Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano of Markham, Ontario has been named an All-Star for the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday according to the Associated Press on Sunday. He is one of three Canadians who will have been named on the rosters. Romano will be joined by Montreal native and Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero, and Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman, who represents Canada internationally even though he is born in the United States.
Romano replaces Gerrit Cole of the New York Yankees, who will not play in the game because he just pitched yesterday in a 13-2 Yankees win over the Boston Red Sox. Freeman replaces New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte, who has a groin ailment, according to Jared Schwartz of the New York Post. Meanwhile, another Blue Jays player was added to the American League roster as second baseman Santiago Espinal replaces Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. Guerrero was already announced as a starter.
Romano currently leads the American League in saves with 20. In 35 games, he has a record of three wins and two losses, an earned run average of 2.65 and a WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) of 1.18. In 34 innings pitched, Romano has given up 26 hits, 10 earned runs and 14 walks and has 39 strikeouts.
Freeman leads Major League Baseball with 114 hits. In 355 at bats, he is batting .321 with 13 home runs and 59 runs batted in. Freeman also has scored 60 runs and had 31 doubles, seven stolen bases, 43 walks, 188 total bases, and four sacrifice flies. He has an on base percentage of .397 and a slugging percentage of .530.
Espinal is batting .271 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in. During 91 games, 353 plate appearances and 325 at bats, he has scored 33 runs and had 88 hits, 21 doubles, five stolen bases, 24 walks, 127 total bases, three sacrifice flies, an on base percentage of .320 and a slugging percentage of .391.
