Bryant, Kimbrel to represent Cubs at ASG
CINCINNATI -- The two most consistent contributors for the Cubs in the first half are being rewarded with a trip to Coors Field for the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.
Cubs closer Craig Kimbrel, in the midst of an historic season, was selected to his eighth All-Star squad. The eight selections are three more than anyone else on the National League team and only Mike Trout (9) has more between the two teams.
¡°It definitely feels good,¡± Kimbrel said of the news. ¡°I think making the All-Star Game just means you¡¯ve gotten off to a good start to the year. It also means you¡¯ve got relievers and starters doing the job ahead of you.¡±
Also chosen for the July 13 game in Denver was Kris Bryant, who earned his fourth selection by virtue of his 16 homers and 42 RBIs entering Sunday.
¡°It¡¯s always special, each and every one,¡± Bryant said. ¡°Back to 2015 in Cincinnati, in 2016 in my hometown [of San Diego], ¡¯19 in Cleveland [where the Cubs won the] World Series. Now my son, this will be his first one. I can¡¯t wait to get to Denver.¡±
Kimbrel¡¯s numbers this year have been eye-popping. Entering Sunday, Kimbrel had limited his opponents to a .098 average (10-for-102), a .177 OBP and a .324 OPS this season.
¡°I¡¯ve been a part of great teams,¡± Kimbrel said. ¡°I¡¯ve been able to stay healthy [this season], go out and do my job and stay as healthy as I can.¡±
The 33-year-old has walked just 10 batters while striking out 53 in 30 2/3 innings, good for an average of 15.55 strikeouts per nine innings. Since Sept. 3, 2020, Kimbrel has posted a 0.47 ERA (two earned runs in 38 innings over 40 games), going 21-for-23 in save opportunities while holding the opponent to a .103 average (13-for-126), a .168 OBP, a .143 slugging mark and a .311 OPS.
Since May 28, Kimbrel has gone 9 2/3 innings (11 outings) without allowing a hit, holding opponents hitless in 29 at-bats.
¡°He¡¯s been huge,¡± Bryant said of his fellow All-Star. ¡°Anytime we have the lead at the end of a game, he¡¯s been there for us. He¡¯s come a long way since he first signed with us. He¡¯s a Hall of Famer in my mind. He just brings a lot to our bullpen.¡±
Kimbrel has converted 90.2 percent of his save opportunities (368-for-408), the best rate in Major League history for any reliever with at least 300 save opportunities, just ahead of Joe Nathan (89.1/377-for-423) and Mariano Rivera (89.1/652-for-732).
No All-Star on either side can boast the versatility of Bryant, who has started this season at five different positions. He¡¯s appeared at third base (22 starts), right field (18), left field (14), first base (10) and center field (10).
Despite a 4-for-52 stretch in June, Bryant is still the most feared hitter in the Cubs¡¯ lineup.
Bryant posted a 13-game hitting streak, one game shy of his career high, from May 17-31, hitting .377 (20-for-53) with one triple, two homers and 11 RBIs during that stretch. The 13-game run was the Cubs¡¯ longest streak since Anthony Rizzo (13 games) from July 4-22, 2019.
Bryant struggled in 2020 and worked over the offseason to rebound, making this honor all the more significant.
¡°After last year, I wasn¡¯t in a great headspace, mentally,¡± Bryant admitted. ¡°I know the type of player I am. It¡¯s nice to be recognized for that.¡±
Bryant and Kimbrel got the news before Sunday¡¯s loss, the Cubs¡¯ ninth straight, when manager David Ross made the announcement in front of the entire team.
¡°It¡¯s definitely hard,¡± Bryant said of trying to take the good news in light of the losing skid. ¡°So, there¡¯s a little good news.¡±
Bryant also said earning the roster spot thanks to voting from other players makes the honor that much more special.
¡°It¡¯s really cool for players to get in on [the selection process],¡± Bryant said. ¡°It definitely feels good when you hear your peers have voted you in.
¡°It¡¯s a little tough going through the stretch we¡¯re going through. It¡¯s sort of a personal accomplishment. Right now, I¡¯m focused on getting on a winning streak, and it starts with one [win].¡±