MLB All-Star Game 2014: Jose Bautista, Yasiel Puig Among Best Latino Stars Featured in Midsummer Classic
One of baseball's greatest traditions, the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, takes place Tuesday in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the Latino culture is well-represented among baseball's brightest stars.
For decades, Latinos have been making their presence felt in America's pastime, with immortal names such as Roberto Clemente, Rod Carew, Juan Marical, Luis Aparicio, Tony Perez and Mariano Rivera having elevated their teams and represented their nations at new heights. That tradition continues in today's modern era, with superstars from around the league proudly bearing their heritage on their sleeves as they make struggling teams exciting and good teams into World Series contenders.
And Tuesday's gala game will feature Hispanic stars up and down the roster, from dynamic pitchers to power-packing sluggers. Latin Post takes a look at some of the best Latino All-Stars that will be featured in the 2014 MLB All-Star Game:
Miguel Cabrera, First Baseman, Detroit Tigers
If there was ever a reason for Detroit's continued success over the last few seasons, one need look no further than Cabrera. Batting .306 with 14 homers and 75 RBIs at the halfway mark, Cabrera, the reigning and back-to-back AL MVP and former Triple Crown winner, is one of the crown jewels of the Latino baseball populace. And despite playing with a nagging groin injury, Cabrera shows no signs of slowing down.
Yasiel Puig, Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers
Exciting, controversial and talented, Puig made his MLB debut last year with a splash for the Dodgers last season, hitting an impressive .319 with 19 homers and 42 RBIs for playoff-bound Los Angeles. At the halfway point of this season, he's nearly matched those stats batting .309 with 12 homers and 52 RBIs, putting him on pace for a very productive season as the NL West-leading Dodgers eye another run at the postseason.
Jose Bautista, Outfielder, Toronto Blue Jays
After a slow start to his career in 2009, the Santo Domingo-born Bautista suddenly erupted in 2010 to become one of baseball's biggest power threats, smacking 54 homers in 2010 and 43 in 2011 to lead the American League in both years. He's been big for the AL East-leading Blue Jays this season, hitting .292 with 17 homers and 54 RBIs.
Felix Hernandez, Pitcher, Seattle Mariners
Right now, the right-handed Hernandez, the starting pitcher for the American League Tuesday, may be the most dominating pitcher in Major League Baseball. Period.
Leading the majors in ERA (2.12, first place), wins (11, third place ) and strikeouts (154, second place), the 28-year-old hurler from Valencia, Venezuela has been baffling hitters thanks to a wicked curve ball that breaks in the 11th hour and a blistering fastball that reaches the mid-90s. And with the Mariners still in the thick of things in the wide-open AL West, having Hernandez on their side will certainly work in their favor as the season winds down.
Jose Abreu, First Baseman, Chicago White Sox
If there was ever a better first impression, we'd be hard-pressed to find it. The 27-year-old Cuban rookie phenom Abreu has become baseball's preeminent star on offense, leading the majors with 29 home runs and third in MLB with 73 RBIs, the lone bright spot on a dismal 45-51 White Sox team. He'll be one of the reserves for the American League, though with stats like his, he should easily be starting.
Julio Teheran, Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
With a baffling change-up and a stifling slider, Teheran, 23, of Cartagena, Columbia, has punched out 116 batters at the halfway mark for a 9-6 record and a 2.71 ERA. He's a true ace for the Braves, whose rich and storied pitching tradition has yielded the likes of Greg Maddux, Phil Niekro, Warren Spahn, John Smoltz and Tom Glavine. With a little luck and continued excellence, Teheran may one day join these elite group of aces as one of Atlanta's finest hurlers of all time.
Robinson Cano, Second Baseman, Seattle Mariners
Cano played a big part in the New York Yankees' success over the years, helping power the team to the 2009 World Series title. Now, the two-time Gold Glove winner from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic has taken his glove and his bat to Seattle, where was heating up in the last games of the first half of the season, hitting 23-of-53 for a .434 batting average with three home runs, five doubles and 13 RBIs in his last 13 games.
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