It’s how you finish, not how you begin.
Alex Bregman, third base, and left-handers Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Crochet will all represent the Red Sox in next week’s midsummer classic in Atlanta, even though the team does not have any All-Star starters.
Crochet, who received his first career selection with the Chicago White Sox last season, is being selected for the second consecutive time as an All-Star. He led MLB in strikeouts, but when it came to player balloting for AL starting pitchers, Detroit’s Tarik Skubal came in second.
This is Bregman’s third All-Star selection in his ten-year career, but his first since being selected twice in 18 and 19. He may be activated this week after being placed on the disabled list since May 24 due to a quad strain.
Chapman earned his eighth All-Star selection in 16 major league seasons, leading the AL relievers on the player ballot. He was named an All-Star three times with the Yankees from 2018 to 21 and four times in a row with the Cincinnati Reds from 2012 to 2015.
This is the first season for all three players with the Red Sox. Craig Breslow, the chief baseball officer, signed Chapman and Bregman as free agents after making a blockbuster trade for Crochet during the MLB Winter Meetings last December.
Boston has produced three All-Star choices in a row for the second consecutive season (every team is guaranteed one All-Star). Last season, Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, and Tanner Houck played for the Red Sox; however, Devers chose not to play in order to relax, and Duran was named All-Star MVP.
Before the Red Sox traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Father’s Day, he was guaranteed a spot on this year’s Team American League. On Sunday, he was left off of the National League roster.
