The Toronto Blue Jays announced on Saturday that second baseman Santiago Espinal will play for the first time in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
• Read also: MLB: Clayton Kershaw goes close to perfection
The Dominican will replace in the American League formation Jose Altuve, of the Houston Astros, according to the MLB Network. The Venezuelan star player was hit in the left knee by a pitch on Thursday. Andres Gimenez of the Cleveland Guardians will take his place in the starting lineup.
Espinal, 27, is in his third season with the Jays. He stood out this year by producing 37 runs and maintaining a .271 batting average.
He joins first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., catcher Alejandro Kirk, outfielder George Springer and pitcher Alek Manoah among the representatives of Canada’s only Major League Baseball team at the All-Star Game.
