Brian McCann is the reigning MVP of the All-Star game; now he’ll get to start the event.
The Braves catcher became an All-Star for the sixth time in seven major league seasons Sunday when the team rosters were announced, but he’s a starter for the first time. McCann won the fan vote at catcher over the Cardinals' Yadier Molina by 1,726,052 votes.
“To get recognized by the fans to start is definitely a special honor,” McCann said. “You always want to shoot to start the game; now I finally have a chance to do that.”
He’ll be joined in Phoenix on July 12 by teammates Jair Jurrjens and Jonny Venters, who will make their first All-Star appearances, and Chipper Jones, who was named as a reserve to his seventh career All-Star game. Jurrjens, Venters and Jones were all player selections.
Jones hasn’t played in the All-Star game since 2008, when he was voted in as a starter on his way to winning the National League batting title.
These days, the 39-year-old is coming off left knee surgery and playing with a torn meniscus in his right knee. He was hitting only .257 entering Sunday’s game but was second in RBIs among the Braves with 44. He’s been one of the Braves’ best clutch hitters, averaging .400 with runners in scoring position entering Sunday.
He was voted in by players for the first time in his career, and he was surprised.
“I was shocked,” Jones said. “Fredi [Gonzalez] called me into his office. He told me and I was like, ‘All right, where’s the hidden camera?’ Guess I better cancel my vacation now.”
Jurrjens leads the National League in ERA (1.89) and is tied with Roy Halladay for the most wins with 11. He was second to Halladay on the player vote.
“It will be an honor just to share a locker room with a bunch of superstars,” said Jurrjens, who had the ERA to make it in 2009 (2.91) but not the run support (7-7 record).
Jurrjens has a shot to start the game for the National League, though many expect Giants manager Bruce Bochy to go with the more veteran Halladay or Cliff Lee.
The Braves as a staff are tied for the National League lead in ERA with the Phillies at 3.04. Venters is a big part of that and an anchor of the Braves bullpen. He is 4-1 with a 1.59 ERA.
Venters and Washington’s Tyler Clippard were the only middle relievers on the NL roster.
“I’m pumped about it,” Venters said.
If there were slights to the Braves pitching staff, Tommy Hanson and Craig Kimbrel can make a case. Hanson was fourth in the NL in ERA among qualified starters at 2.62, but did not get the nod. Bochy chose three of his own Giants starters, including Ryan Vogelsong, who had a 2.06 ERA to go with a 6-1 record, but was 7 1/3 innings short of qualifying as a league leader entering play Sunday.
Hanson or Kimbrel could be added to the roster with Giants starter Matt Cain and Phillies starter Cole Hamels likely ineligible because their next scheduled starts are on Sunday.
Kimbrel was left off the roster despite 24 saves, which was tied with four others for the league lead. He also leads all qualified relievers in the majors with 67 strikeouts.
“Hopefully those two guys are on top of the list to go in because they are both deserving,” Gonzalez said.
McCann hit the game-winning, three-run double for the NL last year and caught six innings in Anaheim. But the game has added importance to him this year because he will take the field as a starter.
“When you get recognized by your peers the last five years, it’s a little different than getting recognized by the people watching on TV and people all across the world,” McCann said. “It means a lot.”
