NEW YORK — Once again, a late push of online votes from Canadians has made one of the Toronto Blue Jays a starter for the American League all-star team.
Blue Jays first baseman Justin Smoak was among 12 first-time starters elected Sunday for the All-Star Game at Miami on July 11, the most since voting was returned to fans in 1970.
Smoak bounced back to beat Kansas City's Eric Hosmer by 555,000 at first base, two years after Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson set the record for most votes ever to surge into that year's all-star game.
"It's awesome. It's an honour. I think it's something as a young kid you always dreamed of. It's what you wanted to be was an all-star in the big leagues," said Smoak. "I think early in my career, coming up through the minor leagues and getting drafted, that's what I expected of myself. It didn't happen that way but I'm here now and I'm excited to be a part of it."
Smoak has 22 home runs and is hitting .303 — both career highs — so far this season for Toronto. He stepped into the starting first baseman role for the Blue Jays after former all-star Edwin Encarnacion signed with the Cleveland Indians as a free agent in the off-season.
Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa and Nolan Arenado are also first-time all-stars and just one player was picked from the World Series champion Cubs: reliever Wade Davis, who wasn't even with Chicago when it ended a 108-year title drought last fall. The Cubs had seven All-Stars last season.
"I've got to call my family and tell them to book a flight to Miami. They're going to be excited," Judge said after rosters were announced Sunday.
The dozen first-time starters are the most since voting was returned to fans in 1970.
Just one player was picked from the World Series champion Cubs: reliever Wade Davis, who wasn't even with Chicago when it ended a 108-year title drought last fall. The Cubs had seven All-Stars last season, including their entire starting infield.
"Frankly, we haven't had many guys who were all that deserving," Cubs pitcher Jake Arrieta.
Just past the halfway point, the Cubs are 41-41.
"Maybe this is actually a good thing. Right now, rest is not a bad word," said Chicago's Joe Maddon, who will manage the NL.
In a sign of the generational change, the All-Stars with the most selections are Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw with eight and St. Louis catcher Yadier Molina with seven. Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, the senior All-Star last year with 11 selections, wasn't picked for the first time since 2009.
Two of the first-time starters are from the Houston Astros, who have the best record in the major leagues: Correa, the shortstop drafted first overall in 2012, and outfielder George Springer. Second baseman Jose Altuve was elected to his third start.
"It's something that you dream about since you are a little kid, since you get drafted, since you sign a professional contract," Correa said.
Houston pitchers Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers Jr. were picked, as well, giving the Astros five All-Stars, tied for the most with the New York Yankees, Cleveland and Washington. Keuchel is hurt and won't pitch.
Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper, second baseman Daniel Murphy and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman were elected to start, and Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg were selected for the pitching staff. Harper led fan voting with 4.63 million ballots.
"Definitely humbled by fans, the way they treat me," Harper said.
At 32, Zimmerman is an All-Star for the first time since 2009, when he was a reserve third baseman.
"Yeah, sports are funny, man," Zimmerman said. "It's just a crazy path to get back, but it's also pretty cool."
Judge, the 6-foot-7 rookie who leads the major leagues with 27 home runs, topped the AL with 4.49 million votes. He is joined in the outfield by Springer and Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout, who hopes to return in time from a torn thumb ligament.
Cleveland's Jose Ramirez overtook Minnesota's Miguel Sano in the final days of balloting to win the AL third base spot by about 54,000 votes, and Tampa Bay's Corey Dickerson rallied to win at designated hitter by nearly 75,000 over Seattle's Nelson Cruz. The Royals' Salvador Perez won at catcher.
Arenado overtook the Cubs' Kris Bryant, last year's NL MVP, to win at third base by 180,000. Arenado will be joined in the NL lineup by Cincinnati shortstop Zack Cozart, Rockies outfielder Charlie Blackmon, Miami outfielder Marcell Ozuna and San Francisco catcher Buster Posey.
"It would be even more fun if there were a few more guys going from the team," said Posey, whose Giants are last in the NL West.
There were 11 first-time starters last season in San Diego, the last year the winning league received home-field advantage in the World Series. Under baseball's new
Catcher Gary Sanchez, injured second baseman Starlin Castro and pitchers Dellin Betances and Luis Severino also were picked from the Yankees. Cleveland is sending pitchers Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller, shortstop Francisco Lindor and outfielder Michael Brantley.
"I'm just happy for Cleveland," said the Indians' Terry Francona, who will manage the AL. "I think the fans and the city — everybody should be proud."
Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton was picked as a reserve and plans to defend his Home Run Derby title on July 10. Judge also has been invited, and Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger, who leads the NL with 24 homers, has said he will participate.
"It is going to be amazing," Stanton said. "Either way, the week was going to be cool, but this makes it even cooler."
Among the strong candidates overlooked were Carlos Carrasco, Jacob deGrom, Gio Gonzalez, Ivan Nova, Roberto Osuna, Anthony Rizzo, Travis Shaw, Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton and Alex Wood.
Rosters were cut from 34 per league to 32 under the new
The AL had won four straight and went 11-3 in the years the All-Star Game determined World Series home field. Marlins Park is the third of four straight NL ballparks to host the All-Stars and will be followed by Washington in 2018.
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AP Baseball Writer Mike Fitzpatrick, AP Sports Writers David Ginsburg, John Marshall and Noah Trister and AP freelance writers Colin Fly, Ian Harrison, Nate Latsch, Jeremy Rakes and Dave Royse contributed to this report.
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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball
Ronald Blum, The Associated Press
