Turns out, the Twins' big offseason trade was a swap of All-Stars.
Pablo López, the starting pitcher acquired from the Marlins for Luis Arraez in January, was added to the American League All-Star team for Tuesday night's game in Seattle. The righthander replaces Toronto's Kevin Gausman, who withdrew in order to spend the four-day break with his family.
López joins Twins teammate Sonny Gray, chosen to the team last week, and Arraez, a two-time All-Star who was elected by fan voting as the National League's starting second baseman.
"It means a lot for me. I can't remember the last time I didn't watch an All-Star Game, starting when I was little," López said Saturday. "Back when I was growing up, I used to watch it telling myself 'I want to be there someday.' I watch it every single year."
The selection came as a surprise, López said. When Rocco Baldelli called him into his office Saturday morning, "I thought we were just going to discuss my All-Star break plan to make sure that [his throwing sessions were] staying on schedule," López said. "Which, in a way, we did. Just not the way I was expecting."
López's selection was announced on the Target Field scoreboard during the seventh-inning stretch of Saturday's game, as the righthander waved to the crowd from the dugout.
"I'm incredibly happy," he said. "Something like this comes with your routine, the way you go about your business."
López ranks second in the AL in both innings pitched (111) and strikeouts (138), third in most strikeouts per nine innings (11.189), and he's in the league's top 10 for fewest hits and walks allowed per nine. He's also one of 12 major league pitchers to throw a shutout this season.