Rays’ Jonathan Aranda will need help from players, MLB to be an All-Star

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jonathan Aranda is going to need a little help from his friends, or from Major League Baseball officials, to make his first All-Star team.

Aranda finished third at first base in the American League in fan voting, which concluded Thursday. His 1,333,443 votes trailed New York’s Paul Goldschmidt (1,588,603) and Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (2,089,666) despite having better stats.

Aranda is hitting .328 with eight homers, 41 RBIs and an .898 OPS; Goldschmidt .288, 8, 32, .778; Guerrero .281, 11, 40, .836. Goldschmidt and Guerrero advanced to the second round of fan voting to determine the starter for the July 15 game.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that (Aranda) should be the starter at the All-Star Game,” Rays teammate Josh Lowe said. “I think everybody in here and a lot of people across the league are going to say that. But it’s been tremendous to watch him develop into himself.”

Aranda’s chances of going to Atlanta now rest with either the players voting him in as a reserve or being added to the roster by MLB officials, who also have to make sure every team is represented.

Among other Rays worthy of All-Star consideration, Brandon Lowe finished fourth in the voting at second base, Junior Caminero sixth at third base and Yandy Diaz seventh at DH.

Sterling startingRays starting pitcher Shane Baz, center, meets with third baseman Junior Caminero and catcher Matt Thaiss on the mound during the seventh inning. [ CHARLIE RIEDEL | AP ]

There was no secret to the Rays’ success in sweeping the Royals — it started with their starters.

In the three games, Taj Bradley, Drew Rasmussen and Shane Baz combined to work 19 ⅔ innings, allowing no runs and seven hits total.

“I think it just speaks to what we can do,” Baz said. “I think we do a good job of helping each other and kind of asking questions of each other and just holding each other accountable and bringing the best out of everybody.

“I think it’s just such a good group, that I’m lucky to be a part of.”

The Rays posted their seventh and eighth shutouts during the series, and logged the first-ever three-game series in 28 seasons in which they allowed only one run.

“They’re on a good run right now,” manager Kevin Cash said.

Elite companyJunior Caminero celebrates after hitting a home run off Detroit Tigers pitcher Casey Mize Sunday in Tampa. [ JEFFEREE WOO | Times ]

Caminero became the fifth Ray to hit 20 homers before July 1, joining Jose Canseco (28, 1999), Carlos Pena (23, 2009), Logan Morrison (22, 2017) and Greg Vaughn (20, 2001).

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More impressively, Caminero became the sixth major-leaguer to do so at age 21 or younger, joining Cody Bellinger (24, 2017), Mel Ott (22, 1929), Eddie Matthews (22, 1953), Albert Pujols, (21, 2001) and Ronald Acuna Jr. (20, 2019).

“(That’s) pretty good,” Caminero said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. “I’ve been concentrating on helping the team win. Those things are good, too. But like I’m just concentrating in what I can control during the game.”

Miscellany

Brandon Lowe extended his hitting streak to 13 games and his on-base streak to 15; Aranda extended his to 11 and 14. Yandy Diaz’s hitting streak ended at 15, but his on-base streak reached 20, the longest active such run in the AL. … The Rays are the only team in the majors with three road sweeps, previously blanking the Padres and Mets. Their six straight road wins are their longest such streak since 2022. … Infielder Ha-Seong Kim (right shoulder surgery recovery) is expected to stay on rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham at least through the weekend, having hit .211 over 17 games. … Friday’s game won’t be televised by FanDuel Sports Sun, as it was chosen as part of MLB’s package for streaming coverage by AppleTV+. Former longtime Rays sideline reporter Tricia Whitaker will be part of Apple’s coverage team.

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