TAMPA — Masahiro Tanaka is as surprised as you are. The Yankees veteran right-hander laughed when asked about being named to the 2019 All-Star Game Saturday afternoon.
“I was just surprised because I never thought that I’d be selected. I mean, you kind of look at your stats and things like that. I was always making plans on what to do for the All-Star break,” Tanaka said through Yankees interpreter Shingo Horie before Saturday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. “I think (my reaction) was similar to how everyone, including you guys reacted, I’m pretty surprised.”
Tanaka was announced as a replacement for Marcus Stroman, who left his last start with what the Blue Jays said was a “pectoral cramp.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn’t care how Tanaka got there, he thinks his most reliable starter in the first half deserves to be there.
“It’s always good to know that your guys, who have played such a big role to put us in this position in the first half, gets to go represent us and the American League in the All-Star Game,” Boone said. “It was great news to deliver to Masa.”
Tanaka was not the obvious choice to be an All Star — even to himself.
He is 5-5 with a 3.86 ERA this season. He is 16th in ERA in the American League, 15th in WHIP (1.18) and 23rd in WAR (1.8). Lance Lynn, who is second in WAR (3.8), could have easily been seen as deserving replacements as well.
But Tanaka obviously brings the international interest to the event and the added interest of the very large — and free-spending — Yankees fanbase.
The Yankees now have five players named to the All-Star Game roster and another who will be honored at the festivities. Saturday’s starter CC Sabathia will be celebrated for his contributions to the game on and off the field over his 19-year career, which will end after this season. Gleyber Torres was named as an injury replacement for Brendan Lowe on Thursday. Aroldis Chapman was named an All-Star on Sunday. Gary Sanchez and DJ LeMahieu were named starters for Red Sox and American League manager Alex Cora.
It’s probably an appropriate number for the team with the best record in the American League at the break.
“Aside from me going, there’s no surprise that the other four are going,” Tanaka said with a laugh. “It’s well deserved that they are going.”
While Tanaka downplays his credentials for the game, he is excited about the opportunity to finally play in the Midsummer Classic. The 30-year-old was selected to the 2014 All-Star Game but missed it because he was diagnosed with a partial tear in his ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.
So now he is going to make the most of it.
“Everything happened so fast. We’re trying to get the logistics and everything organized. We’re working on all that right now. But obviously I’m very happy,” Tanaka said. “In 2014 I was selected on the All-Star team, but things didn’t turn out the way I wanted them to and I wasn’t able to go there. But this time around, I get to actually go there and be part of the celebration. All in all, I’m very happy about it.”
And he hopes he gets a chance to actually pitch in the game.
“It would be a great thing if I could actually pitch in the game. When you look at your baseball career, it will be something that I can be proud of,” Tanaka said.
Tanaka has struggled all season to find his trademark split-finger fastball, but has battled to give the Yankees’ thin rotation a chance. He summed up his first-half as being more proud of the fact that he has given the Yankees innings than with the quality of the pitches he has thrown.
To Boone, that just makes him all the more valuable.
“I think it just shows just good at his craft he is,” Boone said. “He’s been searching for stuff throughout the year, but time and time again, he’s gone out and delivered. One of the big reasons we are in a good position here in the first half is because of a guy like Masa. He’s gone out there and more often than not pitched really well for us. I think it’s a tribute to how talented he is and how good he is at his craft.”
