Anderson an All-Star at last
BALTIMORE — White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson is going to the All-Star Game.
Anderson, the American League batting champion in 2019, was added to the AL squad Saturday. It will be his first All-Star Game.
‘‘To get recognized and be an All-Star, man, it’s definitely a pretty cool feeling,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘I’m excited about this one.’’
So are Anderson’s teammates, who found out after Anderson went 3-for-5 in the Sox’ 12-1 victory Friday against the Orioles. Manager Tony La Russa gave third-base coach Joe McEwing, who has worked with Anderson from the start of his career, the privilege of making the announcement in the visitors’ clubhouse at Camden Yards.
‘‘The explosion of emotion in the clubhouse, someone should have taped it,’’ La Russa said. ‘‘It was one of the best experiences I can remember.’’
Anderson, 28, is batting .310 with six home runs, 32 RBI and 14 stolen bases. His addition gives the Sox four All-Stars. Pitchers Carlos Rodon, Lance Lynn and Liam Hendriks were named last Sunday.
‘‘It’s even sweeter because I came up in this organization,’’ Anderson said. ‘‘To grow up in front of these fans in this organization says a lot. The grind is real. I put the work in. I continue to try to get better day in and day out. And it don’t stop. I have to keep pushing to be the best I can be.’’
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa was chosen as a reserve but was put on the injured list because of Major League Baseball’s health-and-safety protocols Friday, opening the door for Anderson.
McEwing at first declined to be the one to share the news.
‘‘I’m going to get emotional; I don’t want to do it,’’ McEwing told La Russa. ‘‘Because not everyone on the outside understands what this kid has gone through to get to where he is, on the field and off the field.’’
Anderson felt snubbed when he didn’t make the All-Star Game in 2019, and it drove him to win a batting title.
‘‘Nobody can vote for that,’’ he said at the time.
After leading the majors with a .335 average that season, Anderson batted .322 and won his first Silver Slugger as the tophitting shortstop last season.
Beyond that, Anderson is arguably the Sox’ most recognizable star and most popular player and, in many ways, the heart and soul of the team.
‘‘Tim Anderson has proved to be a superstar in this league,’’ Sox Hall of Famer Frank Thomas said this past week.
Anderson was one of 10 players added to the All-Star rosters.
This and that
Eloy Jimenez homered and singled as the designated hitter in his first game for High-A Winston-Salem. Jimenez is expected to play left field Sunday as he rehabs from a torn left pectoral muscle suffered during spring training.
Left-hander Aaron Bummer (strained hamstring) said he expects to be off the injured list Friday, the first day after the All-Star break, when the Sox host the Astros.