Former A's third baseman Josh Donaldson has been breaking records. And he isn't done yet.
Former A’s third baseman Josh Donaldson has been breaking records. And he isn’t done yet.
The man whom Oakland traded this passed offseason is now the highest vote-getter in major league baseball All Star voting history.
Via the Toronto Star, Donaldson said:
“It’s incredible. … One of my good friends lives in Milton (Ont.) A couple of years ago when I was playing with the A’s, we were hanging out and he’s like, ‘Man, just think if you played for the Blue Jays.’ And I was ‘Well, I don’t know if that will happen,’ and sure enough it ends up happening. ‘You’re going to have an entire country behind you.’ It sure showed up in this setting.”
https://twitter.com/MLB_PR/status/617842394868940802/photo/1
Donaldson was an All Star with the A’s last season, and finished the season with 98 RBI, 93 runs and 29 home runs. This season, just barely past the midway point, Donaldson is set to surpass those numbers with more 100 runs and RBI, plus he is on pace for 37 homers.
Four members of the Royals have been voted All-Star Game starters: shortstop Alcides Escobar, catcher Salvador Perez, and outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon.
No A’s players finished in the top two spots at their position, though catcher Stephen Vogt finished third at catcher with the best statistics of any catcher in the American League.
Much has been made about fans voting for All Stars, since deserving players are not being voted in. At one point, Royals players were winning eight of nine categories as fans stuffed the ballot boxes.
As the starters were being announced Sunday, Vogt was seen walking out of the A’s clubhouse when media availability began following Oakland’s loss to the Mariners.
Deserving players who were not voted as starters include Carlos Correa (Astros), Jason Kipnis (Indians), Alex Rodriguez (Yankees), Albert Pujols (Angels) and Yoenis Cespedes (Tigers).
It’s not uncommon for players having the best season when voting concludes to not place first in the final tally, though this year’s ballot was especially heinous.
The All-Star Game will be held July 14 at Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati. Managers Ned Yost and Bruce Bochy will announce reserves on Monday.
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