Elias Díaz becomes first catcher selected to MLB All-Star Game for the Colorado Rockies

In a year of celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Colorado Rockies, Elias Díaz makes history by becoming the first catcher to earn a selection to the MLB All-Star Game. 

Díaz has been the most valuable player on the club, providing above-average play in the batter’s box and behind home plate. His 68 games at catcher are the second-most and his 13 catcher caught stealings (28.6 caught stealing percentage) are fourth in the Majors (min. 50 GS), resulting in the third-best defensive WAR (1.0) among all NL catchers. 

Díaz is an All-Star, who's cutting onions 🥹 pic.twitter.com/ZKTDNjLIEB

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) July 2, 2023

“It’s always great to share those moments for a first time All-Star for a guy who has been around for a couple of years and has been a integral part of our club at that premium position,” manager Bud Black said of Díaz.

Offensively, his 45 RBI with a week remaining before the All-Star break puts him in line to set the first half record — 46 by Wilin Rosario in 2013 — for most RBI by a catcher in the first half. He hit a highlight reel grand slam to help Colorado come back to win against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 23, the first bases loaded homer since 2021. (He hit that one, too.)

Ryan McMahon was also deserving of a place in Seattle for the July 11 Midsummer Classic. Much like Díaz, RyMac has been a major contributor on both sides of the ball. Since moving to third base full time for the 2021 season, McMahon’s 5.3 dWAR is the second-highest in the Majors among 3B with at least 75% of their games at the position. His 12 defensive runs saved (Sports Info Solutions) at third base are the most at the position in 2023.

McMahon leads the club with 13 home runs and his 43 RBI is second to only Díaz (45). Since May 25, he’s slashed .333/.423/.605 with seven doubles, two triples, eight home runs and 22 RBI over his 34 games going into Sunday’s contest with Detroit. During that span, McMahon ranks among NL leaders in OPS (1.027, 3rd), OBP (4th), average (T-5th), total bases (78, T-5th), hits (43, T-5th) slugging (7th) and extra-base hits (17, T-9th).

This season, McMahon’s 2.6 bWAR is tied with Washington Nationals’ Jeimer Candelario for the highest among NL players with at least 75% of their games at third base, even more than starting NL third baseman and former Rockie Nolan Arenado (1.1) or backup Austin Riley (2.0).

Before Díaz was named as Colorado’s All-Star, a few players were in discussion to represent the club.

Ezequiel Tovar has been the best defensive rookie in MLB (1.2 defensive bWAR) and his 1.8 overall bWAR is already the seventh-highest for a Rockies’ rookie in franchise history. His 40 RBI entering Sunday was second-most in the Senior Circuit for a shortstop. An RBI-single during the series-deciding loss to the Detroit Tigers extended his hitting streak to 15 games. 

Daniel Bard’s 1.91 ERA is the ninth-lowest among NL relievers and has been scored upon in only four times in 27 appearances this season.

Even more deserving from a bullpen that’s been taxed through the first three months is closer Justin Lawrence. He’s thrown 43.0 innings so far for Colorado, sixth-most among all relievers and third-most in the NL. 

Since taking over for Pierce Johnson as the team’s closer, Lawrence has converted five of six save opportunities while posting a 2.63 ERA (13.2 IP, 4 ER) in the process. He’s even had a pair of four-out saves, a rarity in today’s game. He’s allowed just two of 23 inherited runners to score, good for a 8.7 inherited runners scored percentage that’s second-best in baseball.

For the first time in franchise history, Colorado will have had the minimum one representative in the All-Star Game for three consecutive seasons.