Bassitt added to AllStar Game roster

ARLINGTON, Texas — Chris Bassitt’s first half is sending him to Denver after all.

The A’s righthander was named to the American League AllStar team as a replacement Saturday. Bassitt will join first baseman Matt Olson, who was selected to the AL team via player balloting, in representing the A’s at the AllStar Game on Tuesday at Coors Field. Bassitt was among four AL players named to the AllStar team Saturday as replacements for injured or withdrawing players.

Bassitt originally was passed over for an AllStar nod despite ranking among AL leaders in many pitching categories. As of Friday, Bassitt ranked second in the league in innings pitched (111), seventh in strikeouts (115), WHIP (1.07) and opponents’ average (.220), and 11th in ERA (3.41).

“It’s just, you love to be recognized for just the work you put in,” Bassitt said. “And that’s the way I look at it is just recognition for all the work that I put in, all the stuff that I’ve kind of overcome. I would just say that’s kind of like the cherry on top so far of what I’ve done.”

Traded to the A’s in December 2014, Bassitt started 110 in Oakland before having Tommy John surgery in 2016 and enduring a difficult recovery. He pitched in a swingman role before working solely as a starter for the first time in the short 2020 season.

Bassitt went 52 with a 2.29 ERA in 11 starts last year and was named the Opening Night starter this season. He has a 3.00 ERA in 29 starts since the start of 2020 and is unbeaten in his last 16 outings. His last start, in Houston on Tuesday, ended his streak of 28 allowing no more than four runs. The AllStar selection is Bassitt’s first.

“I’ve obviously created some expectations for myself of being one of the better pitchers in the league, and I just want to live up to those expectations,” Bassitt said. “Those are not so much on the outside with fans or the media, but it’s more so the expectations of my teammates, my coaches, the organization.” Manager Bob Melvin said the A’s were “elated” by Bassitt’s selection and recognized him in the clubhouse before Saturday’s game at Texas.

“He’s such a big part of this clubhouse and this team, so we didn’t want that to be any different than it was when we announced for Matt,” Melvin said.

Bassitt is scheduled to start on Sunday at Texas in the A’s final game before the break, but said that would not preclude him from pitching in the AllStar Game. Tuesday would be his normal bullpen day, and Bassitt said he and the A’s would view pitching an inning in the game as an equivalent.

Melvin confirmed that Saturday.

“I’d be OK with it, the organization’s perfectly OK with it, we’ve already cleared that up,” Bassitt said. “It’s just more so obviously how my start goes (Sunday), how long I go, how many pitches I go, and then dictate from there how I feel” at the AllStar Game.

Bassitt said he will value sharing the experience with Olson and players such as former A’s and nowToronto infielder Marcus Semien, who was voted the AL starting second baseman by fans.

“Seeing all those guys that I’ve played with, that’ll be special for me,” Bassitt said.