Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant named to National League All-Star Team
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo and third baseman Kris Bryant were today named to the 2015 National League All-Star team. Rizzo has earned the second All-Star selection of his major league career while Bryant has earned his first. Rizzo and Bryant will represent the Cubs at the 86th Major League All-Star Game Tuesday, July 14 at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park.
Rizzo was elected to the N.L. squad by way of the player vote while Bryant was named to the club by National League Manager Bruce Bochy.
Rizzo, who was elected to the All-Star game by way of the N.L.'s Final Vote ballot last season, becomes only the second first baseman in franchise history to earn All-Star honors in consecutive seasons and the first in nearly 70 years, joining Phil Cavarretta from 1946-47. He is only the fifth first baseman in Cubs history with multiple All-Star appearances, joining Ernie Banks (five All-Star Games as a first baseman), Mark Grace (three times), Phil Cavarretta (three times) and Derrek Lee (two times).
At 25 years of age, Rizzo remains the youngest All-Star first baseman in franchise history, let alone the youngest with a pair of All-Star honors. He entered play on Monday batting .292 (85-for-291) with 24 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 45 RBI in 79 games. He ranked fourth in the National League with a .948 OPS, third with a .405 on-base percentage and sixth with a .543 slugging percentage. He is tied for the National League lead with 24 doubles.
Bryant becomes the first rookie third baseman to ever represent the Cubs at the All-Star Game and the first overall since catcher Geovany Soto and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome started the game in 2008. Along with Soto and Fukudome, Bryant is only the sixth rookie Cub All-Star in franchise history, joining pitcher Sam Jones (1955), catcher Toby Atwell (1952, did not play) and second baseman Dan Johnson (1944, did not play).
The 23-year-old Bryant is the youngest Cubs third baseman to be elected an All-Star since 23-year-old Ron Santo earned his first selection in 1963. Bryant is the first third baseman to represent the Cubs at the All-Star Game since Aramis Ramirez in 2008 and one of only three All-Star Cubs third basemen in the last 40 seasons (also Vance Law, 1988). Bryant entered play today batting .279 (73-for-262) with 14 doubles, 12 homers and 49 RBI, and is also the first rookie in franchise history to reach 10 homers, 40 RBI and 40 runs scored by July 1 in franchise history.