Boyd, Smith selected as all-star pitchers; two Cubs snubbed
Two Chicago pitchers were selected to their respective all-star teams on Sunday — Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd and White Sox rookie right-hander Shane Smith.
The Cubs may feel snubbed, though, since designated hitter Seiya Suzuki and first baseman Michael Busch were not selected. Suzuki started Sunday as the MLB's RBI leader, while Busch ranks fourth in the National League in OPS.
Boyd, 34, is a first-time all-star in his 11th MLB season. In his first year with the Cubs, he posted an 8-3 record and a 2.65 ERA heading into Sunday’s start in the rain-delayed series finale against the Cardinals.
This has been a comeback story for Boyd, who was limited by injuries beginning in 2021. He made a nice return with Cleveland at the end of last season, which actually began with strong 5 innings against the Cubs on Aug. 13. The Cubs felt confident offering a multiyear deal in free-agency and it paid off.
“At this stage, Year 11, to be an all-star is a real lesson for everybody, for all of us, in why you never give an inch and you keep at it,” Cubs manger Craig Counsell said. “You go about every day the same and you attack every day during your injuries the same. He's clearly done that, and this is one of the rewards for that.”
Smith got off to a great start with the White Sox, delivering a 2.37 ERA after 13 starts. His last four appearances haven't gone as well and he gave up 5 runs in Sunday's loss at Colorado.
According to the White Sox, Smith is the first rookie pitcher in team history to be an all-star. He's the second player to make the all-star team in the year after being chosen in the Rule 5 draft, joining Florida's Dan Uggla in 2006. Smith and A's shortstop Jacob Wilson are the two rookies on the AL roster.
“Unbelievable. Really thankful,” Smith told reporters in Denver. “For the last month, it doesn't really feel like I deserve it. There's a lot of guys that played really well over this stretch. I just want to do my best.
“It really hasn't sunk in yet. I don't think it will probably until I get there. But extremely grateful for the White Sox to take a chance on me in the Rule 5 and to put a good 10, 11 starts together.”
Smith was drafted by the Brewers out of Wake Forest and had pitched in just five Triple-A games in the minors before joining the White Sox rotation from Opening Day.
“Fighting for a roster spot in the spring to being in Atlanta in July is not something I envisioned or expected by any means,” he said. “So just to be able to put my best foot forward and have it work out well is incredible.”
Busch has had a monster week, including 4 home runs in the first two games of the St. Louis series. Had this heater happened a little sooner, maybe the all-star outcome would be different. The Mets' Pete Alonso and Atlanta's Matt Olson were picked as spare first basemen, behind Dodgers' starter Freddie Freeman.
The NL outfield reserves are ex-Cub Kyle Schwarber from the Phillies, Washington's James Woods, Miami's Kyle Stowers, Arizona's Corbin Carroll, and San Diego's Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tatis is a curious selection. He's missed a few games with injuries, but is hitting .258 with 15 home runs and 38 RBI, roughly half of Suzuki's total. Reserves are chosen by a players vote and also with input from the Commissioners Office.
There are plenty of ex-Cubs and White Sox on the team, including former Sox pitchers Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet. Besides Schwarber, Padres reliever Jason Adam was with the Cubs in 2020-21. The game will be played July 15 in Atlanta.
Here's the full list of all-star reserves:
NL pitchers: Boyd, Chris Sale (Atl), Clayton Kershaw (LAD), Zack Wheeler (Phi), Paul Skenes (Pit), Logan Webb (SF), Robbie Ray (SF), Freddy Peralta (Mil), Mackenzie Gore (Was), Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD), Edwin Diaz (NYM), Jason Adam (SD) and Randy Rodriguez (SF).
NL position: Pete Alonso (NYM), Matt Olson (Atl), Elly De La Cruz (Cin), Eugenio Suarez (Ari), Hunter Goodman (Col), Brendan Donovan (Stl), Kyle Schwarber (Phi), James Woods (Was), Kyle Stowers (Mia), Corbin Carroll (Ari), Fernando Tatis Jr., (SD).
AL pitchers: Smith, Garrett Crochet (Bos), Tarik Skubal (Det), Yusei Kikuchi (LAA), Max Fried (NYY), Jacob DeGrom (Tex), Hunter Brown (Hou), Bryan Woo (Sea), Kris Bubic (KC), Andres Munoz (Sea), Aroldis Champman (Bos), Josh Hader (Hou).
AL position: Alex Bregman (Bos), Bobby Witt Jr. (KC), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (NYY), Alejandro Kirk (Tor), Brandon Lowe (TB), Jonathan Aranda (TB), Jeremy Pena (Hou), Brent Rooker (A's), Byron Buxton (Min), Steven Kwan (Cle), Julio Rodriguez (Sea).