By Nick Tricome and Zach Geibler
There are two Phillies heading to the All-Star Game. One is no stranger to the mid-summer classic, while the other has earned a well deserved first trip.
Starting pitcher Cliff Lee and leftfielder Domonic Brown have been selected to the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York. It will be Lee's fourth selection and Brown's first.
Among the many great hitters, veterans and standout
stars in the National League, this year, one of the biggest surprises has definitely been Brown.
Floating from the Majors to minors since 2010, Brown has
consistently had trouble hitting at the Major League level. He has though, reminded fans why he was considered one of the Phillies', and Major League Baseball's, top prospects.
In 2013, Brown has finally proven to the Phillies and the fans that
he is here to stay.
The National League has also recognized the young talent, as Brown made his way in via the players' ballot.
Brown currently has 22 home runs on the season, which is second in the NL only to Colorado's Carlos Gonzalez (24). His 60 RBI’s thus far are
good for fifth in the league.
Brown was named NL Player of the Week, two weeks in
a row, in May. He also brought home NL Player of the Month honors in that same month. This All-Star selection is hopefully just another step in what has
been a career year for the young outfielder.
The 25-year old outfielder has sure made a lot of noise in Philly, ringing
the Liberty Bell out in right-center and being one of the biggest offensive contributors to the team . It seems the rest of baseball has also heard the bell ringing.
Lee was selected to the All-Star Game by Bruce Bochy, manager of the defending World Champion San Francisco Giants. Looking at Lee's success in the first half of the season, the choice was probably a very easy one.
Lee has a 10-2 record and a 2.73 ERA after 18 starts. His 10 wins are the third most in the NL, behind St. Louis' Adam Wainwright (11 wins) and Washington's Jordan Zimmerman (12 wins).
Lee's 131 2/3 innings pitched are also second in the league and his 119 strikeouts are fifth most.
The 34-year old lefthander has bounced back nicely from a frustrating 2012 season, when he didn't earn a win until the 4th of July. He finished the year 6-9, with a 3.16 ERA and 207 strikeouts in 211 innings pitched. He is already close to doubling his win total from last year.
Lee's last All-Star appearance was in 2011, when he represented the Phillies with Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino.
The All Star game will be held at Citi Field, home of the
New York Mets, on Tuesday, July 16.
You can see the National League and American League roster, as well as the ballot for the final vote, by clicking here.
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