After not making it in as a starter or a reserve, Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts was finally named to the 2019 American League All-Star roster on Wednesday as an injury replacement for Texas Rangers designated hitter Hunter Pence.
Bogaerts was initially considered a snub following the full revealing of the American League squad this past Sunday, but now gets the nod to go to Cleveland that was much deserved in the first place.
Now a two-time All-Star, the 26-year-old has had himself an impressive first half of the 2019 campaign, slashing .301/.392/.541 to go along with 16 home runs and 58 RBI over 82 games prior to Wednesday’s contest against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Among AL shortstops, Bogaerts leads the field in doubles (28), runs scored (64), RBI, OBP, OPS (.933), wOBA (.389), and fWAR (3.8).
Since Pence was selected as the American League’s starting DH for the midsummer classic, J.D. Martinez will now slide into that slot, meaning the Red Sox will have at least one starter on the field next Tuesday.
If any more American League All-Stars back out for whatever reason before then, Rafael Devers and Christian Vazquez have a case to be made to also be injury replacements like Bogaerts.
As things stand now, the Red Sox have three 2019 All-Stars: Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez.
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