The Tampa Bay Rays will have only one representative to the 2021 All-Star Game in Denver, and it will be the man tasked with handling the pitching staff.
Catcher Mike Zunino was named as the backup catcher to the American League roster for the Midsummer Classic. It will be his first trip to the All-Star Game.
Congrats to Mike Zunino on his first @MLB #AllStarGame selection! #RaysUp pic.twitter.com/B1yK9vYUYr
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) July 4, 2021
The 30-year-old former Florida Gator is currently ranked second in home runs hit by a catcher this season to Kansas City’s Salvador Perez, who was named the starter at the position by fan voting. He also ranks fifth in RBI by a catcher, sixth in wRC+, and fifth in WAR.
The 2021 MLB All-Star Game takes place Tuesday, July 13 at Coors Field.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
