Tampa Bay Rays 2021 MLB All-Star Game Recap

The Tampa Bay Rays shined brightly in Denver, Colorado as three representatives, including the entire coaching staff headed by manager Kevin Cash, made headlines during the 2021 MLB All-Star Game.

Tampa Bay Rays fans didn’t know how many players would be representing the 2020 American League Champions at Coors Field on Tuesday, but one player would turn into three that took the field.

Those three representatives each had themselves a day and late into the game, all played on the same field at the same time. The Rays representatives would help the AL go on to win its eighth-straight All-Star Game, 5-2.

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Tampa Bay Rays’ All-Star Representatives

Of the Tampa Bay Rays’ three All-Stars, catcher Mike Zunino was the only one of the three to be voted in by the players.

The Florida native had a fantastic first half, hitting 19 home runs along with a .521 slugging percentage, .817 OPS, and 128 OPS+ to earn his first All-Star Game selection.

Infielder Joey Wendle and relief pitcher Andrew Kittredge were added later as injury replacements, but the two were both well-deserved additions onto the Junior Circuit’s roster.

Joey Wendle was on fire in April and has solidified himself as an impressive fielder with a plus bat. He’s currently slashing .275/.336/.450 with 7 home runs, 33 RBI, 45 runs, and a 124 OPS+.

And Andrew Kittredge, who overcame struggles on the mound and an injury that sidelined him for most of the 2020 MLB season through the offseason, has had a renaissance on the mound in 2021.

Through 32 appearances, he’s posted a 1.47 ERA in 43 innings pitched, striking out 43 with a 4.3 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and a 271 ERA+. His 1.0 WAR this season is the highest of his career so far.

How the Tampa Bay Rays All-Star’s Fared

Of the three, Mike Zunino had the biggest impact in Tuesday’s game, hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning off Taijuan Walker of the New York Mets.

The 433-foot blast landed in the first row of the second deck right above the bullpens in right field. With the homer, Mike Zunino became the second player in Tampa Bay Rays history behind Carl Crawford in 2007, to hit an All-Star Game home run.

He also had his moment behind the plate, throwing out a runner at second base off a wild pitch in the ninth inning.

Joey Wendle went 1-for-1 with a single and two spectacular plays in the field and Andrew Kittredge threw a scoreless inning of work on the mound.

While Mike Zunino didn’t get the All-Star Game MVP, he will be the MVP in the hearts of Tampa Bay Rays fans as the second half gets underway Friday evening against the Atlanta Braves.