CHICAGO — For the second straight season, Gregory Soto will represent the Detroit Tigers at the All-Star Game.
The Tigers had several worthy candidates, including relievers Michael Fulmer, Alex Lange and Andrew Chafin, but the left-handed closer with 17 saves in 19 chances received the honor.
Soto, who learned the news Sunday morning, is Detroit's first back-to-back All-Star since Miguel Cabrera made seven straight Midsummer Classics from 2010-16. It's the first back-to-back All-Star nods for a Tigers pitcher since Max Scherzer did it in 2013-14. Soto is just the third Tigers reliever with back-to-back All-Star Games, following Jose Valverde in 2010-11 and Guillermo (Willie) Hernandez (who did it in three straight seasons) in 1984-86.