Catcher Salvador Perez, shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and starters Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans were all named to the American League All-Star roster, announced Sunday afternoon on MLB Network. It’s the first time since 2016 that the Royals have four All-Star representatives, and Ragans and Lugo are the first Royals pitchers to be named to an All-Star Game since Jason Vargas in 2017.
This marks the first time in franchise history that the Royals will have two All-Star starting pitchers in the same season. Salvy will be playing in his ninth career All-Star Game. The Royals’ veteran catcher and fourth captain in team history knocked his 1,500th career hit on Sunday against the Rockies after hitting his 250th career homer earlier this season. He and George Brett, who was a 13-time All-Star, are the only two players in Royals history to reach both of those milestones.
Ryan Helsley is heading to Arlington. The Cardinals closer was selected to the National League roster for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game yesterday. Helsley will be in the bullpen for the NL team. The 29-year-old leads the NL with 31 saves, and he has a 3-nd-3 record with a 2.41 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 41 innings.
