Guardians sending five players to the All-Star Game

CLEVELAND — The Guardians celebrated more than a series-clinching victory Sunday. After beating the Giants 5-4 at Progressive Field, Cleveland found out it will send three players — Emmanuel Clase, Josh Naylor and David Fry — to join starters Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan at the All-Star Game on July 16 in Texas. It is the most representatives since six Cleveland players — Ramirez, Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber, Francisco Lindor, Trevor Bauer and Yan Gomes — were selected in 2018. Ramirez and Kwan were elected via the fan vote, while Sunday's three additions were chosen by player voting. Clase, who leads the American League with 27 saves in 30 opportunities and owns a microscopic, MLB-leading 0.65 ERA and 0.629 WHIP in 43 appearances, was a lock to make his third straight All-Star team. He anchors a bullpen which entered Sunday leading MLB with a 2.59 ERA and has made first-year manager Stephen Vogt's transition easier. "It helps my heart rate, that's for sure," Vogt said of handing the ball to Clase in the ninth. "What Emmanuel brings is that fight, that consistency of coming in and it's like the game's over. And there's been a handful of times that it hasn't been the case, but that happens to everybody. But just the way he comes in and attacks and he wants to pitch. "I've never seen a closer who, whether it's 8-0 or a one-run game or down and he's throwing in the eighth, he comes in and has his 'A' stuff and he's attacking the outing as if it's a save (situation), and that's very rare. He takes the ball and he's the same every single day." Clase joined Doug Jones (1988-90) as the only Cleveland relievers selected three times, each making it three consecutive years. "I think it has been the focus from Day 1, just to execute every single pitch," Clase said through an interpreter. "It means a lot fewer pitches, so I think that's the result of what we've been trying to do. "It's important (to be an All-Star), because it's part of the goals when I start the season. It's been part of the focus to get things done and, most importantly, that I've been healthy (enough) to be able to accomplish that." After a perceived snub last year, Naylor was voted into his first All-Star Game. He has hit 21 homers and ranks fifth in the AL with 66 RBIs, three years removed from a horrific ankle injury while playing right field. "I guess in life you have to keep going," Naylor said. "That's just what my parents preached to me with that injury, 'You can either shut down and give up or fight through it and continue on.' This is my dream as a kid to be in this situation." Fry, who was also selected for the first time in his career, has been one of the biggest surprise stories in baseball, entering the season as a bench player and working himself into a regular at multiple positions. He is slashing .305/.412/.508 with eight homers, 33 RBIs and an OPS of .920 over 66 games. "Heck no, maybe a Triple-A All-Star," joked Fry, when asked if he could have envisioned making the All-Star team at the start of the season. "It's pretty cool, didn't expect it for sure, pretty fired up. It's just really exciting just see how excited my teammates were. For me, that was probably the best part." Fry is stoked to join a large contingent of Cleveland players making the trip to Globe Life Field. "It shows the team that we have, obviously, in first place, playing really good," he said. "I think we have more guys who are deserving. I think our entire bullpen could have gone, but awesome to see, especially for Nayls, a guy who really deserved it last year. To see, finally, that he got the respect he deserved to get in there and obviously Kwan and Josey starting, Clase going again. Would've loved to see more guys, but just really cool to get the Guardians a lot of guys there." "It's so fun for our group to have five people going to represent us and five very, very deserving people as well," Vogt said. "I couldn't be more thrilled for Kwany, Josh and David, first-time All-Stars earning that. And for those three especially, it's just so fun. They've earned it. They've had great first halves and they're having great, phenomenal seasons." Contact Chris Assenheimer at (440) 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @CAwesomeheimer on X.