KANSAS CITY, Mo. (July 5, 2016) - Four Royals have been selected to represent the American League in the 2016 All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced today. Catcher Salvador Perez and first baseman Eric Hosmer will be in the starting lineup in the Midsummer Classic set for Tuesday, July 12 at San Diego's PETCO Park. Relief pitchers Wade Davis and Kelvin Herrera were also named to the All-Star team, giving the Royals as many as four selections for the second year in a row as well as multiple starters for the second-straight season and third time in franchise history.
The four All-Star selections are also tied for the third-most in franchise history. Kansas City also had four players named to the squad in 1972, 1976 and 1978. Perez received 4,965,838 votes, the most among all Major League players this year. He becomes the second Royal to lead the Majors in All-Star voting, joining Hall of Famer George Brett (1981).
Perez, 26, will make his third-straight start behind the plate for the American League, the most by a Royals player since Brett started five seasons in a row (1981-85). The four-time All-Star is tops among A.L. catchers in hits (74), batting average (.277), slugging percentage (.483) and tied for first in RBI (37). His 24 two-out RBI are tied for fifth in the Majors, while he's thrown out an A.L.-best 17 would-be basestealers.
Hosmer, 26, will be participating in his first All-Star Game, earning the starting nod at first base. He is the first Royals' first baseman selected to the Midsummer Classic since Mike Sweeney in 2005. Hosmer is batting .303 with 13 homers and 49 RBI this season. He's collected 28 RBI since May 25, which are tied for seventh in the American League in that span. He had a career-best 18-game hitting streak, April 10-29, which is the third-longest in MLB this season.
Davis, 30, was tabbed an All-Star for the second-straight year, though he will not participate in the game due to injury. He's posted a 1-0 record with 19 saves and a 1.23 ERA in 30 appearances this season, his first full year as the team's closer. His save total is tied for fifth in the American League, while his ERA is also fifth-best among the league's relief pitchers.
Herrera, 26, was also selected an American League All-Star for the second-straight season. He is 1-1 with a 1.40 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 38.2 innings this season. He's also tops in the Major Leagues with 21 holds this year, while he's tied for seventh among A.L. relievers with 39 appearances. He hasn't allowed a hit to a right-handed hitter since June 6, while righties are just 10-for-71 (.141) against him this season.