By Chris Brown – STL Baseball Today

The team with the best record in baseball now has the first two of a likely sizable list of 2015 All-Stars, as Jhonny Peralta and Matt Holliday were named National League starters on Sunday night, both elected to play in the Midsummer Classic by the fans as starters for the first time in their respective careers.

Peralta grateful, happy to put past behind him

In the midst of an great season in which he currently ranks first among all NL shortstops in hits (90), doubles (19), home runs (11), and slugging percentage (.469), the 33-year-old Peralta is very appreciative of the fan support he’s received.

“It’s very humbling and honoring that the fans would vote me in,” Peralta told reporters, including KMOV’s J.J. Bailey. “I feel proud, you know? I want to say thank you to the fans here for supporting everything I do and right now I feel really happy.”

Peralta’s durability and professionalism have been key to the Cardinals’ success, as manager Mike Matheny explained:

He’s put together so much like a Carlos Beltran where you just know what you’re going to get every day. It’s just the consistency in his approach and the production, the way he goes about his business, he’s just an absolute pro. He’s been a joy to watch and a joy to have on our club.

“A lot of the guys told me I’m the same way as him,” Peralta responded when informed on his manager’s comments. “It’s good to know because he’s a good player.”

For Peralta, it’ll be his first time participating in the All-Star Game since 2013, the year he was suspended 50 games for a violation of Major League Baseball’s drug policy. Since signing with the Cardinals before the 2014 season, Peralta has felt welcome in St. Louis and is happy to have put his past mistakes behind him.

“I tried to put that situation in the past. I know fans understand that, too. They appreciate what I’m doing now, and that’s what they’re showing.”

Matheny also had high praise for how Peralta handled the circumstances.

“I think Jhonny has handled that situation probably about as well as anybody could. He’s just gone about his business and really try to find a new home here and start over. I think he’s done that. I know the guys just appreciate everything he does and I know the fans do to.”

Holliday elected as starter despite missed time, expects to play

“It’s quite an honor to be voted in by the fans for the first time in my career,” Matt Holliday told MLB.com’s Jenifer Langosch. “I’m extremely grateful and excited about it and extremely thankful for all the fans who voted for me.”

Although it’s the first time he was elected as a starter by the fans, Holliday is no stranger to the All-Star Game. This is his seventh selection overall and fourth as a member of the Cardinals.

Despite not playing since June 8 due to a right quad strain, Holliday maintained a steady pace as a top three NL outfielder throughout the fan voting.

The 35-year-old is optimistic he’ll return from the DL in time to play in the showcase game.

“I’m getting there. I have a few more hurdles to clear with my running, but I feel like I’m getting pretty close.”

Holliday will continue to do running drills and work to increase his agility, and assuming all goes well, the veteran plans to be back on the field when the Cardinals play their final series before the All-Star break in Pittsburgh.

It’s somewhat unusual for a player that misses nearly a month of the first half to be named an All-Star Game starter, but Matheny said he believes Cardinal fans and fans from all around baseball took notice of Holliday’s record-breaking start, in which set a high NL high mark by reaching base in 45 consecutive games to start the season.

“I think it says something not just about our fan base, but baseball, realizing that great streak he was on and the kind of start he had,” the Cardinal skipper said. “I think it’s been an extra motivation to Matt to hurry up and get back in there. He was excited as a guy who has never been there before.”

Three Cards come up short in bid to start

• Despite leading in the balloting at the last voting update just one week, Matt Carpenter was edged out by Todd Frazier of the Cincinnati Reds as the starter at third base for the NL team.
• Yadier Molina was in the mix at catcher until the end, but finished second to the Giants’ Buster Posey by over two million votes.
• Second baseman Kolten Wong also finish second in the voting at his position, to speedster Dee Gordon of the Miami Marlins.

The All-Star reserves, pitchers, and Final Vote candidates will be announced Monday night on the Esurance All-Star Selection show on ESPN at 6 pm CT. Carpenter, Molina, and Wong are all expected to make it as reserves, and pitchers Michael Wacha, Carlos Martinez, and Trevor Rosenthal are also likely candidates.

Read more: Cardinals.com, KMOV, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Check back at STLBaseballToday.com and follow @STLBBToday on Twitter to find out which Cardinals players made the cut Monday night.

 

Peralta and Holliday images used under Creative Commons by Keith Allision. No changes made. License.