ARLINGTON -- Rangers rookie Adolis García is among the nine outfield finalists for the All-Star Game set to take place on Tuesday, July 13 at Coors Field.
García advanced to Phase 2 of fan voting, and you can vote for him NOW until Thursday at 1 p.m. CT in order to select the starters for the Midsummer Classic. The Angels’ Mike Trout, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Twins’ Byron Buxton were the top-three vote getters in the outfield at the conclusion of the first round.
The All-Star starters will be announced on Thursday at 8 p.m. on ESPN. Pitchers and reserves will be revealed on July 4 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN. The All-Star Game is July 13 on FOX.
Garcia was named Rangers Player of the Month and MLB Rookie of the Month after a hot May in which slashed .312/.348/.633 with 11 home runs and 27 RBIs through 28 games. He’s since cooled off, but just by his own measures. Heading into Sunday’s game with the Royals, he was batting .275 with an .858 OPS.
Garcia also ranks among the AL leaders in homers (T-3rd, 20), RBIs (T-4th, 54), and slugging (8th, .543) while leading Major League rookies in all three categories.
“Every baseball player dreams of making it to the All Star Game, so if I’m selected I’m going to continue trying to do the things that I've been doing to make it there,” Garcia said following the Rangers’ win over the A’s on Wednesday, in which he went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
“I’m pretty biased, but [he deserves it],” manager Chris Woodward said. “It's hard to not be biased when I get to see him every day. You're starting to see a more complete version of him. He's walking more and the defense part of it too. He’s throwing out runners all over the place and the late-game heroics, too, not only with the bat in his hand, but with the glove. It has to count for something, and if that pushes him over the top, he’s been an All-Star.”