Aaron Judge, Dellin Betances, Gary Sanchez, Luis Severino, and Starlin Castro have been selected to represent the Yankees in the 2017 All-Star Game, Didi is a Final Vote candidate

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Before their recent slide, the Yankees have been playing above almost every baseball expert’s preseason expectations in 2017, and the Bronx Bombers have held first-place for a majority of the season. Due to their success, it’s no surprise that they are one of three American League teams to have five All-Stars, and even a certain knight on the Final Vote. Here is a breakdown of all the selections:
Photo Credit: SI.com
Aaron Judge was a no-brainer All-Star for the American League squad and was the only starter voted in by baseball fans. Judge led the American League in total votes and rightfully so. As of the ASG roster announcement, Judge is slashing .327/.448/.687 with an American League leading 27 home runs, 70 runs scored, and 58 walks. Judge’s 2017 resume also contains the April and May Rookie of the Month awards and many dazzling plays in right field. Judge’s selection is all more impressive, after the fact that he earned his first MLB promotion last summer and failed to meet expectations. He came into 2017 as a questionable starter and at its halfway point, Judge is arguably now one of the faces of Major League Baseball.

Gary Sanchez is proving that his historic 2016 summer was no fluke by earning his first ASG appearance. El Kraken was sidelined with an arm injury for a few weeks, after the first week of the season and his season performance was in serious doubt. However even with the missed time, Gary Sanchez’s stats are impressive for the second season in a row. Gary is hitting .283 with an OPS just shy of .900. Sanchez also features a cannon of an arm and should be a perfect fit for the dominant pitchers that will be present in Miami.
Photo Credit: AP
Luis Severino may be the best story out of all the Yankees that were selected to the ASG. After a phenomenal debut in 2015, Severino pitched atrociously in 2016 to a 5.83 ERA and .275 BAA. Severino had an impressive Spring Training and earned a spot in the rotation. Severino’s start in Houston today blemished his stats a little bit, but nevertheless, there is no question he was deserving of an ASG selection. Severino has struck out 114 batters and has walked only 24 batters in 99.2 innings of work. The Yankees are sending their true ace to Miami.

Dellin Betances will be making his fourth straight ASG appearance, after a controversial offseason that featured Yankee president, Randy Levine, downplaying Betances capabilities. Like Severino, his recent outings have made his stats seem less impressive than they are, however when Aroldis Chapman was on the disabled list, there were very few closers who were as dominant as Betances. Betances has six saves and has struck out 48 batters in 26 innings of work. Many Yankee fans believe Dellin Betances has been underused this season by Joe Girardi, but when on the mound in 2017, Betances continues to show why the Yankees were not willing to give up on him prior to converting to a reliever.

Starlin Castro will also be making his fourth ASG appearance, but this will be his first as a Yankee. After being dumped by Chicago for next to nothing after the 2015 season, Castro has become a fan-favorite in the Bronx and is having a career year in 2017. Castro is hitting .313 with 52 runs scored, while hitting in the middle of the Yankee order. Castro has been sidelined for the past week with a Grade 1 hamstring strain, but was still rewarded for his marvelous season with an ASG reserve spot.
Photo Credit: AP
Didi Gregorius did not get selected into the game, however, he is a candidate for the Final Vote. Didi Gregorius, like his teammate Gary Sanchez, missed time in the beginning of the season due to an injury he suffered in the World Baseball Classic, but since his activation he has been phenomenal for the Bronx Bombers. Derek Jeter’s replacement is hitting .314 with 10 homers and 36 RBIs. Sir Didi has had many big hits this season for the Yankees and has played stellar defense this season at short stop. Gregorius is extremely ASG worthy and it is everyone’s job as Yankee fans to vote an undeniably deserving player into the Midsummer Classic. Didi’s hashtag on twitter is #SirDidi4Sure

Article by: Ryan Thoms

 

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