Major League Baseball announced today that Pittsburgh's Mark Melancon has been named to the National League All-Star team for this year's All-Star Game in San Diego.
Melancon has been named to the All-Star team for the third time in four seasons (also 2013 and 2015) as a member of the Pirates. He enters today tied for third among all National League pitchers with 24 saves. Melancon, who was selected to the team by National League manager Terry Collins, is the first Pirates closer to be named to the All-Star team in consecutive years since Joel Hanrahan in 2011 and 2012.
The 31-year-old right-handed pitcher enters today ranked fourth all-time in Pirates history with 124 saves, trailing only Kent Tekulve (158), Mike Williams (140) and Dave Giusti (133). The 2015 Trevor Hoffman National League Reliever-of-the-Year also enters today with 108 saves and a 93.9 save percentage since the beginning of the 2014 season, which is tops in the Majors. The Pirates have also won each of their last 75 games when Melancon has entered the game in a save situation, losing for the last time on April 21, 2015.
Melancon, who was acquired by Pittsburgh prior to the 2013 season, has compiled a 9-10 record, 1.79 ERA, 231 strikeouts and .210 batting average against in 258 games as a member of the Pirates. His 1.79 ERA since the beginning of 2013 is the third-lowest in the Majors among relief pitchers, trailing only Wade Davis (1.01) and Zach Britton (1.56).
Outfielder Starling Marte has also been named as one of this year's Esurance MLB All-Star Game Final Vote participants. MLB Network will announce the winners of the final vote this Friday at 4 p.m. eastern time. Marte is the fifth Pirate selected as a final vote participant, joining Brian Giles (2002), Kenny Lofton (2003), Jason Kendall (2004) and Tom Gorzelanny (2007).
Marte enters today ranked sixth in the National League in hitting (.321), second in stolen bases (24), tied for third in multi-hit games (31), seventh in hits (94) and tied for first in outfield assists (nine). His .325 average as an outfielder also ranks second in the Majors among players at that position, trailing only Los Angeles' Mike Trout (.332).