White Sox manager Robin Ventura thought Jose Quintana deserved an All-Star bid. Quintana's teammates thought he should head to San Diego. And Quintana himself said Saturday he thought he was deserving of a spot on the American League All-Star roster.
On Sunday, Quintana finally got the nod.
The White Sox announced before Sunday's first half finale against the Atlanta Braves that the 27-year-old was named a replacement on the American League All-Star team, the left-hander's first All-Star nod of his career. Quintana will take the spot of Cleveland Indians right-hander Danny Salazar, who bowed out due to right elbow discomfort.
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Quintana, who will join fellow White Sox starter Chris Sale at Petco Park for Tuesday night's All-Star Game, was handed a yellow All-Star jersey after Sale and third baseman Todd Frazier were honored before Sunday's game. Frazier will compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday.
"Jose is a great pitcher, and he’s done an excellent job this year,” White Sox closer David Robertson said Saturday. “He’s definitely deserving of a shot to go to the All-Star Game.”
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MLB
Despite a 7-8 record that's largely not his fault — the White Sox average three runs of support when Quintana pitches, the lowest total among qualified AL starters — the Colombia native rates as one of baseball's best pitchers. His 2.9 fWAR ranks third among American League starters, behind only Cleveland's Corey Kluber and New York's Masahiro Tanaka. He's sixth in ERA (3.21) and fourth in FIP (3.48) in the AL, too.
Ventura planned on starting Quintana for the White Sox second-half opener against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, though if he pitches in Tuesday’s All-Star Game, that may change. The White Sox aren’t planning on using Sale until they head to Seattle to face the Mariners after that three-game series in California.