CHICAGO (AP) — Miguel Cabrera was delighted after learning he would be making another All-Star Game. And there is something that made the news even better: he was chosen along with Albert Pujols.
The two sluggers, with a combined five Most Valuable Player awards, were added to All-Star rosters Friday by commissioner Rob Manfred, who used an attribution given to him by the new labor agreement, which allows him to recognize the trajectory of a player per league.
“Albert and Miguel are two of the best players of their generation,” Manfred said in making the announcement. “They have also represented with excellence the traditions of baseball in the Dominican Republic and in Venezuela for the last two decades.”
“They are two greats whose achievements deserve this special recognition,” he added.
It is the 11th time Pujols, 42, of the Dominican Republic has been called up to the All-Star Game and the first since 2015. Cabrera, 39, of Venezuela, was selected for the 12th time and first since 2016.
“I’ve always admired Albert,” Cabrera said. “I have always followed his career. He is one of the best hitters I have ever seen. Being a part of this together will be wonderful.”
Pujols returned to the Cardinals in March on a one-year, $2.5 million deal to rejoin the ninth with whom he began his career. The Dominican, the NL MVP in 2005, 2008 and 2009, parted ways with the Cardinals in 2011, when he signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Angels. Most of 2021 he played with the Dodgers.
He has a career batting average of .296 and is fifth in the all-time home run chart with 683 four-corner hits, behind only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696).
He is also third in the historical table of RBIs with 2,168. He is only surpassed by Aaron (2,297) and Ruth (2,214).
He is currently batting .200, with four home runs and 18 RBIs in 125 at-bats.
In March, he said he planned to retire at the end of this season.
The Venezuelan Cabrera was the MVP of the American League in 2012 and 2013. In 2012 he led the league in batting with a .330 average, four home runs and 139 RBIs, becoming the first winner of the Triple Crown of Major League Baseball since Carl Yastrzemski won it in 1967.
“It’s an opportunity to talk to all the players,” Cabrera said. “You have an opportunity to ask questions and to learn things. It’s fun, because it’s the only time we can be together, sit down and talk about everything. It is a good moment to meet people and to talk about the ball”.
Cabrera said he appreciates the phone call from Manfred, who asked him if he wanted to “be part of the All-Star Game.”
Playing with the Marlins and Tigers, he has a career .310 batting average with 505 homers and 1,835 RBIs. He is hitting .308 with three home runs and 31 RBIs in 2022, the ninth season of a 10-year, $292 million deal with Detroit.
The new contract gives Manfred the right to “add one player to the roster of each league, in recognition of his achievements throughout his career.”
These selections are in addition to the 32 members of each roster.
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