Three Mariners named to American League All-Star team

Published 1:30 am Sunday, July 8, 2018

Three Seattle Mariners are headed to the 2018 Major League All-Star Game in Washington, D.C. — and they might be joined by a fourth.

Designated hitter Nelson Cruz, relief pitcher Edwin Diaz and outfielder Mitch Haniger were each named to the American League squad that faces the National League on July 17 at Nationals Park.

It marked the first time the Mariners have had multiple all-star selections since 2014, when Felix Hernandez and Robinson Cano made the AL team.

Cruz, Diaz and Haniger could be joined on the team by Mariners shortstop Jean Segura.

Segura is one of five candidates for the 32nd and final roster spot on the AL squad. The other candidates are Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario and Yankees outfielder Giancarlo Stanton. The winner will be decided by fan balloting.

Cruz, 38, earned his sixth career All-Star selection and his fifth in the past six seasons. He ranks among the top-10 in the AL in home runs (tied for sixth), slugging (eighth) and OPS (10th). Cruz is batting .267 with 22 home runs and 53 RBI.

Diaz, 24, leads the major in saves with 35. He also ranks second among all relievers in strikeouts with 78. He trails only Josh Hader of the Milwaukee Brewers (83).

Diaz, who will be making his first all-star appearance, is 35-for-38 in save opportunities and is is averaging 14.94 strikeouts per nine innings. The Mariners are 43-0 when Diaz enters a game with a lead this season, including 22-0 when he enters with a one-run lead. Of his 35 saves, 20 have come in one-run games, most in the majors. Diaz’s 35 saves rank second-most all-time prior to the All-Star Break, behind Francisco Rodriguez in 2008 with the Angels (38).

Haniger, 27, is one of 10 players in the majors with at least 60 RBI so far this season. He’s batting .271 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI. He leads the majors with 13 game-winning RBI and with 11 home runs in the seventh inning or later. This is Haniger’s first career All-Star selection.