Seven players of Cuban heritage in the Major Leagues have moved on to the second phase of the All-Star voting they are in Yandy Diaz,Adolis García, Randy Arozarena and Yordan Álvarez in the American League. While Lourdes Gurriel Jr, Nolan Arenado, and J.D. Martínez are finalists in the National League. Shohei Othani (AL) and Ronald Acuña Jr (NL) are the top voter getters in their perspective leagues.
Díaz is having a career year this season in Tampa. The native of Villa Clara, Cuba is hitting a solid .303 with 12 longballs and 38 runs batted in, but the most eye catching stat here is his .398/.516/.914 slash line and 2.3 WAR. If selected it would be his first trip to the mid-summer classic.
Yordan Alvarez blasts his way to the 50-RBI mark!
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Outfielders Adolis García (.261,17HR, 60RBI), Randy Arozarena (.297,14HR, 54RBI) and Yordan Álvarez (.277,17HR 55RBI) give Cuba some very talented candidates in the voting at this position. In García’s case he is the pure slugger of the bunch and is even tied for the league lead in runs batted in with 60, while Álvarez is the best pure hitter of the bunch and Arozarena the most dynamic of the trio rounds out the field.
In the National League Lourdes Gurriel Jr (.276,11HR,43RBIs) has been a key cog in Arizona’s surprising season. The youngest of the Gurriel clan is also one of the best defensive left fielders in the game. Out of his 69 hits 30 of them have been for extra bases.
Nolan Arenado (.272,15HR,50RBI) has been a fixture in the All-Star Game for the last ten years and this season is no different for the Cuban-American. Since May 3 he’s slashing .299/.348/.599 and has gone yard 13 times. J.D. Martínez (.257,16HR,48RBI) has arguably been the best DH in the National and has resurrected a career that looked dead coming into the season. The native of Miami is second in the National League with a .565 slugging percentage.
Adolis García puts the Rangers ahead in the 10th with a 2-run homer! 💥
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