Dodgers Bellinger, Jansen, Seager, and Kershaw named to 2017 NL All-Star team

Major League Baseball announced that infielder/outfielder Cody Bellinger, right-handed pitcher Kenley Jansen, left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw, and shortstop Corey Seager were named to the 2017 National League All-Star team. Major League Baseball’s 88th All-Star Game will be played on Tuesday, July 11, at Marlins Park in Miami.

All four Dodgers were selected via player balloting, with Bellinger making his first All-Star appearance, Jansen and Seager each making their second and Kershaw making his seventh.  This marks the third time in the last four years that the Dodgers have had four or more All-Star representatives (also: 2014 and 2015).

In addition, Dodger third baseman Justin Turner was selected as a Final Vote candidate and has the opportunity to join Bellinger, Jansen, Kershaw and Seager on the NL All-Star team via fan balloting, which begins immediately on Dodgers.com or MLB.com/vote, and runs through this Thursday, July 6, at 1:00 p.m. PT.

Bellinger, 21, becomes the youngest position player to be honored as an All-Star in franchise history, and the third-youngest Dodger All-Star overall behind only Fernando Valenzuela and Ralph Branca. Despite being promoted to the big leagues on April 25, Bellinger currently leads the MLB in home runs (24), slugging percentage (.633) and home runs per at-bat (9.88), while ranking among the NL’s best in OPS (.967, 5th) and RBI (56, 11th).

Jansen, 29, will make his second consecutive All-Star appearance after being selected for the first time last year. He currently leads MLB relievers with a 0.79 ERA and ranks among National League relievers in WHIP (0.53, 1st), strike-to-walk ratio (53.00, 1st, 53 SO/1 BB), wins (4, T-2nd), strikeouts (53, 2nd), saves (18, T-3rd) and strike per nine innings (14.03, 4th) in 32 appearances this year. Jansen, who is in his eighth big league season, is the Dodgers’ all-time leader in saves (207) and strikeouts by a reliever (685).

Kershaw, 29, will become the first Dodger to be named to seven consecutive All-Star teams (2011-17) since Steve Garvey (1974-81), who made eight consecutive appearances in the Midsummer Classic. Kershaw, who is a strong candidate to start the game for the National League, currently is tied for the Major League lead in wins (12), while ranking among the league leaders in innings pitched (116.1, 2nd), quality starts (14, T-2nd), ERA (2.32, 3rd), WHIP (0.91, 3rd), strikeouts (135, 3rd), strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.75, 4th) and opponents’ batting average (.202, 5th) in 17 starts.

Seager, 23, will also make his second consecutive All-Star appearance after leading National League shortstops in runs (57), doubles (19), home runs (13), RBI (40) and walks (45) this season, while ranking second in hits (81), batting average (.299), on-base percentage (.401) and slugging percentage (.513). The reigning National League Rookie of the Year leads the Dodgers in runs scored, hits (82) and doubles, while hitting .353 with runners in scoring position (18-for-51), which ranks 16th in the NL.

Turner is seeking his first All-Star selection and has made a strong All-Star push by leading the Majors (min. 200 AB) with a .388 batting average and a .473 on-base percentage in 58 games, while recording 16 doubles, seven home runs, 31 RBI, 26 multi-hit games and a 1.038 OPS. He currently sits with the fourth highest batting average at the All-Star Break since 1969, trailing just Larry Walker (.398, 1997), Tony Gwynn (.394, 1997) and Andres Galarraga (.391, 1993).

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services