WASHINGTON — The Boston Red Sox added three All-Stars to the American League roster, set to face the National League July 15 in Atlanta at Truist Park.
Reliever Aroldis Chapman, third baseman Alex Bregman and left-handed starter Garrett Crochet were named Sunday. All three are returning All-Stars, though this is their first selection with the Red Sox.
“It is great,” said manager Alex Cora. “Obviously, the fans vote and I think they got it right. But for your peers to select you, that means a lot. Chapman, Garrett and Alex — Alex in a short period of time — they have impacted this organization on the field and off the field. They are really good at what they do. What they’ve done in the clubhouse, the way they’ve prepared, the way they go about their business is amazing and I am very proud of them.”
Chapman left the Yankees after the 2022 season and spent ‘23-24 with the Royals, Rangers and Pirates before arriving in Boston on a one year deal. Bregman signed as a free agent in February and on a three-year, $120 million dollar contract after nine seasons with the Astros. Crochet came over in a December 2024 trade that sent catcher Kyle Teel and three others to the White Sox.
“You hope you will make acquisitions in the offseason that guys play up to their potential or beyond their potential,” said Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “These are three guys, all of whom were All-Stars in the past. They are new to the organization this year, but it’s a really exciting moment for everybody here.
“The other thing that is really neat is that you can kind of look at them as the leaders in their group of players on the team. Often your All-Stars are your leaders but it doesn’t have to be the case. You can see the leadership qualities and the impact each of those three guys has had on the rest of the group.”
LHP Garrett Crochet
Second All-Star Game (2024 with White Sox)
The lefty ace has been perhaps even better than expected following the December trade that brought him over from the White Sox for four prospects. The 26-year-old leads the Majors in strikeouts (151) and is the fourth Red Sox hurler in franchise history to reach 150 strikeouts before the All-Star break (Roger Clemens, Pedro Martinez, Chris Sale).
“It’s huge,” Crochet said. “[Catchers] Connor Wong and Carlos Narváez have been huge for [me] continuing to just develop as a starter throughout the season. The conversations I have with [pitching coach] Andrew Bailey and [bullpen coach] Chris Holt between starts have been great. Since I have been a Red Sox, I’ve done nothing but improve and that’s a credit to the four guys that I just named.”
Crochet (9-4) allowed two runs on nine hits and two walks over five innings on Sunday as the Red Sox completed a series sweep over the Nationals with a 6-4 finale win. He struck out seven in his fifth straight win.
“Started off good [with] the first two batters, and then I think that what transpired the rest of that [third] inning was kind of the story of my day,” Crochet said. “Just spraying the heater, getting into deep counts and ultimately missing when it mattered. Thankful for the run sport early and was just able to hold on as best I could to pass it off to the bullpen. They did a great job holding onto the lead.”
This is Crochet’s second straight All-Star appearance, after he made the roster with the White Sox last year. He threw a scoreless inning in last year’s Midsummer Classic in Texas.
“Last year — not that I didn’t feel like I deserved, but the rules are a little bit different now where every team has to have a rep,” Crochet said. “But to be one of three from our team representing the Red Sox, it’s a special feeling.”
3B Alex Bregman
Third All-Star selection, first since 2019 (Astros)
This year’s All-Star nod might be the most surprising for Bregman, as he has not played since May 23 because of a right quad strain. But the honor is special nonetheless, because it has been six seasons since his last invite — and this time it’s with a new team.
Was it Bregman’s reputation that got him in this time? Breslow doesn’t think so.
“I think to say that it was the reputation might take away from what he did on the field,” Breslow said. “Despite the fact that it was in a limited number of games you see how great of a fit he is for this park and what he was able to do at Fenway.”
In 51 games prior to injury, Bregman hit .299 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. His slugging percentage (.553) through May 23 is his best over that span since he tallied a .592 OPS with the 2019 Astros — his last All-Star Game appearance.
There is a good chance Bregman could be activated soon, with the club home to face the Rockies and Rays ahead of the All-Star break. Cora says no decision has been made on Bregman’s status for each series.
“We will see what happens,” Cora said. “I don’t want to get ahead of myself. First things first, we need him here for us. We will take care of that first and [then] decide what we do for the All-Star Game.”
LHP Aroldis Chapman
Eighth All-Star selection, first since 2021 (Yankees)
Chapman signed a one-year, $10.75 million contract to come to Boston in December. He has responded with his best season in years while serving as a full-time closer for the first time since 2021.
“That is something that I wanted,” Chapman said via team interpreter. “That was a goal for me this year to be able to be back to the All-Star Game and to put some hard work from last year to this year to be able to make it there. [It is] even more [meaningful] with my first year in the organization.”
Over his first 38 games with the Red Sox, Chapman has converted 15 of 16 save opportunities to go with a 1.25 ERA and .78 WHIP. Most notable for Chapman has been the improvement of his command. His 2.6 walks per nine innings is by far his best since 2016. Chapman fired a scoreless eighth inning Sunday, allowing a single to James Wood.
“The thing about him is he’s hungry for information,” Cora said. “He wants to keep getting better. The daily meetings with [bullpen coach] Chris Holt and [they] talk about the slider and the split and how the sinker is playing, his delivery. He doesn’t want to be good. He wants to be great.”