Jhonny Peralta is an All-Star Afterall

It was in about the eighth inning of last night’s 6-4 win over Kansas City when Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland got the word that his shortstop was going to the All-Star Game. Jhonny Peralta, when informed of the honor, stated quietly “I will be there.”

Peralta, who has seven years as an everyday player under his belt, has been one of the better offensive shortstops in the league in his career, but until last night could never include “all-star” next to his name. From 2005-2010, Peralta averaged 18 home runs and 78 RBI, great numbers for a shortstop, and this season he’s on pace to blow past both of those totals. He’s currently sitting at 14 long balls and an even 50 runs batted in.

Peralta had planned to spend his off days during the break at his home in the Dominican Republic. Instead, he’ll join Tigers teammates Justin Verlander, Jose Valverde, Miguel Cabrera, and Alex Avila in Arizona.

Peralta was added by Rangers manager Ron Washington as a replacement for Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter, who is evidently healthy enough to play in every game this week for New York, but not healthy enough to play two innings in an exhibition game the fans voted him into. Washington selected Peralta over his own impressive shortstop, Elvis Andrus.

Jeter joins fellow Yankees Alex Rodriguez and Mariano Rivera in backing out of the All-Star Game. Boston’s Kevin Youkilis was named as a replacement for Rodriguez, ensuring that the world would not implode over a lack of Yanks and Sawx at the game this year.

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