No @JoeyBats19 at an All-Star Game. True, Jose Bautista is injured and wouldn't be able to play anyway. But the Toronto Blue Jays will be plenty visible for the 2016 All-Star Game in San Diego.
#VoteCaptainCanada got 17.7 million votes for Blue Jays LF Michael Saunders, who won the final man vote over Boston 2B Dustin Pedroia, Detroit 2B Ian Kinsler, Tampa Bay 3B Evan Longoria, and Houston OF George Springer. Saunders is also the only Canadian to make either squad. This is his first All-Star appearance.
Canadians have done well in previous All-Star voting so their reputation remains intact.
3B Josh Donaldson is a reserve on the American League squad; this will be Donaldson's 3rd straight All-Star appearance, 2nd with Toronto. DH Edwin Encarnacion is back in the All-Star Game after appearances in 2013 and 2014. SP Aaron Sanchez was a very last-minute selection despite a 9-1 record with a 2.97 ERA. SP Marco Estrada was selected to the squad but went on the disabled list shortly after the announcement.
The last active former Montréal Expos player — pitcher Bartolo Colon — was named to the National League All-Star team as a replacement.
No former Blue Jays or Montréal Expos minor leaguers are All-Stars. Brandon Phillips is still the starting 2B in Cincinnati while the MLB futures of Grady Sizemore and Cliff Lee are currently in doubt.
None of the 2016 Home Run Derby participants have any ties to Canada.
The 2016 MLB All-Star Game is tonight at Petco Park in San Diego. The coverage starts at 7:30 pm Eastern on Fox in the United States while Rogers Sportsnet and RDS handle the coverage in Canada.
photo credit: MLB
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