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Rays’ Blake Snell named to AL All-Star team after all

 
Published July 13, 2018|Updated July 13, 2018

UPDATE, 6:42: Snell never seems to get visibly excited about much, but it was clear how much being added to the team meant to him.

"This is awesome," he said. "It was a childhood dream. Something I've looked forward to for a long time. To be able to do it and say I did it, no one can take that away from me. That's what's cool about it."

Manager Kevin Cash got the news this morning and called Snell to tell him, and then he called to share the news with his dad. Teammates started sending their congratulations after seeing it on Twitter shortly before the announcement.

DEVELOPING: Rays LHP Blake Snell is going to the All-Star Game after all.

Snell was named as a replacement for Cleveland's Corey Kluber on the American League team for Tuesday's game in an announcement by MLB.

Snell certainly had a good case to be named to the original squad on Sunday, with a 12-4 record and 2.09 ERA that as the time was the lowest in the AL.

But he was passed over, in what many observers considered the biggest snub of the year. Rays officials, teammates, TV analysts, other players and even some from outside baseball, such as ESPN basketball broadcaster Dick Vitale and Snell friend Odell Beckham Jr. of football fame, showed their support.

Snell was basically a victim of the selection process.

Five starters were voted in by the players, who cast their ballots three weeks previously when Snell, after losing to the Yankees, was a less eye-popping 8-4, 2.58, then went on a 4-0, 0.63 roll before losing Thursday to the Twins.

Those choices, though, were hard to quibble with: Justin Verlander (Astros), Luis Severino (Yankees), Gerrit Cole (Astros), Chris Sale (Red Sox) and Kluber.

Two more starters were named by MLB among its five picks from teams that had no other selections and had to be represented: Jose Berrios of the Twins and J.A. Happ of the Blue Jays.

Then when Verlander made it known he wouldn't be available to pitch, MLB named Cleveland's Trevor Bauer to replace him rather than Snell.

Snell said he was disappointed at the time but buoyed by the support.

He will go to Washington with C Wilson Ramos, who was voted the AL starter, and manager Kevin Cash, who was selected as a coach.

This will be the ninth straight year the Rays have had a pitcher named an All-Star. Only the Yankees have a longer current streak in the AL.