Jim Walker

jim.walker@irontontribune.com

 

CINCINNATI — The Major League Baseball All-Star Game is going to have a red tint to it.

Cincinnati Reds’ starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, relief ace Aroldis Chapman, third baseman Todd Frazier and catcher Devin Mesoraco will be part of the All-Star Game to be played Tuesday, July 15, at Target Field in Minneapolis.

Cueto, Chapman and Todd Frazier were elected reserves while Mesoraco was selected by NL All-Star manager Mike Matheny.

The All-Star selections were the first for Cueto, Frazier and Mesoraco.

“It’s going to be exciting. I’ve talked to a couple of guys who have been there before,” said Frazier. “They said to soak it all in. It’s going to go fast.”

Cueto is second among NL leaders in earned run average (1.99) and strikeouts (130). In 18 starts he is 8-6 but has been the victim of little offensive support for most of the season.

Cueto is the first pitcher in Major League Baseball history since 1900 to throw at least seven innings with five or fewer hits over their first nine starts of the season.

Frazier is second on the team with a .291 batting average and leads the team with 17 home runs and 47 runs batted in. He has 16 doubles and 13 stolen bases.

Chapman has been chosen to the All-Star Game in each of the past two seasons.

After being hit in the face with a line drive in spring training, Chapman has returned to appear in 24 games with 17 saves in 19 chances. He is 0-2 with a 2.55 ERA. The flame-throwing left-hander who is regularly clocked at 100 miles an hour or more has 47 strikeouts and just eight walks in 24.2 innings.

Mesoraco has missed some time this season due to an injury, but he has still put up some big numbers. He has 15 home runs and 42 RBIs with a team-high .317 batting average. He also has 13 doubles.

His 15 home runs are not only a career high for Mesoraco, but they are the second most by a Reds’ catcher since David Ross had 17 in 2007.