Chipper Jones fans, don’t worry about trying to get the Atlanta Braves third baseman to his eighth All-Star Game by selecting him in the “Final Vote”—he is already in.
As a reward for his fine season, the 40-year-old is being named to the squad as a replacement for injured L.A. Dodgers star Matt Kemp. David O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke the news.
While a case can certainly be made for others to earn this spot, Jones’ replacement selection is not startling. He is having a solid season while hitting .291 with six home runs and 29 RBI. These numbers look even more impressive given that he has played in just 45 games this year.
These are not overwhelming stats, but they are very respectable, and Jones still does an acceptable job at third base. However, what really gives Jones an added edge here is that he is Chipper Jones.
Jones, who has had a fantastic career, announced this will be his last season. He is a lifetime .304 hitter with 460 home runs, and he has a World Series ring. His numbers very well could take him to Cooperstown.
The All-Star Game is not supposed to be a lifetime achievement award. It is there to reward the players performing exceptionally well that season.
But in a close call, there is no harm in bestowing this honor upon a player with a tremendous body of work who is in his last season, and Jones now has one more chance to showcase his skills in the Summer Classic.
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