The Red Sox will have three representatives at this year’s All-Star Game in Texas — including two deserving first-timers.
Third baseman Rafael Devers made the team for the third time and starter Tanner Houck and outfielder Jarren Duran were both elected to their first Midsummer Classic, according to an announcement on ESPN. The pitchers and reserves for both teams were determined via player ballot choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office. All three Red Sox were elected via the player ballot; Duran and Houck are among 32 first-time All-Stars chosen.
This season marks the seventh time in the last eight All-Star Games the Red Sox have had at least three All-Stars, with the exception being last year, when closer Kenley Jansen was the only representative. All three players are homegrown, marking the sixth time since 2009 the Sox have had a trio of homegrown All-Stars. The last time was in 2021 when Devers, Xander Bogaerts and Matt Barnes made it.
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Houck’s breakout first half of the season resulted in the first All-Star nod for a Red Sox starting pitcher since Nathan Eovaldi was elected to the American League team in 2021. Through 18 starts, he’s 7-6 with a 2.68 ERA, holding opposing teams to 33 earned runs in 111 innings. He has 106 strikeouts and just 23 walks so far. Entering Sunday, Houck ranked fifth in the AL in ERA and sixth in innings pitched. He’s first in the league in home runs per nine innings, having only allowed five all year.
*** HERE’S WHAT HOUCK SAID ABOUT MAKING THE ALL-STAR GAME ***
Duran is also amidst a breakout season that saw him make American League history earlier this week, when he became the first player in league history to record 100+ hits, 10+ triples, 10+ HR, and 20+ SB before the All-Star Break. The 27-year-old has started all 88 of Boston’s games so far while hitting .278 with 10 homers, 40 RBIs and an .817 OPS. Entering Sunday, Duran ranked second in the AL in doubles (24), third in hits (103), fourth in extra-base hits (44), tied for fifth in steals (21) and total bases (177) and tied for sixth in runs scored (59).
Duran, the first player to start the first 87 games of a Red Sox season since Mo Vaughn in 1996, is one of two AL players to start every game this season along with Kansas City’s Bobby Witt. Duran’s 12 defensive runs saved rank him second among MLB outfielders (behind Toronto’s Daulton Varsho). Entering the day, he ranks in MLB’s 99th percentile in baserunning run value (3) and is fifth in the majors in WAR as calculated by Baseball Reference (4.7).
Devers also made the All-Star team in 2021 and 2022, starting in both years. This year, he’ll back up Cleveland’s José Ramírez at third base. Entering Sunday, Devers is hitting .287 with 19 homers, 16 doubles, 53 RBIs and a .943 OPS in 76 games. His line puts him third in the AL in slugging percentage (.570), fifth in OPS (.943) and eighth in on-base percentage (.373). He leads MLB 3rd basemen in slugging, OPS and wRC+ (150) while ranking second in homers.
The All-Star Game will be held July 16 at 8 p.m. ET at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. There’s still a chance other Red Sox, like catcher Connor Wong and Jansen, could be added if players get injured or are otherwise ineligible.
