McClanahan named to 1st career All-Star Game

CINCINNATI -- Starting pitcher Shane McClanahan -- arguably the most dominant pitcher across Major League Baseball this season -- has been named to his first Midsummer Classic. The lefty earned a spot on the roster after a league-wide vote among his peers and ended up finishing with the most votes by any pitcher in the American League.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: July 19 on FOX

He learned of the news prior to the team’s Sunday afternoon contest against Cincinnati.

“It was a mix of [emotions] … [I was] like ‘Oh my god, this can’t be real,’’ he recalled.

McClanahan has posted 11 consecutive starts of six-plus innings, at least seven strikeouts and fewer than three earned runs allowed, the longest single-season streak in AL history and tied for the second-longest in the AL/NL since 1901, behind only Randy Johnson’s run of 14 such starts in 1999.

He also leads the AL in ERA (1.73), strikeouts (141) and WHIP (0.815).

“It wasn't really on my mind. I want to win a lot of games for this team. That was first and foremost and that’s all I’ve really wanted to do. Whatever success I had because of that, follows.”

The Rays knew McClanahan had a powerful arm and elite stuff when they selected him out of their backyard, from the University of South Florida, with the 31st overall pick in the 2018 Draft. They quickly learned they added a bright young pitcher with a relentless desire to improve, qualities that have stood out just as much as his raw talent during his rise to All-Stardom.

“For me, it’s felt like a long time coming,” the Rays hurler said of his journey. “I think if you put the work in, you prepare, take it seriously and enjoy it, [then] good things happen. Be a good teammate, be a good person and good things will follow. What I try to do is take it day-by-day, enjoy it, and be the best teammate and person I can be.”

McClanahan established himself as a top prospect right away, posting a 3.43 ERA with 141 strikeouts over 123 1/3 innings in his first full professional season. Consistent control was somewhat of a concern, however, as was the depth of an arsenal centered around his triple-digit fastball and slider. Some skeptical scouts wondered if he would wind up in the bullpen, a criticism McClanahan wanted to prove wrong.

Perhaps it was ironic, then, that McClanahan made his historic Major League debut in the 2020 playoffs … as a reliever. The left-hander pitched four times during the Rays’ run to the World Series, capped by a scoreless inning in World Series Game 3, making him the first pitcher to ever debut in the postseason. Many rookies might have taken that accomplishment as a sign they were on the right track. McClanahan used it as motivation to get even better.

Preparing for his regular-season debut the following offseason, he tweaked his delivery to improve his command. He refined his arsenal, turning his old slurvy breaking ball into two separate weapons: a sharp slider and a wicked curveball. He put it all on display in 2021, going 10-6 with a 3.43 ERA and 141 strikeouts over 25 starts. His command was as good as ever. He was the Rays’ best pitcher after ace Tyler Glasnow went down with a season-ending elbow injury in mid-June. By October, he was their Game 1 starter in the AL Division Series.

But still, the way that season ended -- with a Game 4 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park -- motivated McClanahan further. He was named Tampa Bay’s Opening Day starter to begin 2022, he shifted his changeup grip to give him a mix of four plus pitches. He altered his mindset to throw more strikes and work deeper into games. By last month, his teammates recognized him for what he’s been: The best pitcher in baseball.

“[McClanahan] is as deserving as any pitcher in baseball [and any] player in baseball,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I can’t recall a better first half that I’ve witnessed by a pitcher for us.

“A lot of the All-Stars that you see, and a lot of the great ones show consistency start after start, month after month, year after year, and Shane has certainly put himself in line with that.”

Those changes have made him the AL’s best starting pitcher this season, an All-Star worthy of taking the ball to begin this year’s Midsummer Classic. McClanahan is in turn to pitch Wednesday against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field, which would line him up to pitch on five days’ rest Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. That decision, however, is out of his hands.

“It’d be awesome,” he said of the possibility.