Eovaldi, García headed to Seattle to give Rangers six All-Stars

ARLINGTON -- On Saturday afternoon, Nathan Eovaldi tossed seven scoreless innings against Dusty Baker’s Astros, carrying the Rangers to a win over their American League West rivals. On Sunday, the right-hander was named to the AL All-Star team, which Baker will be managing.

Outfielder Adolis García was also named to the AL’s squad as a reserve outfielder. It is the second All-Star selection for both. The two will join infielders Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Josh Jung, along with catcher Jonah Heim, all of whom were named to the AL starting lineup.

• MLB All-Star Game presented by Mastercard: July 11 on FOX

The six All-Stars are the most the Rangers have had at an All-Star Game since they sent eight in 2012.

“I said that when I came over here, 'Man, this team has a ton of talent,'” said manager Bruce Bochy. “It shows a lot about what [general manager] Chris Young has done with this organization as a whole with the development and acquiring the type of players that help this team win. It's all about everybody doing something to make this club better, and it starts at the top and you have to give them credit.”

Eovaldi will likely get one more start before the All-Star Game, but this is by far the best first half of his career. After Saturday's start against the Astros, the 33-year-old lowered his ERA to 2.64. He leads MLB with 112 1/3 innings pitched and ranks among AL leaders in wins (second, 10), ERA (fourth, 2.64), opponent OPS (third, .615) and WHIP (third, 0.99).

Eovaldi led all AL starting pitchers in player balloting with 182 votes.

“I'm truly honored to be able to be in this position, especially in my first year with the Rangers and everything that we've been able to put together as a team and do out there on the field,” Eovaldi said. “I think it says a lot about the ballclub. ... I think that's the biggest thing, is the respect from my peers. I'm facing these guys, and to have that kind of respect when I'm out there on the mound facing them, that means a lot to me.”

Eovaldi also logged 87 strikeouts to just 24 walks over his past 14 games. He’s the first Texas pitcher to post nine or more wins and sub-2.05 ERA over a 14-start span since Kenny Rogers in 2005.

This marks the fourth consecutive year for Texas to have a pitcher selected to the AL roster (no All-Star Game in 2020), the second-longest span in club history (five straight, 2010-14).

García is slashing .259/.327/.503, while ranking among AL leaders in RBIs (second, 67) and home runs (tied for third, 20). The 30-year-old also leads MLB with 10 outfield assists this season. He joins Joey Gallo (2019, '21) as the only Texas outfielders to be selected to the AL roster multiple times since Nelson Cruz (2009, ‘13) and Josh Hamilton (2008-12).

García will have the chance to potentially start the game alongside Randy Arozarena and Mike Trout due to Aaron Judge’s toe injury keeping him sidelined through the Midsummer Classic.

“It’s been an incredible journey for me, with everything I’ve gone through,” García said through interpreter Raul Cardenas. “It’s also been an incredible experience for me to be able to make it to the All-Star Game multiple times now, and I’m very grateful for that.”

“It's going to feel like we're playing here in Texas since we're all here together,” he added of his teammates joining him.