Tigers closer Gregory Soto earns All Star spot, joins teammate Miguel Cabrera

For the second consecutive year, Dominican closer Gregory Soto will be representing the Detroit Tigers in the MLB All-Star Game on July 7 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

The 27-year-old Soto will join Venezuelan teammate Miguel Cabrera and Willie Horton on the American League squad. He also became the first Tigers pitcher to make back-to-back All-Star appearances since Max Scherzer.

During the 2021 edition, Soto recorded three outs and pitched in the fifth inning before being tagged by Philadelphia Phillies star catcher J.T. Realmuto, who registered his 99 mph sinker for a 430-foot solo home run.

“I am going to keep working hard so I can keep going and going to the All-Star Game,” said the four-year veteran Soto.

Soto entered Sunday with an impressive stat line of 2.70 ERA, 31 strikeouts, and 15 walks across 30 innings in 31 games this season. He has also improved his walk rate from 14.5% to 11.9% while registering a career-high five batters.