Thanks to the fans – but mostly thanks to their own stellar performance – Willson Contreras and Javy Baez will be starting in the All-Star Game this year, the first appearance for each young player.
The Cubs shared a bit of the reveal to each player, learning that he’d been named a starter:
A couple of first-time All-Stars get the good news. #EverybodyIn pic.twitter.com/QK7MVk96Lx
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) July 8, 2018
I love to see the appreciation from teammates, who know what a big deal this is – not just for these two guys, but for them, too. Everyone can share in these moments. And then also, of course, it’s an emotional recognition for two young players who have worked so hard to get where they are, and who completely deserve this honor.
An emotional Willson Contreras will be going to his first All-Star Game: “My first reaction was no words. I started crying when I went down to the cage. I worked for it. I’ve been working hard every single game – and I play every game like it is my last one.”
— Patrick Mooney (@PJ_Mooney) July 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/javy23baez/status/1016150837540708352