Tim Anderson voted American League starting shortstop at 2022 All-Star Game in Los Angeles

CHICAGO – Tim Anderson of the Chicago White Sox has been voted by baseball fans as the American League starting shortstop at the 2022 All-Star Game to be played on July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Anderson, 29, finished with 55 percent of the votes, while runner-up Bo Bichette of Toronto received 45 percent. Anderson is batting .313/.352/.422 (72-230) with 10 doubles, five home runs, 20 RBI, 34 runs scored and 10 stolen bases over 55 games this season. He would rank fifth in the American League in batting average with the required plate appearances.

This will be Anderson’s second All-Star Game appearance and first start. He was a reserve on the 2021 All-Star Team, replacing Houston’s Carlos Correa. He played two innings on defense, but did not bat in the Midsummer Classic at Colorado’s Coors Field.

Some notable information regarding Anderson’s starting assignment at the 92nd Midsummer Classic:

· Has made back-to-back All-Star Teams, the first White Sox shortstop to accomplish that feat since Ozzie Guillén in 1990-91

· Sixth shortstop in White Sox history to make the All-Star Team, joining Alexei Ramírez (2014), Guillén (1988, ’90-91), Luis Aparicio (1956, ’58-62 and ’70), Chico Carrasquel (1951, ’53-55) and Luke Appling (1936, ’39-41, ’43, ’46-47).

· Fourth White Sox shortstop to start, joining Aparicio (seven times, last 1970), Carrasquel (three times) and Appling (twice)

· First White Sox homegrown All-Star starter since LHP Chris Sale in 2016, and the first homegrown position player to start since first baseman Frank Thomas in 1997

· Second African American player to be voted starting AL shortstop, joining Derek Jeter (nine times, last 2014)

· Six African American players have started at shortstop for the National League: Addison Russell, Jimmy Rollins, Barry Larkin, Ozzie Smith, Maury Wills and Ernie Banks

· One of eight White Sox first-round picks to be named an All-Star, joining LHPs Carlos Rodón (2014) and Chris Sale (2010), 1B Frank Thomas (1989), 3B Robin Ventura (1988), RHP Jack McDowell (1987) and OFs Harold Baines (1977) and Carlos May (1966)

Anderson, a 2020 AL Silver Slugger Award winner, ranks second in baseball since 2019 with a .321 average, trailing only Minnesota’s Luis Arraez (.323). He led the AL in 2019 with a .335 batting average.

The second phase of All-Star Game voting featured the top two vote-getters at each position in each league based on vote totals from Phase 1, which ran from June 8-30. During Phase 2, which began on Tuesday afternoon, fans had a four-day window to submit their votes for the starting position players at the 2022 Midsummer Classic.