Cain, Yelich, Hader are all-stars
The Brewers get three on the squad, and Jesus Aguilar could join them.
As manager of the team with the most victories in the National League, Craig Counsell said the Milwaukee Brewers deserved to put a sizable contingent of players in the AllStar Game.
“That means we have guys having big years, and we earned a bunch of guys on the team,” Counsell said. “There should be more.”
The first-place Brewers got no love in fan balloting but they did put three players on the National League all-star team for the game July 17, with a chance for a fourth. It was announced Sunday night that outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich and reliever Josh Hader were added to the NL squad, all three being elected on the players’ ballot.
First baseman Jesus Aguilar, enjoying perhaps the best breakthrough season in the league, has a chance to be added in the “Final Vote” competition in which fans select the final player. Aguilar is on the ballot with Los Angeles’ Max Muncy, St. Louis’ Matt Carpenter, San Francisco’s Brandon Belt and Washington’s Trea Turner.
Cain is the only Brewers player named who has all-star experience, having been elected in 2016 while playing for Kansas City.
“It’s huge,” said Cain, who came off the DL to play in the Brewers’ 10-3 victory over the Atlanta Braves at Miller Park. “It’s a great experience. Everybody should get a chance. It’s a lot of fun to get to play with a lot of great talent. It’s going to be fun.”
The additions of Cain and Yelich validated the Brewers’
acquisitions of those players within hours of each other on Jan. 25. In 73 games, Cain is batting .290 with a .394 OBP, 50 runs scored, eight homers, 26 RBI and 16 stolen bases.
Yelich is batting .285 with 11 home runs, 36 RBI, a .362 OBP and 11 stolen bases.
“I’m just looking forward to the whole experience and soaking it all in,” Yelich said. “I’m going to just try to enjoy it as much as I can. I’ve been to one before as a fan. I think it was 2010, right after I got drafted (by Miami).
“It’s one thing to make the big leagues but it’s another thing to make it to an allstar game. It’s a pretty cool honor and an experience you should appreciate and take in.”
In his first full season in the majors, Hader assured himself a spot in the NL bullpen weeks ago by becoming a strikeout sensation and nearly unhittable for much of the first half. In 29 appearances, he has allowed only 15 hits and 18 walks in 442⁄3 innings, with an incredible 83 strikeouts, most among relievers in the majors.
Hader, 24, has five saves of at least two innings and became the first pitcher in modern history to record as many as eight strikeouts in fewer than three innings on April 30 in Cincinnati.
Despite that dominance, the unassuming Hader said he did not take an all-star berth for granted until officially told Sunday morning.
“I had people tell me (it was a cinch) but I didn’t really have any clue,” he said. “I’m just happy to be here and to be able to play on this team and be able to go with these guys (to the All-Star Game). Just watching them play, day in and day out, and how much they really do, it’s a fun time to watch.
“Like ‘Lo’ said, with the talent that’s in this game, it’s a blessing.”
Hader, who is from Millersville, Md., said he is looking forward to being in the All-Star Game in Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., not far from home.
“It’s definitely special,” he said. “Last year, I was able to play in front of my family and friends in D.C., but to go back there for the All-Star Game, words just really can’t describe it.”
Hader said fellow Brewers reliever Jeremy Jeffress also was worthy of an allstar berth, after posting a 1.05 ERA in 42 games, with only 23 hits and 13 walks allowed in 43 innings, with 44 strikeouts. Jeffress is unscored on in 38 of his appearances, including 23 in a row over one stretch.
“J.J. has been coming on in situations that are really big,” Hader said. “The way he’s been able to do it day in and day out, it’s been fun to watch. You always root for guys like that. What he’s been doing to get out of jams for us, he’s deserving for sure.”
Of the Brewers’ representation on the NL all-star team, Yelich said, “There’s a lot of guy in there who could be all stars. Our team has played really well so far in the first half and it’s taken a group effort. It’s taken all 25 guys and then some.
“There are a lot of really deserving guys in that clubhouse and it’s an honor to be up there and share it with these guys . Hopefully, now we can get ‘Aggie’ in there as well.”