Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez adds another All-Star nod to his accolades

J.D. Martinez will represent the Red Sox in the 2022 All-Star Game

Red Sox Nation we have some things to be excited about. Obviously, last night’s loss was a solid kick to the nads but that doesn’t mean we have to be all doom and gloom. We have Chris Sale returning to an MLB mound for the first time since October tonight, several other players are set for comebacks in the near future, and we have two players heading to the All-Star Game. Well, let me correct myself because now we have three.

That’s right, my friends, Boston has added another name to the flight log heading to Los Angeles for the 2022 All-Star Game and it’s none other than our slugging DH, Julio Daniel Martinez. J.D. was selected today as a replacement for Yordan Alvarez and will be attending the Midsummer Classic for the fifth time in his lengthy career. Martinez is currently in his fifth and final season with the Red Sox and this will be the fourth time he’s represented the team at the event. That’s pretty good if you ask me.

In fact, the only season he didn’t make an All-Star Game as a member of the Red Sox was during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign when there wasn’t one. Even with his less than desirable numbers that year, there were so many other players that also had a rough go of things that it’s plausible that he still could’ve been selected had there been an event. Nonetheless, this is one hell of an honor for Martinez and one that should only motivate him to continue pushing in the second half.

I wasn’t surprised that he didn’t get selected as a finalist for the AL DH considering the names at the top of the list were Alvarez and Shohei Ohtani. I mean, how in the world is anyone supposed to compare to those two right now?

However, while he didn’t get selected through the original path it is still an honor to be chosen to represent not just your team but the American League as a whole. We know how seriously he takes his craft and this is another reward for that hard work and one he can proudly display.

As I mentioned above, this is the final year on his current contract, and as age 35 is knocking at the door and both leagues now having the DH slot in the lineup, it’s hard to see him getting a new deal in Boston. Chaim Bloom could always work something out with him that is more short-term and team-friendly, despite him already being on a very friendly deal for the Red Sox, to keep him with the team for another year or so, but it’s hard to tell if that’s something the organization wants.

J.D. has been more than vocal about his desire to finish out his career in Boston and play his final games with the city and team that fully embraced him after years of bouncing around the league. He’s also given that love right back to not just Red Sox Nation but to his teammates and the staff within the team. He’s one of many that is on an expiring deal with a future that is very less than certain as Red Sox Stats eloquently put it, we’re in for a dramatic reshaping of this squad.

But, we can worry about that down the road and celebrate the fact that we have an entire second half of the season left with J.D. before things get crazy. Through last night’s game, he’s slugging to the tune of a .313/.380/.500 line with 9 homers, 38 RBI, and an AL-leading 29 doubles. While he’s had his ups and downs this season he’s still putting up some stellar numbers and will without doubt garner plenty of attention this winter.

It’s great to see him getting the nod for the All-Star Game and being able to join Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts in Hollywood to represent the Red Sox. These three have been such a huge piece of this team’s success over the last handful of years and I’m looking forward to seeing them ride together one more time at the Midsummer Classic. If this winds up not being the final chapter, great, but if it is, it was one hell of a trip.