Baseball’s best arrived at T-Mobile Park for the start of All-Star festivities Monday.
Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and pitcher Justin Steele were there for Chicago representing the White Sox and Cubs, respectively.
Here are three takeaways from All-Star workout day:
1. Justin Steele reflected fondly on his path to Seattle.
Steele sat in a chair on the warning track at T-Mobile Park on Monday afternoon.
From Lucedale, Miss., to being an All-Star for the first time, the Cubs starter reflected on the journey.
“It wasn’t a linear straight line to the big leagues for me,” Steele said. “I spent seven years in the minors. Had injuries, had ups and downs.
“For me, coming out of high school and being a young kid, it means a lot to me that I stuck with it. Never give up. Always believed in myself and finally made it here and got to reap the rewards and live the dream.”
Steele said his favorite part of the All-Star experience had been “being able to see my family and friends enjoy it, enjoy everything.”
Steele, who is second in the National League with a 2.55 ERA, didn’t mind not being the starting pitcher for the NL. That honor went to Zac Gallen of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“Zac Gallen is very deserving,” Steele said. “It’s really cool to see him get that nod. If I get in there and pitch, just go out there and do my job.”
Steele was one of three Cubs selected for the event, along with pitcher Marcus Stroman and shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Stroman announced last week that he wouldn’t pitch in the game, citing his workload in a year that included pitching in the World Baseball Classic. He’s also tied for the 10th-most innings pitched in the majors this season. Swanson decided Friday to pull out of the game as he dealt with a bruised left heel.
Asked about Stroman’s impact, Steele said he’s learned “a ton” and appreciates the support Stroman has shown him.
“He’s a great teammate,” Steele said. “He likes to give his teammates recognition when it’s deserved. A great guy to have in the clubhouse.”
2. There was lots of love for Luis Robert Jr.
A big smile came across Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García’s face when a reporter asked about a past Home Run Derby experience with Robert in Cuba.
“We both didn’t do anything in Cuba when we were doing it,” García said through an interpreter, verifying Robert’s story that they both finished with zero homers. “Today, I’m hoping we both get one at least.”
In addition to being All-Stars, Robert and García — who are second and third in the American League in homers — were participants in Monday’s Home Run Derby.
García praised Robert’s continued growth which has led to his first All-Star selection.
“We’ve known each other since we were kids,” García said. “I’ve been watching his whole career and I’m really impressed and happy with his successes.”
Robert has 26 home runs and pointed to health as a key to the big season.
“That all comes with the ability to be on the field on a daily basis,” Robert said through an interpreter.
Count Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker among those impressed with Robert’s production.
“He’s a tremendous talent,” said Baker, who is managing the AL. “I’ve always thought that. And he’s just now reaching his potential of that talent, which we don’t really don’t know what his ceiling is.”
3. Steele and Robert weighed in on the state of Chicago baseball.
The Sox talked about using the All-Star break as a chance to regroup following Sunday’s 4-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in 10 innings at Guaranteed Rate Field.
It was the team’s seventh loss in their last nine games. The Sox fell to 16 under .500 (38-54) and are fourth in the AL Central, eight games back. The Sox have been trying to play catch-up since starting 7-21.
“We just haven’t been consistent,” Robert said. “We have to find a way in the second half to try to be consistent.”
The Cubs had a winning trip ahead of the break, including taking two of three from the New York Yankees. They find themselves third in the NL Central (42-47), seven games out of first place.
“Our run differential is not too bad (plus-26), we’re in ballgames,” Steele said. “If you ask anybody in the clubhouse, we feel like we can win with the group of guys we’ve got right now. It’s just a matter of catching fire, getting on a roll and getting going.
“It seems like we’ve done it here and there and then something will happen. I feel like we are one game away from clicking and going on a roll.”