Two more National League arms have joined the All-Star ranks in 2021.
Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta has been named to the National League All-Star team as a replacement pitcher, manager Craig Counsell revealed Friday, according to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Tom Haudricourt.
New York Mets righty Taijuan Walker will also join the NL team, manager Luis Rojas revealed.
Peralta is replacing his Brewers rotation-mate, Brandon Woodruff, who is ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game because he's starting on Sunday. It's not known who Walker is replacing.
Twenty-five-year-old Peralta turned in a stellar first half for the Brewers, earning his first career All-Star nod. The Dominican pitcher heads into the break sporting a 7-3 record with a 2.23 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, and 129 strikeouts, along with one complete game in 17 appearances (16 starts). Peralta entered play Friday ranking fifth in the NL in ERA and third in strikeouts per nine innings.
Freddy Peralta on making the All-Star team: "I was waiting for this moment. It’s a dream come true. This is the first one."
— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) July 10, 2021
Walker, meanwhile, earned his first career All-Star nod in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 28-year-old has been a stable member of the Mets' staff, posting a 2.50 ERA and 1.03 WHIP with 89 strikeouts across 16 starts.
Taijuan Walker talks about finding out he was named to the All-Star team, and is excited to "watch Pete [Alonso] win the Home Run Derby" pic.twitter.com/AWl6K8vRJK
— SNY (@SNYtv) July 10, 2021
Peralta is the fourth Brewer to be named an All-Star this summer, joining fellow starters Woodruff and Corbin Burnes, and relief ace Josh Hader. Walker is the second Mets player on the team, joining Jacob deGrom, who previously opted to skip the contest.
