Club now sending no All-Stars
Brantley and Pressly join Altuve and Correa in ducking out of game
No Astros will participate in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, leaving one of the American League’s best teams without representation and a sport wondering whether this could become a new trend.
Houston outfielder Michael Brantley and closer Ryan Pressly pulled out of the exhibition game Saturday morning, two days after Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa made similar announcements.
Major League Baseball still could add an Astros representative to the American League team, but none of the 10 replacement players announced Saturday play in Houston.
“I support my players,” Astros manager Dusty Baker said. “They’re not jiving as to the reason why they’re not going. It’s been a tough road here. It’s been a tough road where none of these guys are injured — they’re hurt but still able to play — but they’re not 100 percent.”
Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement mandates participation for all players elected to the All-Star Game with six exceptions. Players on the injured list or who get injured in the two days preceding the All-Star Game are exempt. Correa is on the injured list because of health and safety protocols.
According to the collective bargaining agreement, a player can miss the All-Star Game if “his club advises him to refrain from baseball activities during the All-Star break to treat a chronic injury or condition.” The CBA requires certification from a club physician and medical records to verify the circumstance.
Brantley is not on the injured list, but he missed two games earlier this month in Cleveland with right side soreness. The Astros said Brantley will use the fourday break “to rest” the same injury. Brantley said he made the decision to withdraw “a couple days ago.”
“I’m OK. It’s just that time of the year where things pop up, things happen,” Brantley said. “It’s no secret I missed a couple games in Cleveland because of this. I think a couple days extra rest would do me some good to continue to be on this field and compete with this great group of guys in this locker room.
“I’m going to miss it. I’m upset I’m not making it, but at the same time, it’s the right decision for me and my family and this organization.”
Pressly will skip the All-Star Game to be with his wife, Katherine, who is expecting the couple’s first child later this month. According to the CBA, players who would justify placement on the paternity list are not mandated to participate in the All-Star Game.
At a recent doctor’s appointment, Pressly said the couple was told their son could come “at any time.” Katherine got orders for “absolutely no flying” as Wyatt Cole Pressly’s arrival neared.
“I would hate to get up there and turn around and possibly miss the birth of my son,” Pressly said.
“She’s extremely close. It’s a tough decision to make. I wish we could be there. It’s just one of those decisions where I have to put family first. That’s my decision. We’re going to take these days and be by her side and go that route.”
Correa’s wife, Daniella, is also pregnant with their first child. While explaining his decision Thursday, Correa said he preferred to attend her doctor’s appointment rather than All-Star weekend. Correa then fell ill Friday, forcing Houston to place him on the injured list.
Baker did not provide any specifics other than to say Correa is “sick,” but Major League Baseball listed Correa among players skipping the All-Star Game because of injury. Altuve is not attending after battling what he described as “some issues in my leg.”
Other than to say it is his left leg, Altuve provided no specifics about his injury. He has started the Astros’ past five games with no noticeable impairment.
“I’m with them every day. I see the injury report every day. I walk through the training room every day. I don’t really have much more to say on that,” Baker said.
Houston’s quartet joined a bevy of backouts across the sport. New York Mets ace Jacob deGrom said he is skipping the game to spend time with his family and get healthy for the second half of the season. St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina will nurse a nagging foot injury that forced him to the injured list earlier this season.
Now that it no longer determines home-field advantage in the World Series, the All-Star Game affords almost no incentive for attendance. Some of the sport’s marquee names backing out could turn into a new normal.
“I don’t think it will start a trend at all,” said Brantley, who has been to four All-Star Games. “I really enjoy my time at the All-Star Game. I’m very appreciative of the opportunities I’ve had to go before. Speaking for myself, if this wasn’t something that I really didn’t ponder on and sat down and make a decision with the medical staff, I’d be there. It’s a tremendous honor for me. I don’t take that for granted.
“There’s no twisted way around it: if I could be there, I’d be there.”