Cubs Make All-Star History With Entire Infield Starting

BY ESPN

The Cubs made All-Star history by becoming just the second team ever to have its entire infield start an All-Star Game.

Anthony Rizzo (first base), Ben Zobrist (second base), Addison Russell (shortstop) and Kris Bryant (third base) were elected to start next Tuesday's game in San Diego for the National League, becoming just the second foursome to accomplish that feat and first since the 1963 St. Louis Cardinals.

"Organizationally it speaks to what's been done here the last several years," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "I take zero credit for that. It's great scouting and development on the part of the Cubs."

Maddon vowed to be watching the game as the four infielders will be joined in San Diego by outfielder Dexter Fowler, provided he's healthy enough as he's on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Also going from the Cubs are pitchers Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester. Lester was picked by NL manager Terry Collins, while Arrieta was chosen by his peers and is a candidate to start the game.

"I've been through a lot," Arrieta, a first-time All-Star said. "A lot of hard work started to pay off and my career has started to move in a positive direction over the past couple years. It's a by-product of the hard work."

While Rizzo was the overall votes leader in the NL, it is Bryant who leads the National League with 25 home runs, while Russell has 11 after hitting three over his past two games.

"It's an honor and to have a lot of my teammates there with me will make it even more fun," Bryant said. "Just having your teammates and friends there will make it more special. The nerves probably won't be there as much as last year. You just look around and it's a normal game."

Zobrist had the narrowest margin of selection among the Cubs players, garnering only 88 more voters than runner-up Daniel Murphy of the Nationals, who still made the All-Star roster.

The Cubs shot out to the best record in baseball, going 25-6 before their pace slowed recently. Many years it has been a struggle to find one All-Star-worthy player for the much maligned organization, but since team president Theo Epstein came aboard in 2011 the Cubs have rebuilt their farm system and are reaping the rewards. On Monday they were the first team this season to start nine players 26 years or younger.

"The start to the season is the reason fans have noticed [us] but I think the assembly of players we have in here is an All-Star-caliber assembly," said Zobrist, now a two-time All-Star.

While the Cubs dominate the NL roster, the Boston Red Sox placed an AL-best six players on the team, the most they have sent to an All-Star Game since also sending six to the 2011 game.

Boston's delegation represents a cross-section of young and old, perennial All-Stars and surprising selections.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts and outfielders Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts -- all of whom were voted by fans to start in their first All-Star appearances -- are among the best young players in the game. David Ortiz, the 40-year-old designated hitter who leads the majors in OPS and plans to retire at season's end, also will start in his 10th All-Star Game.

Pitching has been the Red Sox's biggest deficiency, yet knuckleballer Steven Wright (2.42 ERA in 16 starts) was selected by AL manager Ned Yost and closer Craig Kimbrel (2.53 ERA, 17 saves) was chosen in player balloting. Wright is an unlikely All-Star, having secured a spot in the starting rotation only after lefty Eduardo Rodriguez injured his knee in spring training. Kimbrel has been an All-Star in five of his six full big league seasons.

The reigning World Series champion Kansas City Royals had four players selected to the team, led by catcher Salvador Perez, who was the AL's top vote-getter. He will be joined by teammates Eric Hosmer (first base) and relievers Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera.

While the NL infield is making history by being all from one team, the AL infield (and catcher Perez) is making its own mark in the All-Star Game record book.

The AL's infield of Hosmer, Jose Altuve (Astros, 2B), Manny Machado (Orioles, 3B) and Bogaerts, and Perez at catcher, marks the first time a team has ever had its starting infield and catcher be 26 years old or younger.

The Red Sox could tie the Cubs with seven total All-Stars if second baseman Dustin Pedroia wins the AL's final man vote. Pedroia will be up against Detroit's Ian Kinsler, Tampa Bay's Evan Longoria, Toronto's Michael Saunders and Houston's George Springer for the final spot as voted upon by fans.

The National League's final five is a battle between San Francisco's Brandon Belt, Milwaukee's Ryan Braun, Arizona's Jake Lamb, Pittsburgh's Starling Marte and Colorado's Trevor Story.

If Belt wins the fan vote he'd be the fourth member of the Giants to make the All-Star team. Despite entering Tuesday night with a major league-best 53 wins, San Francisco has just three All-Star selections in catcher Buster Posey and pitchers Madison Bumgarner and Johnny Cueto.

In an interesting quirk of the rosters, the NL team features nine starting pitchers among its total of 14, while the AL squad has just five starters among its complement of pitchers.

Information from ESPN's Jesse Rogers and Scott Lauber contributed to this report.

NATIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER

POS PLAYER    TEAM    B-T

C    Buster Posey    Giants    R-R
1B    Anthony Rizzo    Cubs    L-L
2B    Ben Zobrist    Cubs    B-R
3B    Kris Bryant    Cubs    R-R
SS    Addison Russell    Cubs    R-R
OF    Bryce Harper    Nationals    L-R
OF    Yoenis Cespedes    Mets    R-R
OF    Dexter Fowler    Cubs    B-R
RESERVESPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
C    Jonathan Lucroy    Brewers    R-R
C    Wilson Ramos    Nationals    R-R
1B    Wil Myers    Padres    R-R
1B    Paul Goldschmidt    Diamondbacks    R-R
2B    Daniel Murphy    Nationals    L-R
IF    Matt Carpenter    Cardinals    L-R
3B    Nolan Arenado    Rockies    R-R
SS    Corey Seager    Dodgers    L-R
OF    Odubel Herrera    Phillies    L-R
OF    Marcell Ozuna    Marlins    R-R
OF    Carlos Gonzalez    Rockies    L-L
OF    Adam Duvall    Reds    R-R
PITCHERSPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
SP    *Clayton Kershaw    Dodgers    L-L
SP    Jake Arrieta    Cubs    R-R
SP    Madison Bumgarner    Giants    R-L
SP    Johnny Cueto    Giants    R-R
SP    Noah Syndergaard    Mets    L-R
SP    Jose Fernandez    Marlins    R-R
SP    Julio Teheran    Braves    R-R
SP    Jon Lester    Cubs    L-L
SP    Stephen Strasburg    Nationals    R-R
RP    Jeurys Familia    Mets    R-R
RP    Kenley Jansen    Dodgers    B-R
RP    Fernando Rodney    Marlins    R-R
RP    Mark Melancon    Pirates    R-R
RP    A.J. Ramos    Marlins    R-R
* -- On the DL
FINAL FIVE VOTEPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
1B    Brandon Belt    Giants    L-L
OF    Ryan Braun    Brewers    R-R
3B    Jake Lamb    Diamondbacks    L-R
OF    Starling Marte    Pirates    R-R
SS    Trevor Story    Rockies    R-R

AMERICAN LEAGUE ROSTER

POS PLAYER    TEAM    B-T

C    Salvador Perez    Royals    R-R
1B    Eric Hosmer    Royals    L-L
2B    Jose Altuve    Astros    R-R
3B    Manny Machado    Orioles    R-R
SS    Xander Bogaerts    Red Sox    R-R
OF    Mike Trout    Angels    R-R
OF    Jackie Bradley Jr    Red Sox    L-R
OF    Mookie Betts    Red Sox    R-R
DH    David Ortiz    Red Sox    L-L
RESERVESPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
C    Matt Wieters    Orioles    B-R
C    Stephen Vogt    Athletics    L-R
1B    Miguel Cabrera    Tigers    R-R
2B    Robinson Cano    Mariners    L-R
3B    Josh Donaldson    Blue Jays    R-R
SS    Francisco Lindor    Indians    B-R
SS    Eduardo Nunez    Twins    R-R
OF    Carlos Beltran    Yankees    B-R
OF    Ian Desmond    Rangers    R-R
OF    Mark Trumbo    Orioles    R-R
DH    Edwin Encarnacion    Blue Jays    R-R
PITCHERSPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
SP    Marco Estrada    Blue Jays    R-R
SP    Cole Hamels    Rangers    L-L
SP    Danny Salazar    Indians    R-R
SP    Chris Sale    White Sox    L-L
SP    Steven Wright    Red Sox    R-R
RP    Dellin Betances    Yankees    R-R
RP    Brad Brach    Orioles    R-R
RP    Zach Britton    Orioles    L-L
RP    Alex Colome    Rays    R-R
RP    *Wade Davis    Royals    R-R
RP    Kelvin Herrera    Royals    R-R
RP    Craig Kimbrel    Red Sox    R-R
RP    Andrew Miller    Yankees    L-L
RP    Will Harris    Astros    R-R
* -- on the DL
FINAL FIVE VOTEPOS.    PLAYER    TEAM    B-T
2B    Ian Kinsler    Tigers    R-R
3B    Evan Longoria    Rays    R-R
2B    Dustin Pedroia    Red Sox    R-R
OF    Michael Saunders    Blue Jays    L-R
OF    George Springer    Astros    R-R