Reasons why five Yankees made the AL All-Star team

Even though the Yankees have lost 14 out of their last 19 games, dropping three games back of the first-place Red Sox, five starters will represent the club at next week’s All-Star game in Miami.

The American League’s leading vote-getter and current triple-crown leader, Yankees rookie Aaron Judge, has truly come into his own this season.

It’s safe to say that without Judge’s .327/.448/.687 slash line, 27 home runs and 62 RBI, the Yankees would be nowhere near the top of the AL East standings.

Joining him in Miami on July 11 will be teammates Starlin Castro, Gary Sanchez, Dellin Betances and Luis Severino.

A sixth Bronx Bomber is also in the mix to join the festivities, as shortstop Didi Gregorius is one of five AL players vying for the final fan vote — Kansas City’s Mike Moustakas, Texas’ Elvis Andrus, Boston’s Xander Bogaerts and Tampa Bay’s Logan Morrison, being the others.

Voting ends Thursday, July 6, at 4:00 EST, so vote early and vote often! Search #VoteDidi4Sure on Twitter or follow this link.

This year’s class of All-Star’s features 12 first-timers — including Judge, Sanchez and Severino. For Castro and Betances, it’ll be their fourth such appearance.

The mild-mannered Judge appeared on ESPN to share his thoughts on the career milestone.

“I was pretty excited. A lot of hard work, dedication put in this offseason — this season — and a lot of support from my teammates this year,” said Judge… “I’ve got to call my family and tell them to book a flight to Miami,” Judge said Sunday. “They’re going to be excited.”

The first rookie to be elected by the fans to an All-Star team since Hideki Matsui in 2003, Judge is also the first Yankee to lead the AL in All-Star voting since Derek Jeter in 2009. And at 25-years-old is the youngest player since Ken Griffey Jr. (24) to lead the AL in voting.

In 77 games this season, Judge tops the league in seven statistical categories:

More from Yankees News

• Yankees sign Carlos Rodón after Scott Boras staredown to fill out special 2023 rotation
• Red Sox DFAing Derek Jeter-inspired piece of Mookie Betts trade gives Yankees fans joy
• Yankees sign 2021 breakout reliever after awful 2022, elbow surgery
• Gary Sánchez’s agent blames Yankees for 2022 struggles in dark twist
• Yankees News: Latest on Carlos Rodón, Blue Jays and Red Sox diverge

Batting Average
Home Runs
Runs Batted In
Runs
Total Bases
On-Base Percentage
On-Base Plus Slugging
Slugging Percentage
Walks

As for Judge’s teammates — despite missing almost a month of the early portion of the season due to an injury, Sanchez joins Yogi Berra and Thurman Munson as the only Yankees catchers 24 or younger to be selected to an All-Star team. Sanchez’s .904 OPS is actually higher than AL starting catcher Salvador Perez.

Although it’s still unclear if Castro will be available to play in the Mid-Summer Classic due to a hamstring strain that has kept him out of the previous six contests, the converted shortstop’s .313 batting average and 52 runs scored trail only All-Star starter Jose Altuve in those categories among all big league second baseman.

Comeback Player of the Year candidate, Severino, has struck out 107 batters in 97.1 innings this season, putting him on pace for 231 — which would be third most of any Yankees pitcher in a single season.

Next: Mets willing to trade Duda to Yankees

As for Betances, although he has recently been lit up like a Roman candle — allowing six runs and five walks in his last two appearances, he’s been mostly reliable in 2017, striking out 48 batters in 26 innings pitched — going a perfect 6-for-6 in save opportunities while filling in for Aroldis Chapman.