Osuna deserving of all-star selection

From his regular crouch at first base, Justin Smoak has a clear view of Toronto Blue Jays teammate Roberto Osuna when he gets down to the business of shutting down a baseball game.

And like so many in the American League, Smoak is blown away by the Jays’ 22-year-old closer, a late addition to the AL roster for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.

The native of Juan Jose Rios, Mexico has a 21- game save streak, the longest active run in the major leagues.

“He can throw everything for strikes,” Smoak said. “And it’s not easy to do that with four pitches. He’s got a nasty slider that’s 88 to 90 and it goes straight down. He can throw it for a strike when he wants to, go with a 97 (m.p.h.) heater, and the pitch that he doesn’t throw a lot, that I think is one of his best pitches, is the change-up. He’s been like that for us for two years. He’s our guy. The kid is unbelievable. He’s one of the best pitchers I’ve ever seen at that age,” Smoak said.

That he’s made it to his first allstar game is a special accomplishment for Osuna, and not just because he will surpass Dave Stieb ( 1980) as the youngest Jay to play in the event if he makes an appearance.

This season has had its share of struggles for the young righthander, dating to spring training where he tried to play through neck pain and struggled. Then last month in Kansas City he couldn’t pitch because of anxiety issues.

Osuna said those mental struggles are behind him now thanks to Jays catcher Russell Martin and former Jays reliever Jason Grilli, now with the Texas Rangers.

The veteran Grilli, in particular, took the time to counsel Osuna about life and baseball, something the 40-year-old still does through almost daily communication.

At just 22 years and 134 days, Osuna became the youngest player in MLB history to record 75 saves last week.