Holland added to American League All-Star team
KANSAS CITY, MO (July 14, 2013) - Major League Baseball announced today that Kansas City Royals closer Greg Holland has been named a replacement on the American League All-Star team, taking the spot of Seattle's Hisashi Iwakuma, who started today for the Mariners and will be unable to pitch on Tuesday night. Holland will join teammates Alex Gordon and catcher Salvador Perez, who were named to the 84th Midsummer Classic at Citi Field in New York last week. All three are making their first career trip to the All-Star Game.
This marks the first time since the 1988 All-Star Game in Cincinnati's Riverfront Stadium that the Royals have had three players selected, when George Brett made his 13th and final All-Star appearance, going as a first baseman, and was joined by infielder Kurt Stillwell and pitcher Mark Gubicza. This is the 11th time the club has had at least three players named to the American League squad.
Holland, 27, has served as the Royals' closer since the second half of last season after Jonathan Broxton was dealt to the Reds at the trade deadline. Greg has made good on 38 of 42 save opportunities since taking over the roll full-time, including a current run of 15 in a row dating back to May 30. Since that date, Holland has posted a 0.95 ERA, allowing just two earned runs in 19.0 innings, while recording 34 strikeouts and holding opponents to a .111 average (7-for-63). He has recorded all three outs via the strikeout on six occasions and entered today leading the Majors in strikeouts per batter faced (.444) and strikeouts per 9-inning ratio at 15.43