Astros tie franchise record for selections
Biggio, who had seven. He will join Biggio as just the second in Astros history to start three consecutive All Star Games.
Correa, Springer and McCullers are each firsttime All-Stars. This is Keuchel’s second selection; he started the 2015 game in Cincinnati.
“It never gets old,” Altuve said. “You’re always going to feel happy about making the All-Star Game. But this one is better because I have four guys, so far, with me. I think a couple more guys in that room should make it, too, and I’m rooting for them.”
No Astros were among the five AL players up for the annual final vote. Keuchel, 29, will be replaced by another AL pitcher, and the 2015 AL Cy Young Award winner said he would like to see Chris Devenski or Will Harris selected.
Keuchel also said he thought Astros super utility man Marwin Gonzalez was worthy of a spot. McCullers, 23, echoed the same sentiment for catcher Brian McCann, who placed third among AL catchers in the voting.
“Honestly, we should have more,” Keuchel said. “We’re the best team in the American League, and if you look at it the last couple years the best teams are always represented with the most players. … I think some of the guys have been snubbed.”
When they had three starters in the 2004 game at Minute Maid Park, only second baseman Jeff Kent won the fan vote. Roger Clemens started the game on the mound and outfielder Lance Berkman started as a replacement for an injured Ken Griffey Jr.
The last time the Astros had five All-Stars, their contingent was then also made up of three position players (Biggio, Jeff Bagwell,
Ken Caminiti) and two pitchers (Doug Drabek, John Hudek). The team hasn’t had more than two All-Stars since 2005 (Clemens, Morgan Ensberg, Brad Lidge, Roy Oswalt).
Correa, 22, is the first shortstop in Astros history to earn fan election. “It’s really special,” Correa said. “Obviously it’s something you dream of since you’re a little kid, since you get drafted, since you sign. I get to share the field with these guys in the All-Star Game, so it’s going to be something we’ll never forget.”
Altuve garnered the second-most votes (3,880,372) among AL players behind Yankees rookie sensation Aaron Judge (4,488,702).
Correa beat out fellow young Puerto Rican star Francisco Lindor of the Indians by 843,817 votes.
Springer, 27, became just the second outfielder in Astros history voted into an All-Star Game by the fans after Cesar Cedeno in 1973.Keuchel is 9-0 with a 1.67 ERA in 11 starts but hasn’t pitched since June 2 because of a pinched nerve in his neck. He’s expected to return to the Astros’ rotation shortly after the All Star break.
McCullers (7-1), who missed two recent starts because of lower back discomfort, emerged in the first half as one of the league’s best pitchers.
The righthander ranks third among qualified AL starters in ERA (2.69), fourth in strikeouts per nine innings (10.66) and first in ground-ball percentage (63.9).
“I’m just really looking forward to trying to cherish the moments because you never know how many of these things come around,” McCullers said. “I’m extremely grateful and blessed that I’m able to experience this.”