Willi Castro added to MLB All-Star roster, and Twins fans couldn't contain their joy
The Twins will have two of their best and most deserving players at the All-Star Game next week.
How fitting that the Minnesota Twins are sending a pair of the team's most deserving players to the MLB All-Star Game this year?
Carlos Correa was named to the AL's roster for the third time in his career, the first as a member of the Twins. He was among the players picked to be All-Star reserves, missing out on getting voted into the starting lineup by fans.
It seemed at the time that Correa would be Minnesota's sole representitive, something that felt wrong on a number of different levels. That error was slightly corrected when it was revealed that another Twins player was heading to Texas: Willi Castro.
Willi Castro named an All-Star for the first time in his career
If there was a Twins player second-in-line behind Correa to receive All-Star honors, it was Castro.
On Thursday it was announced that Castro would be joining Correa in Arlington as a late addition to the MLB All-Star roster. He'll be replacing Jose Altuve, who withdrew from the game due to an injury he ironically suffered during Houston's series in Minnesota.
Willi is headed to the Wild West! Congratulations to Willi Castro on being named to the 2024 All-Star Game! pic.twitter.com/He8Fttrgrw
— Minnesota Twins (@Twins) July 11, 2024
Needless to say, Twins fans were quick to celebrate Castro's massive accomplishment.
AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE WILLI CASTRO FANCLUB THE PARADE BEGINS AT 4PM
— commissioner shayla (something twins related here) (@shaylarz) July 11, 2024
It’s always fun to see #MNtwins players named all-stars. Willi Castro being named is about as gratifying as it gets. To be cast aside by the Tigers, brought in as a non-roster invite, make the team because of an injury and never look back? Fanfuckingtastic.
— Trey Warren (@_TreyWarren) July 11, 2024
Willi Castro being added to the All-Star game reminds me, he should’ve made it officially in the first place, as a Utility man.
— Thuuuuney (@thuuuuney) July 11, 2024
Utility should be a position on the ballot!
ALL STAR WILLI CASTRO https://t.co/mtslrY3Jlr
— Matthew Trueblood (@MATrueblood) July 11, 2024
No one more deserving than Willi Castro for making his 1st ASG
— Twins Talk (@LetsTalk_Twins) July 11, 2024
Appeared in every game on a 53-40 team and has a WAR of 2.7
CLE & DET moved on from him. Signed a minor league deal in 2022 with MN and has worked effortlessly to become an All-Star#MNTwins
pic.twitter.com/B5lUXJvt3t
Castro has been a revelation for the Twins this season, coming into his own in ways we haven't seen before. Last year Minnesota watched a similar thing happen with Michael A. Taylor, who stepped up to replace Byron Buxton as the everyday centerfielder and turned in a career year.
The same is happening for Castro, albeit under much more ideal circumstances.
Much like Taylor, Castro has played in all 93 games so far this season and has posted a 125 wRC+ and 2.8 fWAR. He's hitting .268/.354/.430 with 28 RBI and is on pace to set career-highs in almost every offensive category.
He came to the Twins last season as a minor league signing and has ascended all the way to being an All-Star. Castro's rise has been both incredible to watch, and has been made even sweeter by witnessing how great of a teammate he is.
Castro is a throwback to the classic Piranha days of Twins baseball. He's played over 20 games at five different positions, can -- and has been -- slotted into the lineup just about everywhere, and has recently become one of the most reliable leadoff hitters in the league.
He'll be among the very best players in baseball next week, which is exactly where Willi Castro belongs.
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