Nelson Cruz Named to All Star Team

[Seth Stohs]

For the seventh time in his MLB career, Twins DH Nelson Cruz will play in the Midsummer Classic. 

With the Twins record sitting at just 34-48, it was probably too much to hope that the Twins would be represented by more than one All Star. While pitchers Jose Berrios and Taylor Rogers were certainly viable choices, it is Nelson Cruz who will represent the organization on July 13th in Denver. . 

It is Cruz's seventh All Star Game. He has previously represented the Rangers (2009, 2013), Orioles (2014) and Mariners (2015, 2017, 2018).

Coming into play on Sunday, Cruz had played in 72 games. He has hit .306/.381/.571 (.952) with 11 doubles and 18 home runs. He has 45 RBI. He even has a triple, a stolen base and several infield singles. 

Over his two-and-a-half seasons with the Twins, he has twice been a Top 10 finisher in MVP voting and won a Silver Slugger both years. The starting DH for the American League this year will be Angels' slugger/ace Shohei Ohtani, who hit his 31st homer on Sunday. 

Jose Berrios is having another strong first half. He is 7-2 with a 3.52 ERA over 16 starts. 

Taylor Rogers has returned to the form that made him one of baseball's top left-handed relievers since 2017. He deserves to be an All Star. In 32 games, he is 2-3 with seven saves. He has a 2.73 ERA and after striking out two batters in a scoreless inning on Sunday has 46 strikeouts in 34 innings

Hopefully Berrios and Rogers will be considered as potential replacement players if needed. 

Former Twins pitchers Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, Liam Hendriks and Ryan Pressly are on the American League All Star team. In addition, Eduardo Escobar is making his first All Star game as well, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, at least for now. 

 

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[Squirrel]

Congrats, Nellie! Probably the one who deserved it most

[stringer bell]

Best choice. I’d like to see another Twin in there because most likely Nellie will be playing for someone else in less than a month. 

[sampleSizeOfOne]

I know it shouldn't be a consideration, but huzzah for Nellie, as the Twins player best at resting, so hopefully least affected by not getting to rest through the all-star break.

 

Still holding out hope for the improbable run...

[twinfan]

I guess Buxton would have taken this spot had he been healthy but Cruz also deserves this. I still have hope that we can sign him for next year rather than trade him at the deadline.

[Danchat]

1 hour ago, twinfan said:

I guess Buxton would have taken this spot had he been healthy but Cruz also deserves this. I still have hope that we can sign him for next year rather than trade him at the deadline.

I would entertain a one year extension, but I wonder if Cruz will get more from an NL team with the DH likely coming back in 2022. There is also a high chance of a holdout happening, which would make extending Cruz riskier (I assume all contracts would be pushed back a year). If he is intent on hitting the market again, I would trade him, since we wouldn't give him the qualifying offer.

[big dog]

I wonder if there's ever been a Twins team with 5 ex-players on it before. We got value for Pressly and Escobar. Rijo may still turn into a player from the Lynn deal.

[PDX Twin]

52 minutes ago, big dog said:

I wonder if there's ever been a Twins team with 5 ex-players on it before. We got value for Pressly and Escobar. Rijo may still turn into a player from the Lynn deal.

But Kohl Stewart misses out yet again.

[PopRiveter]

"Former Twins pitchers Kyle Gibson, Lance Lynn, Liam Hendriks and Ryan Pressly are on the American League All Star team. In addition, Eduardo Escobar is making his first All Star game as well, as a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks, at least for now. "

Kyle Gibson-Left for 3yr/$30m deal in free agency, no return

Lance Lynn (+$4.5million)-traded for Luis Rijo and Tyler Austin (who was subsequently traded for Malique Ziegler)

Liam Hendriks-DFA waiver claim, no return (Terry Ryan FO)

Ryan Pressly-traded for Jorge Alcala and Gilbert Celestino

Eduardo Escobar-traded for Jhoan Duran, Gabriel Maciel and Ernie De La Trinidad

 

It was an enlightening exercise to track the returns from these lost loves. The 2021 Twins would sure look different with 5 more all-stars on the roster, but no one sees the future.

Alcala, Duran, and Celestino are all positioned to try and help the big team now or soon. De La Trinidad is holding his own at AA but getting old for a prospect. Rijo and Maciel are still in the low minors with reason for hope. I can't find whether Malique Ziegler is still in the organization. He last played in 2019 where he struggled to hit at low levels.

Where I will gripe is this- I miss everything about Eduardo Escobar. That was a player for whom I could root heartily!