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For the first time since 2018, the Washington Nationals will have three members of their clubhouse representing the franchise聽at the All-Star game.
None of those three are Max Scherzer, however, despite holding a dominant 2.10 ERA through 16 starts and a career-low WHIP (0.85). The club expressed discontent with the 7-time All-Star’s snub following the announcement on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Juan Soto, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner, each made it for the first time and will represent the聽Nationals at the MLB All-Star game in Denver on July 13 after being named NL All-Star reserves.
Schwarber and Turner were both selected by MLB players and Soto was chosen by the league聽after fan and player聽selections.
Soto is currently on a 21-game on-base streak, matching his career high while also ranking second in walks in the National League (50).
“It’s like a dream for every player, just to come to the All-Star Game to be around all those stars and famous people,” Soto said on Sunday to reporters. “It is gonna be a great experience to be out there and have fun with all those guys. 鈥� [My family] has been pushing for me the whole way — they鈥檝e been voting. It鈥檚 crazy how much they tried to make me an All-Star. So I just told them, let them know, 鈥榃e made it.'”
Schwarber earns his first career All Star selection, but was snubbed from the starters list after a career-month at the plate in June. Schwarber slugged .760, hitting 16 home-runs in one of the great hot streaks in MLB history. He joined a list that includes only Barry Bonds (2001) and Sammy Sosa (1998) who have 15 HR in a 17-game stretch. Schwarber caught fire after manager Davey Martinez made his Washington’s leadoff hitter.
Turner leads NL shortstops in batting average (.318) and stolen bases (18) and has also recorded at least one run in 12 straight games, a career best for the 28-year-old. His status, too, is in question with a jammed left middle finger sustained last week.
鈥淢y mom and my wife were really excited about it, and probably wanted it more than I did,鈥� Turner said聽about All-Star selection. 鈥淚t’s cool getting to tell those people around you that you made it, because they have a part in it. Putting that smile on their face just as much as your own face is nice. 鈥� Just to be a part of it is special and something that we won’t forget. We鈥檒l try to cherish it for the rest of our lives and try to soak it all in when we go.鈥�
Neither Turner or Schwarber have a set return date.聽聽on Saturday with a “significant” hamstring strain, dealing another blow to the Nationals (40-42)聽midway through the season and likely keeping him out of his first All-Star game on July 13.
