Grandal played three seasons in San Diego before they traded him to the Dodgers in the Matt Kemp trade. Grandal immediately became the Dodgers starting catcher. The Cuban native made the All-Star team by hitting .282 with14 home runs and 36 RBIs in the first half in 2015.
Grandal struggled with injuries in the second half of the season and finished with only 16 home runs and 47 RBIs. Grandal had the best season of his career in 2016. He hit 27 home runs and had 72 RBIs as the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS. Grandal grounded out to shortstop in his only at bat in the All-Star game.
Yonder Alonso 2017
After an All-American season in 2008 at Miami, Alonso was the seventh overall pick in the first round by the Cincinnati Reds. After being traded with Grandal to the Padres, Alonso played his first full Major League season in 2012. Alonso did not live up to expectations for most of his career. He has broken out this season.
The Oakland A’s first baseman has 20 home runs, 43 RBIs and a .275 batting average this season. Alonso came into the 2017 season with 29 career home runs and 239 RBIs. More than a third of his career home runs and over 15 percent of his career RBIs have been in the first half of this season.
Alonso is the only backup to American League starter Justin Smoak of the Toronto Blue Jays. He should get in the game and possibly have more than one at bat.
Watching the All-Star game is about seeing the players from your favorite teams. The Hurricanes that appear in the game give us more players to root for.