MLB's Latino presence among the young talent at the All-Star Game in Cincinnati "is not as notable as in years past," according to Jorge Ortiz of USA TODAY. Among the 75 MLB All-Stars, 16 "were born in Latin American countries." The number of Latino All-Stars increases to 17 when adding Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez, who was "born in San Diego to Mexican parents." That comes out to 23% Latino representation, "in line with the 25% to 26% on opening-day rosters but quite a bit below previous All-Star Games." Last year in Minneapolis, there were 27 Latin players out of 82 (33%). Moreover, only seven of the 17 Latino All-Stars this year "are 27 or younger, compared with the overall total of 39 out of the 75," which "suggests a possible gap in what has been a steady pipeline of high-level talent from Latin America feeding major league rosters." Several Latino players "are absent this year, for a variety of reasons," including Tigers 1B Miguel Cabrera and Blue Jays RF Jose Bautista due to injuries. The void left by Dodgers RF Yasiel Puig is "glaring, because his reckless enthusiasm generated so much attention and appealed to young fans." At a time when MLB has "moved on from the Derek Jeter era by promoting the likes" of Angels CF Mike Trout, Nationals RF Bryce Harper and Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen, baseball "lacks a Latino figure among its young, charismatic players who are emerging as faces of the game" (USA TODAY, 7/14).
YOUNG & RESTLESS: In N.Y., Mark Feinsand writes this week's All-Star Game "has quite a different feel to it." Rather than "talking about history and farewells, the buzz around Great American Ball Park is about debuts and the game's bright future." Orioles CF Adam Jones said, "It's about the young guys now. It's the evolution of the game." Feinsand notes 20 All-Stars this year "are currently 25-years-old or younger." Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki said of players such as Harper, Trout and Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton, "They're setting up baseball to have superstars to carry this game along." Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw: "I don't know if it's going to be a youth movement like this every year. It hasn't happened like this in a long time and I wouldn't expect it to happen again any time soon with the amount of talent that has been infused into the game the last few years. It started with Harper and Trout, then this year with guys like [Dodgers CF Joc Pederson] and [Cubs 3B] Kris Bryant. It's pretty impressive" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 7/14). Harper said, "This whole game is getting very young. The next couple of years, you'll see even more guys coming up from the minors who are that young. I'm excited to be a part of it" (USA TODAY, 7/14). MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred noted there are so many first-time All-Stars this year “because we got a great crop of young players in the game right now, and they’re really showing how good they are and people are recognizing” ("Fast Money," CNBC, 7/14). ESPN's Tim Kurkjian said he could not remember a time "where this many really good players have come to the big leagues in such a short amount of time, and when they get here, they’re really good.” Kurkjian: “Perhaps never in the game’s history has it been this young and this good.” ESPN's Buster Olney: “It’s the greatest influx of young talent we’ve ever seen” ("Baseball Tonight," ESPN, 7/13).
THE STAR OF STARS? In Minneapolis, La Velle Neal III writes Trout "could end up being the straw that stirs the league’s drink," but many young All-Stars "could challenge him on that front," including Pederson, who was named an All-Star after just three months in the league (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 7/14). The WALL STREET JOURNAL's Brian Costa writes Harper and Trout "lead a class of All-Stars in their early to mid-20s who represent the sport’s burgeoning demographic shift." Teams are "relying on younger players for a growing share of their overall production." Increased parity and the extra wild-card playoff berth "have given teams more incentive to promote their best young players sooner." The Astros last month called up 20-year-old SS Carlos Correa, and even teams that can afford pricey vets "are trying to get younger" (WALL STREET JOURNAL, 7/14).
WELCOME TO THE SHOW: ESPN's Karl Ravech noted one difference from the recent past is that a lot of young MLB stars are "out in front, granting interviews a lot more, and seem to be cooperative and willing to show themselves as the product” for MLB. Ravech: “That wasn’t always the case, and with the young stars it does feels like that is going on.” Olney said, “That has changed since Rob Manfred took over as commissioner. I think he’s done an outstanding job putting the best players out there on behalf of Major League Baseball.” ESPN's Curt Schilling said, "Social media has had a tremendous impact, not just the awareness that is created, but their participation in it. A lot of players are on there, a lot of players interact with their fans. Fans are getting to see a side of the athletes that the athletes show them, not what we tell them, and that to me is a very different dynamic” (“Baseball Tonight,” ESPN, 7/13).
