Red Sox: Last chance to send Xander Bogaerts to All-Star Game
By Sean Penney
Time is running out to send Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts to the All-Star Game! The Final Vote ballot closes on Thursday, July 6 at 4:00 p.m. ET.
If Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts is going to make his second consecutive All-Star appearance, he’s going to need your help!
Bogaerts is among the five American League candidates to appear on the Final Vote ballot, which determines who gets the final roster spot in each league for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game. Fans can vote online at MLB.com, text A2 to 89269 (USA) or 101010 (Canada) or tweet with the hashtag #VOTEX.
The competition on the ballot includes Texas Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus, New York Yankees shortstop Didi Gregorius, Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Logan Morrison and Kansas City Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas.
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The highest batting average of the group belongs to Bogaerts, who ranks 12th in the league with a .308 average. He’s also 12th in doubles with 20, tied for the most on this ballot.
His power numbers are down a bit from last year, although Bogaerts has been finding his home run stroke of late with four in his last 15 games. He’s on pace to set a career high in steals, doubles, triples, OBP, SLG and OPS.
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— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 6, 2017
The AL roster already has a pair of shortstops, with Houston’s Carlos Correa backed up by Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor. We can find room to squeeze in one more from a loaded crop of shortstops. Adding Bogaerts to the team could give the AL squad their best trio at the position since the Nomar-Jeter-Rodriguez days.
The Red Sox are already sending three representatives to Miami. Mookie Betts was selected as a reserve, but will replace the injured Mike Trout in the starting lineup. Chris Sale may end up starting the game, with Craig Kimbrel waiting in the bullpen to close it out.
The ballot will be closing in a matter of hours, so get online or pull out your smartphones to support the Red Sox and their star shortstop, Xander Bogaerts!