Cole, Chapman join Judge as Yanks' All-Stars
NEW YORK -- The Yankees will have three representatives at the 2021 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, with outfielder Aaron Judge, right-hander Gerrit Cole and left-hander Aroldis Chapman all suiting up for the American League in the July 13 Midsummer Classic at Coors Field.
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The selections of Cole and Chapman were announced on Sunday during the 2021 Google MLB All-Star Selection Show on ESPN. All of the pitchers and position player reserves were selected through a combination of player ballot selections and choices made by the Commissioner's Office.
"It's a tremendous honor," Cole said. "I’m always humbled because it's a player vote relative to the pitchers. That holds a special place for me and hopefully, we can get back to pitching to that type of level here soon.”
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This marks Cole’s fourth All-Star selection (also in 2015, ’18, ’19), and his first as a member of the Yankees. The ace is 8-4 with a 2.91 ERA in 17 starts, permitting 81 hits and 20 walks against 135 strikeouts in 105 innings.
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Chapman is an All-Star for the seventh time in his career (also in 2012-15, ’18-19), and for the third time with the Yankees.
“It’s one of those achievements that definitely go under the resume of your playing career,” Chapman said through an interpreter. “It’s one of those opportunities that I think every player wants the chance to be a part of at least once. To be selected means a lot.”
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After a blown save in Sunday's Game 1 loss to the Mets, Chapman owns a 4.71 ERA in 32 appearances, having converted 16 of 20 save opportunities. In 28 2/3 innings, Chapman has permitted 21 hits and 20 walks, with 49 strikeouts.
“The way I started the season and the performance those months gave me an idea that it could have been a possibility,” Chapman said. “It’s surprising and nice, given that the past couple of weeks have been tough for me. It’s great to hear it.”
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Judge was voted into the starting lineup after earning 13 percent of the vote among AL outfielders in Phase 2 of fan balloting, marking his third career All-Star start. Judge finished behind the Angels’ Mike Trout (19 percent) and slightly ahead of the Blue Jays’ Teoscar Hernández (12 percent).
The 29-year-old Judge leads the Yankees in nearly every offensive category, entering play on Sunday with a .284/.381/.529 slash line, 19 home runs and 43 RBIs in 76 games. Judge’s previous All-Star selections came in 2017 and ’18.