Miguel Tejada, Hunter Pence Make All-Star Team
The Two Astros Are Voted to the Team by Fellow Major League Players
Jul 6, 2009
"He's more experienced than me," Pence said after learning from Houston General Manager Ed Wade he was selected to the NL team along with his more famous teammate. "I'll follow his lead to go there and have a good experience."
Pence, a Fort Worth native, worked his way onto the team despite a crowded field of talented outfielders. It shows the players are paying attention.
Pence Established Himself as All Star
"To be respected by my peers makes me feel proud," Pence said. "I'm somewhat surprised though. I played well but there are a lot of players just as deserving of going. I'm happy to be part of the NL team."
In his third major league season, Pence has shown consistency in his offense and the combination of power and speed that make him a threat at all times.
Pence hit a home run on the same day he learned he made the all-star team. It was his 11th of the season, putting him on track to repeat his power numbers of a year ago, when he hit 25 out of the park.
He's also on pace to establish a career high for stolen bases. After swiping 11 in each of his first two years, he's got eight at the halfway point of the season.
"This is a new beginning for Hunter," Astros' manager and former all-star Cecil Cooper said. "He's shown he belongs."
Pence is 344 games into his major league career and has established himself as a potential .300 hitter. He hits line drives, spraying the ball to all parts of the field. He's had 30 or more doubles in each of his first two seasons and hits equally well in day games as he does at night.
"I've said before that Hunter is on the brink of the all-star portion of his career," Wade said.
Tejada is a Hit in Houston
Wade also traded for Tejada before the 2008 season, even with the excess baggage from admitting he lied about his steroid use. It showed Wade to be forward thinking.
"It's nice that a guy you trade for turns out to have all-star years," Wade said. "Miggy is 2-for-2 with the Astros."
Tejada has also made the all-star team as an Oakland Athletic and a Baltimore Oriole.
"He's been an all-star pretty much his whole career," Cooper said. "He's the lightning rod on this team. Everybody gets excited when Miggy gets excited."
Tejada, also voted onto the team by major league baseball players, says it's still an honor to be named an all-star.
"There are a lot of good guys at the shortstop position," said Tejada, who also hit a home run the day he was named. "I'm older now and it makes it even more special. I never expect to make the all-star game, no matter how good a first half I'm having."
He's know to have good second halves too.
