ARLINGTON -- Rangers outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, having set a club record for reaching base in 47 consecutive games, is going to his first All-Star Game.
Choo was selected as a reserve for the American League All-Star team, announced on Sunday night. His first All-Star selection comes 14 years after first making his Major League debut with the Mariners in 2005. He has clearly been the Rangers' best player through the first half of the season.
"Before the game, [manager] Jeff Banister called a team meeting and called out my name as an All-Star," Choo said. "I was joking around, I said, 'I need four days off before the second half.' That aside, I got goose bumps. When I came from Korea to play in the big leagues, my goal was to be one of the best players. This is one of the best days of my life. I am going to enjoy this with my family."
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Choo is the third player from South Korea to be selected to the All-Star Game, and the first position player. The others were pitchers Chan Ho Park and Byung-Hyun Kim.
"I know Korean pitchers have made the All-Star Game, but first position player -- very special for me and my country and my family, too," Choo said. "I am very excited. I can't wait."
Choo was selected after hitting .293 with 52 runs scored, 17 home runs and 42 RBIs in 86 games. He has a .399 on-base percentage and a .504 slugging percentage.
"I was wishing before the end of my career that I would make an All-Star Game," Choo said. "It's not easy to do. A lot of good players on 30 teams."
Choo went 1-for-5 with a ninth-inning infield single in the Rangers' 3-0 victory over the Tigers on Sunday. The base hit extended his on-base streak to 47 straight games, passing Julio Franco for the longest in club history.
During that streak, Choo is hitting .339 with a .464 on-base percentage and a .600 slugging percentage. He has 41 walks in the streak and 12 home runs. He has also hit safely in 41 of those 47 games. Walks accounted for the streak being extended in the other six games.
While watching the 2018 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX on Tuesday, fans can submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet with the 2018 All-Star Game MLB.com MVP Vote.
The 89th Midsummer Classic, at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage.
For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.