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Three former Chatham A's are officially 2015 Major League Baseball All-Stars.
Todd Frazier (Chatham 2005, 2006) of the Cincinnati Reds will start at third base for the National League in his second MLB All-Star Game appearance in as many years. He will be accompanied by Tampa Bay Rays’ pitcher Brad Boxberger (Chatham 2008) and Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant (Chatham 2011), who are both making their first trips to the Midsummer Classic.
Bryant joins the ranks of Johnny Bench, Mike Piazza, Tim Raines, and Albert Pujols as the twenty-third rookie to ever be named to the National League All-Star Team. The most recent National League rookie to recieve the honor was the Washington Nationals’ Bryce Harper in 2012.
“Watching the [MLB All-Star Games] growing up, it was all about the fun it was on the field and all the smiles,” said Bryant in a press conference with the Chicago Sun-Times Monday. “I remember watching Torii Hunter rob Barry Bonds—that was one of my favorite All-Star Games.”
Bryant currently leads all MLB rookies with 49 RBIs and a .380 on-base percentage, and he is slated to back up fellow Chatham alumni Todd Frazier at the hot corner.
After making the National League roster as a reserve last season, Frazier earned his first all-star start this year with an MLB-leading 24 doubles and 193 total bases. He is currently third in the bigs (second in the National League) with 25 home runs and eleventh in the show (sixth in the National League) with 55 RBIs.
“I’m definitely excited and proud,” said Frazier in an interview with Fox Sports Ohio Tuesday. “Like I said the other day, endless thank yous to numerous people, and they know who they are.”
Bryant and Frazier could potentially face former Chatham pitcher Brad Boxberger, who will represent the American League on the hill. The Rays’ closer is eleventh Major League Baseball (fourth in the American League) with 20 saves. He has 45 strikeouts in 33 innings, and opponents are batting .234 against him.
“Shocked,” Boxberger said of his reaction in an article published by the Tampa Bay Times Monday night. “I didn’t really expect it coming, so I’m still trying to let it sink in and see how it goes.”
The game will be played at Todd Frazier’s home field, Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati. Fans can watch all three Anglers on Fox’s broadcast of the game Tuesday July, 14 at 7 p.m.