{"id":3844,"date":"2026-07-10T09:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T09:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=3844"},"modified":"2026-07-10T09:06:13","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T09:06:13","slug":"nationals-under-the-radar-stars-garcia-griffin-make-all-star-push","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homebuyerrelocation.com\/?p=3844","title":{"rendered":"Nationals under-the-radar stars Garcia, Griffin make All-Star push"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Nationals are sending two players, slugging shortstop C.J. Abrams and outfielder James Wood, to next week\u2019s All-Star festivities in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n

Read more Carolina Hurricanes owner puts himself, wife, five children first in Stanley Cup engraving<\/a><\/p>\n

But two more Nationals are eagerly waiting to be called on as alternates.<\/p>\n

First baseman Luis Garcia Jr. and starting pitcher Foster Griffin are not household names. Neither of them has made an All-Star appearance or acquired any MLB accolades. But the two are posting career years, which teammates and coaches argue are worthy of All-Star consideration.<\/p>\n

Garcia has had the hottest bat in the majors the past six weeks. The 26-year-old ranks second in the National League in RBIs and slugging percentage after knocking his career-best 20th homer on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

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Griffin, a 30-year-old rookie, has made an immediate impact. The former first-round pick has posted a team-best 2.77 ERA through his first 19 starts. He hasn\u2019t allowed more than one run in an appearance since May. His seven-game streak without allowing multiple runs is the longest active run in MLB.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t tell you how much value he\u2019s added to us and how much he\u2019s brought to us,\u201d Nationals manager Blake Butera said of Griffin. \u201cHe\u2019s been outstanding. Just every time out, it feels like he\u2019s able to pitch deep into games and give us a chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Griffin has specialized in avoiding free passes. He\u2019s hammered the strike zone and forced batters to swing, issuing just 26 walks. Now six years removed from his MLB debut with the Kansas City Royals, Griffin is pitching like an ace with hard-to-hit pitches in the zone that force weak contact.<\/p>\n

After spending the past three seasons pitching in Japan, Griffin has continued to fly below the radar. He has just the ninth-best NL Rookie of the Year odds at BetMGM despite ranking fourth in wins above replacement among all MLB rookies.<\/p>\n

Despite the impressive start to his tenure in Washington, Griffin was entirely left off the NL All-Star roster. He\u2019s working on plans to relax over the upcoming break, even as Nationals fans and players rally to push him into the Midsummer Classic as a replacement.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not up to me. I\u2019m content either way,\u201d Griffin said on Wednesday\u2019s Nationals broadcast. \u201cThat\u2019d be a huge honor. I know the fans don\u2019t really vote on pitchers; it\u2019s up to MLB and player voting. It is what it is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fans had a better chance at voting Garcia in, but his recent power surge arrived too late in the voting to swing the votes of casual baseball watchers.<\/p>\n

But the rest of the league has taken notice. The longest-tenured National was honored as the NL Player of the Month in June. He entered that month with five home runs, with a solid average carrying his performance.<\/p>\n

Read more Canada says 8 countries are joining the international defense bank it will host<\/a><\/p>\n

Garcia has added 15 homers since June 1. He had 16 home runs in 139 games last year.<\/p>\n

Analyst Mark DeRosa said during an MLB Network segment dedicated to Garcia on Tuesday, \u201cHe\u2019s had a career year before we\u2019ve gotten to the [All-Star] break. \u2026 He\u2019s been a top-five hitter across the board.\u201d<\/p>\n

Garcia has become a popular man at Nationals Park, both in the stands and in the clubhouse. The District\u2019s crowds eagerly await his at-bats, erupting in cheers as he joined Abrams and Wood as power hitters to be feared in Washington\u2019s lineup.<\/p>\n

The first baseman earned another ovation on Wednesday when he reached 20 home runs in a season for the first time in his career.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt means a lot to me,\u201d Garcia told reporters. \u201cI\u2019ve been in the big leagues for a while. To reach 20 was always a goal of mine, especially to reach it before the All-Star break.\u201d<\/p>\n

His teammates and coaches have enjoyed watching the longtime National earn the spotlight.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s doing a good job of challenging himself,\u201d Butera said. \u201cOur coaches have been on him about seeing mixed BP as much as he can \u2014 the Trajekt [pitching] machines, the different things like that, just to make the training environment as challenging as possible before the game. That way, when you get to the game, it almost feels easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

An All-Star appearance, which would require someone from the NL withdrawing due to injury or rest, would be the latest accolade for Garcia\u2019s career year.<\/p>\n

The Nationals, who had a day off on Thursday, return to action on Friday for a three-game home series against the New York Yankees. It\u2019ll be Washington\u2019s final series before Tuesday\u2019s All-Star Game.<\/p>\n

Read more Santa convention brings Christmas cheer to the height of summer<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Nationals are sending two players, slugging shortstop C.J. Abrams and outfielder James Wood, to next week’s All-Star festivities in Philadelphia. 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