Yankees' Aaron Judge, Cam Schlittler, Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger named to AL All-Star team

The Yankees haven’t played what anyone would consider All-Star-caliber baseball lately, but they are sending four players to the Midsummer Classic later this month, with first-timers Cam Schlittler and Ben Rice joining Cody Bellinger and Aaron Judge.

Schlitter, who leads the AL with a 2.08 ERA, should be the favorite to start the All-Star Game, which will be played July 14 at Philadelphia’s Citizens Bank Park. Quite an accomplishment for a seventh-round draft pick, not to mention a 25-year-old who made his major-league debut July 9 of last season.

“It’s a great feeling, obviously,” Schlittler said Saturday after the Yankees’ 11-4 loss to the Twins. “Can’t really thank my teammates and coaches enough for the position they put me in, and just being able to succeed on the field. I don’t like the stretch of play we’re in right now, but it’s good to be aware of that and definitely something to be proud about.”

Rice, 27, is in only his third major-league season but has built a solid case for AL MVP with 24 homers, 56 RBIs and a .931 OPS. He’s a former 12th-round pick, and the fact that he and Schlittler are Massachusetts natives — plucked from the Red Sox’s backyard — has been especially satisfying for the Yankees, even more so with the All-Star recognition.

“You don’t necessarily come into the season saying I really want to be on the All-Star team,” Rice said. “But you can only hope that if you do your best every day, stick to our process and the results follow, that maybe you get the chance.”

It is Bellinger’s third All-Star selection and first since 2019 with the Dodgers. He’s expected to start for the AL in place of Judge, who is on the injured list with a rib stress fracture.

Bellinger was considered one of the Yankees’ early co-MVPs (with Rice) when he was hitting .280 with 11 homers, 49 RBIs and an .860 OPS through June 17. Since then, however, he has been sliding, batting .111 (6-for-54) without a home run in the past 15 games. His lone RBI during that stretch came on Saturday’s run-scoring double.

“It’s been a long time,” Bellinger said. “It’s hard, man. It’s a competitive league, so I’m just excited to go back.”

This will be the eighth All-Star Game in Judge’s 11-year career and sixth straight after the event was canceled during the 2020 pandemic season. He’s been limited to 59 games because of his rib injury, hitting .248 with 17 homers, 38 RBIs and a .907 OPS.

“Obviously we’re playing for so much more,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But he’s an eight-time All-Star now. As one of the faces of the game, that’s a big deal.”

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.