Tag Archives: Rod Carew

Houston Astros Slugger Yordan Alvarez Named a Starter for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game

Posted on by
Reply

Yordan Alvarez will be getting in the game…

The 27-year-old Cuban professional baseball designated hitter and left fielder for the Houston Astros has been named a starter for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game.

Yordan AlvarezAlvarez is now a three-time MLB All-Star and will make his first starting assignment after making the American League (AL) team as a reserve in 2022 and 2023.

With this fan election, he is now the first Houston designated hitter to win the honor.

Alvarez topped the Orioles DH Ryan O’Hearn in the final fan vote, garnering 52% of the votes. The Astros designated hitter and left fielder is hitting .297 (93×313) with 19 doubles, 18 homers, 46 RBI and a .910 OPS in 82 games this season.

But Alvarez isn’t the only Astros player to make the starting roster…

For the ninth time, Jose Altuve has been selected as an MBL All Star and the sixth time he has been elected as a starter.

Altuve, who already owns the most MLB All-Star nominations in Astros history, joins Hall of Famers Roberto Alomar (9) and Rod Carew (6) as the only AL second basemen to win six fan elections.

He earned his starting assignment this season by topping the Rangers 2B Marcus Semien in the final vote, by taking 55% of the total votes.

Altuve is having another stellar season, hitting .308 (106×344) with 17 doubles, 13 homers, 38 RBI, 13 stolen bases and an .828 OPS in 83 games,” the Astros said.

Other Latino American League MLB All-Star Game starters include Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays, Jose Ramirez of the Cleveland Guardians and Juan Soto of the New York Yankees.

Latinos set to represent the National League as starters include Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks, William Contreras of the Milwaukee Brewers and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres.

The game is set for Tuesday, July 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers.

Here’s a look at the starters:

NL All-Star starters:
Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies
Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks
Trae Turner, Philadelphia Phillies
Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies
William Contreras, Milwaukee Brewers
Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers
Jurickson Profar, San Diego Padres

AL All-Star starters:
Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays
Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles
Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles
Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Juan Soto, New York Yankees
Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians

Luis Arraez Wins 2022 American League Batting Title

Posted on by
Reply

Luis Arraez is celebrating a banner year…

The 25-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball utility player for the Minnesota Twins won the American League batting title, hitting a third-inning double after walking twice to finish the season at .316, as the Minnesota Twins rolled to a 10-1 victory on Wednesday over the Chicago White Sox.

Luis ArraezArraez was all but assured of topping the Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the batting crown when the day began. He removed any doubt by walking in his first two plate appearances and then hit a drive that barely cleared the glove of right fielder Gavin Sheets before he was lifted for a pinch-runner.

“It’s amazing,” Arraez said. “This was one of my goals. I’m living a dream right now. This is amazing for me because I worked hard for this.”

Judge, who sat out the New York Yankees‘ season finale, batted .311 with an AL-record 62 homers and a league-leading 131 RBIs.

“I couldn’t sleep last night, just thinking and thinking about it,” Arraez said.

Arraez becomes the fifth Twin to win a batting title, joining Rod Carew (seven), Tony Oliva and Joe Mauer (three apiece) and Kirby Puckett (one).

“I think he achieved what he was hoping to do,” Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli said. “And he’s not a guy who normally thinks about things on a personal level like that. He’s a team player and here to win and compete.”

Arraez received a hug at the top of the dugout steps from Carlos Correa, who planned before the game to give him a Louis Vuitton roller bag in recognition of his achievement.

“[Correa] is amazing,” Arraez said. “He sets an example for us. He’s a leader, and I love that guy a lot.”

Arraez batted .361 (13-for-36) during a nine-game hitting streak to end the season.

“It wasn’t easy,” Arraez said. “But my mind is strong.”

Gary Sanchez and Jermaine Palacios homered during a six-run first inning for Minnesota, which snapped a four-game skid. The Twins finished at 78-84, a six-game improvement over 2021.

The White Sox (81-81), last year’s AL Central champions, had their three-game winning streak snapped and finished 12 games worse than their 2021 record.