FIRST-TIMERS IN SPOTLIGHT
These five are among standouts giving All-Star Game a fresh look
With Major League Baseball revealing 28 first-time All-Stars for the July 14 game in Cincinnati, USA TODAY Sports looks at five rising talents who will be making their debuts in the Midsummer Classic:
LORENZO CAIN, KANSAS CITY ROYALS OUTFIELDER
Age, experience: 29, sixth season
Why he’s an All-Star: Speedy Cain is the centerpiece of the first-place Royals’ offense. He’s hitting .305 with four triples, six homers and 16 stolen bases. Though recently surrendering first place in the voting among American League outfielders to Mike Trout, Cain is scheduled to start the All-Star Game.
The road here: Cain became a true regular last season, when he hit .301 with 28 steals in 471 atbats and then earned AL Championship Series MVP honors in helping the Royals reach the World Series.
Fun fact: Cain’s favorite sport growing up was basketball. He didn’t play baseball — or even own a glove, for that matter — until high school, when he tried it for the first time after being cut from the basketball team.
STEPHEN VOGT, OAKLAND ATHLETICS CATCHER
Age, experience: 30, fourth season
Why he’s an All-Star: Vogt has become the driving force of the A’s lineup. He’s tied for sixth in the AL with 53 RBI and has been versatile in the batting order and in the field, playing catcher or first base.
The road here: A true late bloomer, Vogt made his debut in 2012 at 27 and has matched or topped his previous career totals in home runs and RBI this season.
Fun fact: Vogt is becoming a folk hero in Oakland. There is a cheering section in the upper deck of the ballpark that chants “I believe in Stephen Vogt!” before his at-bats.
DALLAS KEUCHEL, HOUSTON ASTROS PITCHER
Age, experience: 27, fourth season
Why he’s an All-Star: Keuchel is the unquestioned ace of the first-place Astros. He leads all AL starters with 124 1⁄3 innings and a 2.03 ERA and is one of three pitchers to have logged three complete games. He could be a candidate to start the game.
The road here: Keuchel struggled in his first two big-league seasons but began to emerge last year with a 2.93 ERA in 29 starts. This year, he has risen to be among MLB’s elite, as has his team.
Fun fact: Easygoing Keuchel has been spotted sneaking up behind teammates wearing a blue-and-silver mask during postgame interviews, and his teammates have done the same to him.
NOLAN ARENADO, COLORADO ROCKIES THIRD BASEMAN
Age, experience: 24, third season
Why he’s an All-Star: Arenado is hitting .283 and slugging .599 with 24 home runs and a National League-leading 68 RBI. He’s also on a tear as of late, hitting .319 with eight home runs over a two-week span.
The road here: Arenado is in his third season as the Rockies’ third baseman, winning Gold Gloves in his first two. He hit .267 and .287, respectively, in those two years with 28 total home runs.
Fun fact: Arenado has been nicknamed Mickey Mouse (by teammates) and Sharknado (by fans).
GERRIT COLE, PITTSBURGH PIRATES PITCHER
Age, experience: 24, third season
Why he’s an All-Star: Cole is 12-3 with a 2.28 ERA and 113 strikeouts in 110 1⁄3 innings. He is tied for fourth in the NL in ERA.
The road here: Cole made 19 and 22 starts, respectively, in his first two years in the big leagues, compiling a 21-12 record with a 3.45 ERA before breaking out this year for the wild card-leading Pirates.
Fun fact: Cole, a college teammate of Cleveland Indians starter Trevor Bauer, was the No. 1 overall pick out of UCLA in 2011.