Never before have the Colorado Rockies sent four-or-more position players to the All-Star game. Per Sunday’s announcement from the league, those fortunes have changed.
Last week, it was announced that Nolan Arenado will start at third base for the National League All-Star club. After collecting votes from players and the Commissioner’s Office, David Dahl, Charlie Blackmon and Trevor Story will also be in attendance.
The Rockies have sent three players to the All-Star game nine other times in their history.
For Blackmon and Story, the nominations are their fourth and second respectively. Dahl will be making his first appearance, while Arenado rounds out the group with his fifth in a row.
The most surprising of the group is Dahl. In the midst of All-Star voting, the youngster was largely ignored, finishing 19th in the first round of voting. He’s been within the top-10 in the NL for average nearly the entire year and currently sits at sixth with his .319 mark.
A recent power surge likely played a role in Dahl’s nomination as his five home runs, including his long ball against the Dodgers on Sunday, have elevated his season total to 12.
On the other side, both Story and Blackmon have both been pillars for the Rockies throughout the year.
The former, who’s currently on his way back from the 10-day injured list, hit .294 with 17 home runs before spraining his right thumb with a head-first slide. He’s also swiped 12 bases and driven in 48 runs.
Blackmon’s nod comes after leading the club’s battery for much of the year. In the fight for a starting spot, he finished fourth, just behind Ronald Acuna Jr.
In 67 games, he’s hit .334 and slugged .645, both top-five marks in the NL. Much of his success has come from a .461 average at home that includes a 30-game on-base streak dating back to the club’s home opener. The streak is tied for the fifth-longest spree to start a year in franchise history.
No pitchers made the cut, but the club’s four position players leads the majors.
