MILWAUKEE – Nick Castellanos and Jesse Winker have been dubbed “The Other Guys” by the Cincinnati Reds’ social media team because they weren’t listed as the top candidates for Most Valuable Players by an ESPN poll.
Most baseball fans, however, don’t view them that way.
If the current All-Star Game voting held up, Castellanos and Winker would be starters in the Midsummer Classic.
"We shouldn't be surprised, right?" Reds manager David Bell said. "They're having fantastic seasons."
Castellanos and Winker rank second and third, respectively, among National League outfielders. They trail Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., but they sit above household names Mookie Betts, Juan Soto and Bryce Harper.
MLB All-Star Game voting:Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. among early leaders
"We’ve all been 10, 12 years old before saying we want to be in the big-league All-Star Game, right?" Winker said. "Just to be in the conversation of it is very, very mind-boggling."
Neither Castellanos nor Winker have ever been selected to an All-Star team in their careers.
"I'm more focused on how excited I was in seeing the fans that we were drawing at Great American Ball Park," Castellanos said. "The energy that we were getting there, sticking through rain delays and things like that, those are the things that I really notice and talk about it with (his wife) Jess when I get home because that shows the city is paying attention to how we're playing baseball and the team that we have. I just prefer to keep my focus in that area."
Both players often interact with fans during games. Winker received "M-V-P" chants during the ninth inning Friday, then asked the fans in the left-field seats to chant the names of each teammate on the field.
Castellanos will play catch with fans between innings. If a fan throws a ball back on the field after the opposing team homers, Castellanos often throws the ball back into the stands.
"I just try to enjoy every moment and this is another one that I’m enjoying," Winker said. "I’m receiving a lot of text messages and stuff from childhood friends, from people that I may have lost touch with that they’re saying nothing but very nice things to me. I appreciate everything."
Major League Baseball has a different voting format this year. This is “Phase 1” of the voting, which runs through 4 p.m. on June 24. At that point, there will be three finalists for all positions, except outfielders, which will have nine finalists.
After the finalists are announced June 27, there will be a “Phase 2” of voting that will run from June 28-July 1. None of the vote totals will carry over from “Phase 1” to “Phase 2.” The All-Star Game starters, which will be the players who receive the highest vote totals in “Phase 2,” will be revealed on July 1.
The rest of the All-Star Game roster will be determined by a players’ ballot and the Commissioner’s Office. The 2021 All-Star Game will be played on July 13 in Colorado.
As much as the All-Star Game would be special, Winker and Castellanos are thrilled that the team has improved.
"The All-Star Game is cool, but I can’t wait to see what a playoff series in Cincinnati looks like," Winker said. "Those are the things that I like to think about and envision when I wake up every day and put on a Reds uniform."
Besides Castellanos and Winker, no other Reds player is in a position to be selected as a finalist.
NATIONAL LEAGUE VOTING UPDATE (MONDAY)
Catchers: 1. Buster Posey (511,221); 2. Yadier Molina (273,515); 3. Willson Contreras (194,550); 9. Tucker Barnhart (58,335).
First base: 1. Max Muncy (405,609); 2. Freddie Freeman (288,580); 3. Anthony Rizzo (207,187); 10. Joey Votto (58,683).
Second base: 1. Ozzie Albies (295,478); 2. Adam Frazier (201,886); 3. Gavin Lux (167,421).
Third base: 1. Kris Bryant (502,970); 2. Nolan Arenado (239,189); 3. Justin Turner (198,807); 8. Mike Moustakas (56,563).
Shortstop: 1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (701,251); 2. Javier Báez (233,644); 3. Corey Seager (153,863); 9. Eugenio Suárez (40,977).
Outfielders: 1. Ronald Acuña Jr. (834,287); 2. Nick Castellanos (568,758); 3. Jesse Winker (462,692); 4. Mookie Betts (400,202); 5. Juan Soto (195,950); 6. Chris Taylor (185,612); 7. Bryce Harper (157,816); Trent Grisham (142,390); 9. Ketel Marte (128,515).
MOUSTAKAS CLOSE: Mike Moustakas, who has been on the 10-day injured list since May 20, will begin a rehab assignment at Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Moustakas is expected to join the Reds sometime during their four-game series in San Diego this weekend.
"It was a pretty significant injury," Bell said. "Once we knew exactly what it was, it's actually quicker than I thought. I know he's worked and the medical staff has worked hard to get him back quick.
"He's just a major part of everything we do on this team. It'll be nice to have him back and get some consistent playing time and get our entire lineup back, really, the way we started out."
The Reds will likely shift to the infield they used at the beginning of the season with Jonathan India at second base, Eugenio Suárez at shortstop and Moustakas at third base.
GRAY UPDATE: Sonny Gray joined the Reds on their road trip to Milwaukee. He's not eligible to return from the injured list until Saturday, out with a right groin strain, but he's not expected to miss much time.
"He's progressing," Bell said. "Nothing has changed. We don't have a date for his first start back, but no news is good news. It's improved every day, which is great."
Source link
