Brandon Belt Selected To All-Star Game By Fans In Online Balloting
NEW YORK (AP) — San Francisco Giants first basemen Brandon Belt is heading to his first All-Star Game after he was selected for one of two final All-Star roster spots.
Belt and Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders won the final vote by fans in online balloting.
Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner will be replaced on the All-Star team by 43-year-old New York Mets pitcher Bartolo Colón. The Giants ace is being replaced because he is scheduled to pitch Sunday against Arizona, two days before the mid-summer classic.
Max Scherzer are headed to the All-Star Game, picked as replacements for other pitchers originally selected for the National League team.
Major League Baseball also announced Friday that
Saunders joins the American League team, while Belt gets a slot on the NL squad.
The 43-year-old Colon was chosen to replace Madison Bumgarner in Tuesday's showcase in San Diego because the Giants ace is scheduled to pitch Sunday against Arizona. A fan favorite with the New York Mets, Colon is 7-4 with a 3.28 ERA.
Washington Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer will substitute for teammate Stephen Strasburg, who just came off the disabled list Sunday and won't pitch in the game as a precaution.
