Carlos Santana is now the on-field leader for the Cleveland Indians during All-Star week at Progressive Field. Santana has been voted into the starting lineup at first base for the mid-summer classic on July 9.
WE DID IT, CLEVELAND!
The starting 1B for the American League All-Star team is Carlos Santana!
Project All-Starlos Slamtana is complete! ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/36PRvGZUzt
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) June 27, 2019
Voting ended at 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon. Santana beat out C.J. Cron of the Minnesota Twins and Luke Voit of the New York Yankees. The switch hitting slugger received almost half of the votes at first base.
Cleveland didn’t win this by a narrow margin … Cleveland CRUSHED it.
That’s what #RallyTogether is all about. ❤️
Thank you, fans! pic.twitter.com/JApEPs8JKn
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) June 27, 2019
Santana will make his first trip to the All-Star game of his career.
Carlos appreciates each and every single one of you.
All love, Cleveland! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/z57cZv2S6H
— Cleveland Indians (@Indians) June 27, 2019
“I’m excited to represent Cleveland alongside the best in Major League Baseball,” Santana said. “To be able to start in my first career All-Star Game, and to do it at home in front of our fans, means everything to me.”
It has been 20-years since an Indians first baseman has been voted into the starting lineup for the American League. Jim Thome took home the honors in 1999. Thome is serving as one of the ambassadors for All-Star week in Cleveland along with first base coach Sandy Alomar Junior and shortstop Francisco Lindor.
Santana becomes the first Indian to start in the All-Star game in Cleveland in 65-years. Bobby Avila and Al Rosen did it last in 1954.
Perhaps Santana will have a moment like Alomar had back 1997, the last time the All-Star game took place in Cleveland. Alomar hit the game winning home run and also named took home the Most Valuable Player award.
Santana will be very busy during the mid-summer classic. He will also participate in the home run derby in front of the hometown crowd on July 8. The switch hitting slugger will compete as a left handed hitter in the event.
The 33-year old Santana should have some teammates joining him on the American League roster. Lindor and closer Brad Hand have put up numbers worthy of All-Star consideration. Pitchers and reserve players will be announced Sunday evening.
Scott Piker is the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Cleveland Indians Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage.com. So follow him on twitter @ScottPikerSport
