SEATTLE – Rangers slugger Joey Gallo confessed that beyond his desire to go to the All-Star Game, what mattered most to him was that they select his teammate, Cuban Adolis Garcia.
Luckily for Gallo, he didn’t have to choose between the two. Both outfielders were selected as AL reserves, while another Rangers piece, ace Kyle Gibson, was added to the pitching staff for the 2021 All-Star Game, to be played in Denver on Tuesday, July 13.
“He has worked very hard. He’s a smart boy and he cares a lot about this game, ”Gallo said of Garcia. “I am very happy for him. I think the whole team was pushing for him, making sure he was in the game, because it’s a pleasure to have him here.
It will be the first trip to the All-Star Game for Garcia and Gibson, and the second for Gallo, who also attended the 2019 one.
Garcia – who was chosen by the players after being a finalist among the Young Circuit outfielders – is a 28-year-old rookie who has become a sensation since being promoted by Texas on April 13. He is hitting .270 / .305 / .522 with an OPS of .828.
Garcia is only the fourth Rangers rookie to be selected to the All-Star Game and the first to do so since Yu Darvish in 2012. The others were Neftalí Féliz in 2010 and Jim Sundberg in 1974.
“Adolis is clearly the history of our team this year,” said Chris Woodward, Rangers manager. “A boy who was designated for assignment last year and never gave up hope. He kept working, kept in contact with our people to find out what he should continue to practice on. He was willing to talk and listen to criticism to try to get ahead. You have to give him all the credit, because he did all that with a positive attitude ”.
Gallo and Garcia 1 and 2 in home runs for the Rangers, 21 for the first and 20 for the second.
After a relatively slow start to 2021, Gallo is now hitting .233 / .387 / .492 with an .880 OPS. After hitting nine home runs in the first two months of the season, he has hit 12 since the beginning of June. In addition, he has traded 64 walks.
Gibson leads the LA with a 1.98 ERA and is 6-0 in 16 starts.
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