Right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and righty reliever Jason Adam were named to the National League All-Star team on Sunday, as Major League Baseball announced the reserves and pitchers for the Midsummer Classic, which takes place July 15 at Truist Park.
“They’ve more than earned it,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt.
Notable Padres omissions include right-hander Nick Pivetta and relievers Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez. It remains possible any of that trio — particularly Pivetta, as a starter — could be named as a replacement in the coming days, either for an injury or for a replacement due to the schedule.
It’s the third All-Star nod for Tatis, who also earned the honor last year but was unable to play due to a stress reaction in his right leg. For Adam, it will mark his first trip to the Midsummer Classic.
“I don’t really have the right words to put to it,” Adam said. “I’m overwhelmed with thankfulness. I didn’t feel like I could ever deserve this, but I feel blessed beyond measure.”
Machado, who was named the starting third baseman for the National League, will be playing in his seventh All-Star Game and making his fourth start. He’s just the fourth Padre — joining Tony Gwynn (10), Benito Santiago (three) and Steve Garvey (two) — to make multiple All-Star starts.
That’s an honor that also would have fallen to Tatis last year, had he been healthy. He started in 2021. This season has been filled with ups and downs for Tatis. But despite some recent struggles, his numbers are still All-Star worthy.
Tatis entered the Padres’ Sunday Night Baseball game against the Rangers hitting .258 with a .788 OPS. He’s one of seven players with at least 15 home runs and 15 steals this year, and he has played his usual stellar defense in right field.
“You want the best players in the game at the All-Star Game,” Shildt said. “Tati has had a little bit of a tale of two seasons this season. But he’s definitely helped us — and in some cases carried us — to a lot of wins in the first half. So him getting an All-Star Game nod is well deserved.”
As for Adam, he was in church when Shildt called to deliver the news. He showed his wife the phone, with Shildt’s name on the caller ID. She briefly thought he’d been traded again. Adam, who was dealt to the Padres ahead of the Trade Deadline last July, was pretty certain that wasn’t the case. But, well, he had to call back to confirm that for sure.
“Thankfully, it was good news, not bad news,” Adam said.
Adam has been relied upon almost as much as any reliever in MLB this season, making 43 appearances. He came into Sunday with a 1.65 ERA in a setup role for one of the most fearsome back-end relief attacks in the Majors.
On Saturday, Shildt noted that he felt the Padres bullpen had four All-Star worthy relievers — including Suarez, Morejon and Jeremiah Estrada. Ultimately, Adam was the only selection. Even before Sunday’s announcement, Adam noted that if any of that quartet was selected, it would be a group-wide honor. He echoed that sentiment on Sunday, after his name was called.
“I don’t feel like I deserve it,” Adam said. “… Just look around at our bullpen. It’s stacked with guys that could and should be getting this nod. And maybe they still will. They deserve it.”
Adam’s ERA is the best in the Padres’ bullpen. But Morejon is in the midst of a similarly dominant season, with a 1.85 ERA and a 0.79 WHIP in 42 outings entering Sunday. Meanwhile, closer Robert Suarez had the National League lead with 24 saves when the All-Star selections were announced. His 3.93 ERA is a bit high after a couple rough outings recently, but his FIP is a run and a half lower, indicating he has been much better than that ERA would indicate.
As for Pivetta, All-Star or not, he has been perhaps the biggest success story of the first half for the Padres. Signed on the day of the team’s first full-squad workout in Spring Training, Pivetta has posted a 3.25 ERA and is tied for the NL lead with nine wins. He has been an anchor for a rotation that has otherwise been in flux for most of the first half.
“Congratulations to Jason and Tati,” Shildt said. “And there are some other guys on the club that are really deserving, as well.”
Leave a Reply