Smoak gets all-star nod for Blue Jays
‘It’s something as a young kid you dreamed of ’
As a kid growing up in Goose Creek, S. C., Justin Smoak dreamed of being a big-league all-star.
When he was drafted in the first round of the 2008 MLB amateur draft by the Texas Rangers, the big first baseman expected to see this day.
It t ook a while, but thanks to a sensational, career- best first half season, the personable Smoak will head to Miami next weekend as the Blue Jays’ lone representative in the 2017 All-Star Game.
Smoak got there the best way, too, as the top votegetter from fans who elected him as the American League’s starting first baseman for the Mid Summer Classic.
“It ’s awesome. It ’s an honour,” Smoak said shortly after learning the news on Sunday.“It’s something as a young kid you always dreamed of — you wanted to be an All Star in the big leagues.
“I think earlier in my career coming up in 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 excited to be a part of it.”
It’s certainly a well- deserved honour for Smoak, who a large constituency of Jays fans felt would be a disaster at first base this season. Instead, he’s been the American League statistical leader in a number of categories.
After going 2- f or- 4 in Sunday’s 15- 1 l oss to the Red Sox, Smoak is batting . 303, has a career- high 22 home runs and 53 RBIs. Most i mpressively, he’s been a consistent producer on the struggling Jays offence and as a switch- hitter has had success from both sides of the plate.
“He’s had a huge first half, a big turnaround coming off of last year,” Jays manager John Gibbons said. “He’s been as steady as you can be. It’s pretty impressive. To be honest, you don’t see that too often. It was a battle for him last year.
“It’s one of those feelgood stories too.”
Helped, no doubt, by a heavy promotional effort by the Jays over the past couple of weeks, Smoak surged late in fan voting, surpassing Kansas City’s Eric Hosmer. Smoak said that when he watched the all- star festivities he was more of a fan of the homerun derby than the game itself. But when invited to compete in the slugging competition next Monday, the 30- year- old declined.
“I told them if they come and watch my (batting practice) they wouldn’t want me in the home- run derby,” Smoak said. “I think it will be more fun to watch the big boys battle it out.”