BASEBALL

Seven MLB all-stars diagnosed with coronavirus

6 years ago - Sportingbase

On Friday, it was announced that Los Angeles would host the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Los Angeles was to host the game in 2020, but it was announced that no All-Star Game will take place this year because of coronavirus. Even though Major League Baseball teams are not obligated to release the names of those players who have coronavirus, we do now know the identities of 26 players with coronavirus who have Major League experience. Of the 26, seven are all-stars. Here is a closer look.

7) Joey Gallo–Texas Rangers–The 26-year-old outfielder from Henderson, Nevada was an all-star in 2019. Last season, Gallo batted .253 with 22 home runs and 49 runs batted in. During 2017 and 2018, Gallo hit 40 home runs and 41 home runs respectively.

6) Will Smith–Atlanta Braves–The 30-year-old closer from Newnan, Georgia, was an all-star with the San Francisco Giants in 2019. Last season in Northern California, Smith pitched 63 games, had a record of six wins and zero losses, 34 saves, 96 strikeouts compared to 21 walks, and an earned run average of 2.76.

5) Miguel Sano–Minnesota Twins–The 27-year-old native of San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, was an all-star with the Minnesota Twins in 2017 at third base. That year he batted .264 with 28 home runs and 77 runs batted in. Even though Sano was not an all-star in 2019, he batted .247 with career highs in home runs (34), runs batted in (79), runs scored (76), and total bases (219).

4) DJ LeMahieu–New York Yankees–The 31-year-old native of Visalia, California, is a three-time All-Star at second base (2015 and 2017 with the Colorado Rockies and 2019 with the Yankees). Last season in the Bronx, LeMahieu batted .327 with 26 home runs and 102 runs batted in. During the 2016 regular season, LeMahieu led Major League Baseball with a .348 batting average.

3) Charlie Blackmon–Colorado Rockies–The 34-year-old outfielder of Dallas, Texas has represented the Colorado Rockies and the National League at four All-Star Games (2014, 2017, 2018, and 2019). In 2017, Blackmon led Major League Baseball with 137 runs, 213 hits, 14 triples, and 387 total bases. Last season, Blackmon batted .314, with 32 home runs and 86 runs batted in.

2) Freddie Freeman–Atlanta Braves–The 30-year-old first baseman from Villa Park, California was an all-star for the Braves in 2013, 2014, 2018, and 2019. Last season Freeman batted .295 with 38 home runs and 121 runs batted in. During the 2018 Major League Baseball season, Freeman led the National League with 44 doubles and 191 hits.

1) Salvador Perez–Kansas City Royals–The 30-year-old native of Valencia, Venezuela missed the entire 2019 Major League Baseball season following Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Perez suffered an injury during a workout in Arizona. For six straight seasons from 2013 to 2018, Perez was an all-star catcher. In 2017 and 2018, Perez recorded 27 home runs and 80 runs batted in during each season.