A’s Matt Chapman gets ticket to the All Star Game
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ANAHEIM — A’s third baseman Matt Chapman remembers being in the stands at the Home Run Derby during the All Star festivities at Angel Stadium in 2010.
The Orange County native never made it to the All Star Game, however. That ticket went to his grandmother.
Chapman will get another chance to experience the game, only this time as a player for the American League squad.
Chapman learned Sunday that he was picked as a reserve for the All Star Game on July 9 in Cleveland.
“It feels like I’m going to be a little kid in a candy store,” he told reporters before the series finale against the Los Angeles Angels.
Chapman made his major-league debut just over two years ago and hit .231 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs while playing just over half the season for Oakland. He returned as the team’s full-time third baseman last season and batted .278 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs while earning his first Gold Glove award.
Chapman has taken his game to another level this season, especially in the power department, belting his 21st home run of the season Sunday — he hit No. 20 Saturday — and driving in 49 runs in 84 games.
Entering Sunday, he was the only player in the AL with at least 20 homers, 20 doubles and 55 runs scored.
“I don’t know if I felt like I was an All Star,” he said. “To be able to have it happen, and know all the hard work that went into it, more than this year and the last year, way before the big leagues even started. So, just to be able to accomplish this feels pretty good.”
Chapman said he’s looking forward to seeing his former high school teammate, Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, who will start at third base for the NL team. He also plans to take in all the festivities, including his second Home Run Derby.
“I want to watch all those dudes drop bombs,” he said. “I’m going to do as much as I can and make the most of it. You never know if it’s your first one and your last, so you’ve got to enjoy it all.”