Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Houston Astros’ Alex Bregman embracing AllStar attention.

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HOUSTON — Houston third baseman Alex Bregman is a first time All-Star, will appear in his first Home Run Derby on Monday night and has tried his hand at modeling to help promote a new art, fashion and music event during All-Star week called MLB Assembly.

The Astros’ rising star is embracing these new experience­s and can’t wait to soak up everything as the festivitie­s near.

“It’s going to be sweet,” Bregman said. “It’s going to be fun definitely. I never would have dreamed about being in the derby and I especially never dreamed of being all over this fashion as well.”

Bregman did the shoot for MLB Assembly in May and his images are featured as part of the first-time event at District Pier at the Wharf in Washington which began Friday and runs through Monday. It’s highlighte­d by MLB-themed collaborat­ions from fashion designers including Fear of God, Billionair­e Boys Club, Public School and Mitchell & Ness and includes musical performanc­es by artist such as Wale, TJ Mizell and Blocboy JB.

Bregman loved stepping out of his comfort zone for the shoot and was happy with the way the pictures turned out.

“I’ve never done anything like that before, but it was fun to go be a fashion model for a day,” he said. “It was different, but it was fun to be a part of and I enjoyed it.”

Bregman, 24, who is in his third season in the majors, was eager to be involved with something that highlights major league baseball style after watching the growth and popularity of the fashion and style of NBA players over the last few years.

“It’s cool to be able to connect with the fashion, art and music,” Bregman said. “I personally love the way the NBA’s really connected to all that stuff. They have the cameras when everyone walks in and they’re all trying to show off their best fashion, whether it’s [Russell] Westbrook or [James] Harden or LeBron [James]. I think it’s really cool.”

“There’s a lot of young players in baseball and I know a lot of those players are into that stuff, so it’s pretty cool what MLB’s trying to do,” he continued.

Bregman said his style is constantly changing and that the word to best describe it would be “chameleon,” after the color-changing lizard. He likes that people are starting to take note of his style and what he’s doing off the field. But he knows that the quickest way to build his fame is to continue to improve his game.

“I feel like I’m getting closer to becoming the player that I want to be for 20 years,” he said.

He’s focused on raising his on-base plus slugging percentage­s (OPS), which he feels is the best indicator of success for a hitter.

“OPS I think is the biggest step for hitters, you want to be in that .950 to 1.000 range and I think I’m .920 right now,” he said. “So it’s serviceabl­e but I have a lot of room for improvemen­t and I want to get better.”

Bregman hit .256 with 4 home runs in and 10 RBI to help Houston to its first World Series title and become a darling of the playoffs in his first postseason appearance last year. He’s followed that up with a great start to this season and has already set a career high with 20 home runs.

Manager A.J. Hinch has enjoyed watching the second overall pick in the 2015 draft mature and develop and is thrilled to have another young star to play alongside Carlos Correa, Jose Altuve and George Springer.

“I think [he’s] realizing that he’s equally as impactful as any of those names,” Hinch said. “I think that has brought some confidence to him that is second to none on our team.”

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