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Muncy, Bieber, Hendriks named to All-Star Game as replacements

Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Three players have been added to Tuesday's All-Star Game as replacements, MLB announced Friday.

Los Angeles Dodgers infielder Max Muncy was added to the National League roster, while Cleveland Indians right-hander Shane Bieber and Oakland Athletics reliever Liam Hendriks both joined the American League squad.

Muncy is replacing Washington Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon, and Bieber and Hendriks take the spots of Texas Rangers starter Mike Minor and Tampa Bay Rays veteran Charlie Morton.

All three players will be making their first career All-Star Game appearances.

Muncy, who emerged from obscurity last season to become a critical player for the Dodgers, has continued his climb to stardom during the first half of 2019. The 28-year-old enters Friday's action hitting .276/.379/.543 with 21 homers, 59 RBIs, and 49 walks through 86 games this year, while playing three different infield positions.

The 24-year-old Bieber has become a rock in an Indians rotation that's been decimated by injuries this season. He leads the team's starters with a 3.54 ERA and 1.05 WHIP to go along with 133 strikeouts and one shutout through 104 1/3 innings.

Bieber gives the host Indians four All-Stars in Tuesday's game, joining teammates Brad Hand, Francisco Lindor, and Carlos Santana.

Hendriks' All-Star nod completes a remarkable turnaround for the 30-year-old Australian, who had been designated for assignment by Oakland last June. Since then, he's returned to the A's and become a dominant force in the bullpen, sporting a sparkling 1.29 ERA and 1.05 WHIP while averaging 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings over 40 appearances this year.

When discounting his two "starts" as an opener, Hendriks owns a 0.96 ERA and is allowing just 0.19 homers per nine innings to lead all big-league relievers.

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