Changes keep coming to the 2016 All-Star Game, with Toronto Blue Jays starter Aaron Sanchez replacing injured Boston Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel on the American League squad.
Major League Baseball confirmed Sanchez’s addition to the roster on Twitter. Blue Jays radio broadcaster Mike Wilner noted Sanchez will give the defending American League East champions five representatives in San Diego on July 12.
The Red Sox announced Saturday that Kimbrel had been placed on the 15-day disabled list and will miss three to six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, per Deesha Thosar of MLB.com.
John Lott of Vice Sports noted the symmetry with Sanchez making his MLB All-Star debut in San Diego and shared a quote from the right-hander:
There was an argument to be made for Sanchez making the AL team when the rosters were first announced on Tuesday. The 24-year-old is having a breakout season with a 2.94 ERA in 17 starts.
Sanchez is tied for fifth among AL pitchers in wins above replacement (2.4) and is third with a ground-ball rate of 56.7 percent, per FanGraphs.
In addition to his success as a starter this season, Sanchez has experience coming out of the bullpen from last year. He knows how to get ready to enter a game he’s not starting, which is a trait that AL manager Ned Yost will like to have, given all of the pitching changes that are sure to be made.
Kimbrel’s absence does lower the star power for the Midsummer Classic, but Sanchez is a budding star on one of the league’s best teams. Giving some new blood a chance to shine on a huge stage is how the game keeps growing every year.
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