers and 48 RBIs.

“I think for Xander to be a starter, that means the world,” said Cora. “He’s one of the best, if not the best shortstop in the big leagues. The way he goes about his business is amazing. I’ve been saying all along, he’s the most consistent person in this organization. He’s amazing. Day in and day out, he shows up, he works and he goes out there and performs.”

Designated hitter J.D. Martinez and outfielder Alex Verdugo were also finalists to be starters, but didn’t get voted in. However, they are still in the running to join Bogaerts and Devers in Denver. Reserves and pitchers will be selected on Sunday in a show that will air at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Perhaps it’s not surprising that the Red Sox -- owners of the best record in the American League at 51-31 -- have several deserving All-Star candidates.

Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (9-4, 3.41 ERA) and closer Matt Barnes (0.83 WHIP, 18 saves) are other Red Sox players who have built strong candidacies.

“Yeah, I mean, it would be great, one of those little accomplishments,” said Eovaldi. “I’ve never achieved it, but it would be awesome to make the All-Star team. I’ve been feeling great, I’ve been staying healthy. That’s the main goal for me: to go out there and give my team the best chance to win whenever it’s my day.”

“It would be awesome,” said Barnes. “It really would. I don’t know that I’ve given a ton of thought to it. Obviously, it’s probably crossed my mind here and there. If it happens, awesome. If it doesn’t, I’m going to go home for a few days and sit on the couch. Like I said, it would be awesome and I’d be very fortunate to do that, but if not, then it is what it is.”