Unlikely All-Stars relish honor
ARLINGTON, Texas — Hunter Pence was being wished well in retirement last year, even by the manager for whom the outfielder played in two World Series. Mike Minor didn’t pitch in the majors for two seasons and then was a full-time reliever before getting the chance to start again.
Pence and Minor are now headed to the All-Star Game to represent the Texas Rangers.
“It’s a big moment. I feel like now nobody can take that away from me,” Minor said. “I always looked at guys that had ‘All-Star’ beside their name and when they signed things I’d always look at that, and I always wanted to have that.”
Pence and Minor won’t get to play in Cleveland, however. With Minor (8-4, 2.54 ERA) scheduled to start Sunday, he will be ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game. The 36year-old Pence was voted by fans as the AL’s starting designated hitter but is still recovering from a strained right groin that put him on the injured list June 17.
“Everything in life is a choice, like how amazing and how much could I appreciate this,” said Pence, an All-Star for the fourth time in his 13 big league seasons. “Would I have thought that I would even have the choice to be disappointed in going to an All-Star Game last year in the offseason when I didn’t even have a job.”
Giants manager Bruce Bochy was among those congratulating Pence on a great career at the end of last season.
“It was a kind and loving gesture, and I appreciated it . ... But to be standing here now is crazy,” Pence said.