Jays closer headed to all-star game

It was perfect that Blue Jays’ closer Roberto Osuna heard the news that he was named to the allstar game from his catcher Russell Martin.

Martin has been a huge influence on Osuna’s brief but already brilliant career in the Major Leagues. The native of Sinaloa, Mexico, was added to the all-star game on Friday, one of seven added as an injury replacement, though his numbers suggest he should have been included the first time around. Osuna heard the news via a text he received from his catcher Martin about 2:30 on Friday afternoon.

“He was pretty excited about it and congratulated me,” said Osuna prior to the Jays’ tilt against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. “It means a lot coming from Russ.”

It marks the right-hander’s first all-star game selection in his third season in the Major Leagues. He has 22 saves with a 2.06 ERA and 47 strikeouts this season. The 22-year-old will be joining teammate Justin Smoak, also a firsttime all-star.

“Absolutely. I wasn’t expecting anything,” said Osuna when asked if he was surprised by the selection. “I was actually going home on Sunday (to Mexico) so change of plans and go to the all-star game. It’s pretty fun. Me and my whole family are really excited about it. It’s a big accomplishment for us to go out there.”

Osuna got off to a slow start to the season. In April, he posted an ERA of 5.63, converting only three of six save opportunities and giving up five runs in eight innings pitched. But he turned his season around in May, posting a 1.42 ERA and in June was even better with an 0.79 ERA. Osuna said he had been trying to incorporate more of his twoseam fastball into his arsenal early in the year. But a chat with Martin convinced him to change that approach and go with the fourseamer more often. Martin lauded Osuna on Thursday night after the closer recorded his 21st consecutive save, tying him with Billy Koch for the fourth longest save streak in franchise history. Martin said Osuna has never been satisfied with what he brings to the mound, this year adding a cutter, last year it was a slider.

“And now he’s got four plus pitches he can use and it’s a tough at-bat for anybody right now,” said Martin.

He becomes the 50th Blue Jay to be selected to the mid-summer classic and the first reliever since Brett Cecil and Steve Delabar went in 2013. He will be 22 years and 154 days old on Tuesday, making him the youngest Jay to appear in an all-star game.