Fielder, Gallardo waiting to hear All-Star word
ARLINGTON -- Designated hitter Prince Fielder is likely to be the only position player representing the Rangers at next week's All-Star Game in Cincinnati. There is still uncertainty with pitcher Yovani Gallardo.
The Rangers did not have a player selected to the American League starting lineup that was announced on Sunday. The pitching staff and reserves will be announced on Monday and Fielder is expected to be selected to the All-Star Game for the sixth time in his career.
"It would definitely be an honor to be selected to the All-Star Game," Fielder said. "It is a lot of fun. My family enjoys it, my kids enjoy it. It is definitely an honor."
On Monday at 6 p.m. CT, the All-Star reserves, pitchers and Final Vote candidates will be announced on the Esurance All-Star Selection Show on ESPN. Immediately following the show, fans can return to MLB.com to begin voting to select the final player for each league's 34-man roster via the 2015 Esurance All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans can cast their votes from a list of five players from each league until 3 p.m. CT on Friday, July 10.
Fielder, enjoying a terrific comeback season coming off neck surgery, went into Sunday's game with the Angels second in the league with a .346 batting average. He also has 12 home runs, 49 RBIs and a .522 slugging percentage.
"I was just trying to stay healthy and be prepared to play every day," Fielder said. "The All-Star Game is cool but that wasn't the goal. The goal was to get back to playing baseball and playing regularly again."
Fielder was the Most Valuable Player of the 2011 All-Star Game. He also won the Gillette Home Run Derby in 2008 and 2012, and is interested in competing again this season.
"Yeah, I would do it," Fielder said. "I am not opposed to it. It has never hurt me before."
Gallardo has pitched his way into All-Star consideration with his current 29 1/3 consecutive-scoreless-innings streak. As of Sunday, he was 7-6 with a 2.56 ERA that was the sixth lowest in the league. But the Rangers have also adjusted their rotation so that Gallardo will pitch on Sunday before the All-Star Game.
The "Sunday Pitcher Rule" in the 2012 Collective Bargaining Agreement between MLB and the MLB Players Association states, "Any starting pitcher elected or selected to the All-Star team who makes a start on the Sunday immediately preceding the All-Star Game shall have the option to participate or not participate in the All-Star Game."
The rule states if the pitcher chooses to participate in the All-Star Game, he won't be allowed to pitch more than one inning, and may set a specific pitch count with his manager. If the pitcher decides not to participate in the All-Star Game, he will be replaced on the club's roster, but encouraged to attend the game.
"Obviously I would be excited by the opportunity to be a part of it," Gallardo said. "It's important for anybody to experience it and be a part of the top players in the American League. It's definitely exciting, we'll see what happens."
Gallardo said he wouldn't be opposed to pitching an inning on Tuesday, if needed.
"That would be my normal bullpen day," Gallardo said. "Probably an inning or so. …We would have to wait and see how the start before it goes and how many pitches I throw."
Eight pitchers are selected in a vote by the players: five starters and three relievers. Five more pitchers will be selected by Royals manager Ned Yost. Gallardo played for Yost while with the Brewers.
During the Midsummer Classic in Cincinnati on Tuesday, July 14, fans can once again visit MLB.com to submit their choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award. Voting exclusively at MLB.com, online and via their mobile devices in the 2015 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote, the fans' collective voice will represent 20 percent of the overall vote that determines the recipient of the Arch Ward Trophy.
MLB.TV Premium subscribers will be able to live stream the All-Star Game via MLB.TV through FOX's participating video providers. Access will be available across more than 400 supported MLB.TV platforms, including the award-winning MLB.com At Bat app. MLB.com will provide extensive online coverage of the All-Star Week festivities, including the 2015 Gillette Home Run Derby presented by Head & Shoulders, part of Gatorade All-Star Workout Day on Monday, July 13. The Derby will feature a new format with brackets and timed rounds and will be broadcast live by ESPN and MLB.com beginning at 7 p.m. CT.
The 86th All-Star Game will be televised nationally by FOX Sports (6 p.m. CT air time, 7:15 first pitch), in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.