HOUSTON -- Nagging injuries and impending fatherhood will take precedence this week for the four Astros players who were elected to play in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, which means there will be no players representing Houston in the Midsummer Classic in Denver.
Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and second baseman Jose Altuve opted out of the game on Thursday and were joined on Saturday by closer Ryan Pressly and outfielder Michael Brantley.
“It’s very tough,” Brantley said. “It’s a tremendous honor. I’ve been very fortunate to make a few in the past -- and I always enjoyed my time and experience there and meeting the guys. It’s stuff you dreamed about as a kid, that you watched on TV. I’m upset I’m going to miss it, but at the same time it’s the right decision for me and my family and this organization.”
The 2021 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard will begin at 6:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday. It will air live on FOX.
Correa, who landed on the injured list Friday with an illness, said he wanted to spend the break at home with his wife, Daniella, who’s pregnant with the couple’s first child. The same reasoning applies to Pressly, whose wife, Kat, could give birth to their first child this week.
“It’s a tough decision to make,” said Pressly, who was an All-Star previously in 2019. “I wish we could be there. It’s just one of those decisions where I have to fortunately put family first -- and that’s my decision and we’re just going to take these days. I want to be with [my wife], by her side and go that route.”
Meanwhile, Altuve -- who was set to play in his club-record-tying seventh All-Star Game -- cited an injury to his left leg, while Brantley said he wanted to spend the time resting a nagging oblique injury. Brantley made the All-Star Game four times previously in his career, including 2019 with the Astros.
“I have some issues [with] my leg that I really think I need those four days to get everything right on my leg and be healthy for the second half, because I feel like the team needs me 100 percent,” Altuve said.
Correa’s baby isn’t due until November, but he said he wanted to be with his wife for some of her appointments set for this week.
“As you guys know, baseball is really important to me, but family will always come first,” he said. “We decided I’m going to stay here with her and spent this time. We don’t get a lot of time together with the baseball season, but I’m especially excited about that."
This will be the seventh time since the Astros/Colt .45s began play in 1962 that no Houston players will appear in the All-Star Game.
The Astros have five times sent a lone representatives to the All-Star Game who didn’t play -- pitcher Joaquin Andujar (1977), outfielder Terry Puhl (1978), pitcher Darryl Kile (1993), pitcher Shane Reynolds (2000) and catcher Jason Castro (2013). In 1966, neither second baseman Joe Morgan nor pitcher Claude Raymond played after being selected.