The Phillies, who are in the middle of their worst season in about a decade, will send three players to Kansas City this year for the All-Star Game.
Starting pitcher Cole Hamels, closer Jonathan Papelbon and catcher Carlos Ruiz were all chosen by manager Tony LaRussa. The Phillies didn’t have a single player voted in as a starter.
This is the third selection for Hamels (10-4, 3.08 ERA), and fifth for Papelbon (18/19 saves), his first in the NL. This is also Ruiz’s first ever selection to the All-Star Game.
Ruiz will not start since he wasn’t voted in, but has every right to be the starter due to his numbers this season. That honor will go to Giants catcher Buster Posey.
Ruiz is leading all of Major League Baseball with a .358 average, ranked third among an NL players with a 1.008 OPS, third with a .423 OBP and fifth with a .585 slugging percentage. He has 11 homers and 43 RBIs as well.
TTB 