For the second straight year, Padres closer Brad Hand was named the team’s lone All-Star Game representative.
Hand is second in the National League with 24 saves, one behind Colorado’s Wade Davis, with 61 strikeouts, a WHIP of 1.089 and is one of the most valuable relief pitchers in MLB.
But the nod was a bit of a surprise.
Many thought relief-pitcher Kirby Yates would get the honor. Before a bad outing last week, his earned run average was the lowest for relief pitchers in Major League Baseball at 0.79. But it’s rare for a non-closer reliever to get named an All-Star.
Plus, it’s kind of a trend for the Padres closer to be their lone representative. In the last eight years, the Friars All-Star representative has been their closer four times.
The 2018 All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 17th at Nationals Park in Washington D.C.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Source: NBC San Diego
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