Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu named to NL all-star team;Troy Tulowitzki still pending

With every line-drive pick in the dirt, jump-spin throw, tarp tumble, sliding grass dive and quick-flipdouble play, Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu stepped closer to star status.

And the Rockies' infielders Monday reached that elite level. Arenado and LeMahieu were named tothe National League all-star roster for the first time in their young careers after a vote of players,managers and coaches.

"We probably don't get as much credit for what we do, playing in Colorado," Arenado said. "I don'tknow if guys pay attention. But I'm glad that they did."

Arenado, 24, becomes the Rockies' youngest all-star. Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki was 25 for his firstall-star game in 2010. And pitcher Shawn Chacon was 25 when he got in in 2003.

"I didn't think about the All-Star Game until maybe a week ago. I wasn't trying not to put pressureon myself," Arenado said. "But Walt (Weiss) called me this morning to tell me. It was really cool. I'mexcited."

LeMahieu, a 26-year-old second baseman, also will play in his first All-Star game.

Tulowitzki, a four-time all-star, still has a chance to make the team. He will be part of a five-playerfan vote-off for the final NL roster spot. Results of the vote will be announced Friday afternoon.

Arenado will back up Cincinnati's Todd Frazier, who won a fan vote to the starting lineup at thirdbase. Arenado is the Rockies' first all-star third baseman since Jeff Cirillo in 2000. Vinny Castilla wasa two-time all-star at the position for Colorado in 1995 and '98.

LeMahieu becomes the Rockies first all-star second baseman since Eric Young in 1996. He turns 27Monday, a day before the All-Star Game.

The ascendant Arenado has made quick work of the hot corner in three short years in the majors. Hewon a Gold Glove award for his defense in his first two seasons, and he was leading the all-star votelast season before a broken hand scuttled his chances.

But this season, Arenado is even better. His defense remains top-notch. Now his plate prowess hashim among the top sluggers in the National League.

Arenado's 68 RBIs were the most in the major leagues entering Monday's play. And his 24 homeruns ranked fifth -- only one behind Frazier and three behind Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.

For the first time since 2009, the Rockies didn't earn a starting spot in the All-Star Game. Arenadofinished fourth in fan voting among third baseman.

Arenado, though, demanded a spot. He's no Coors Field aberration. Arenado has more home runs onthe road (15 to nine), more RBIs (37 to 31) and better on-base (.318 to .309) and slugging (.615 to.580) percentages.

Colorado Rockies' second baseman DJ LeMahieu (9) slides to stop a ground ball off the bat ofCincinnati Reds' Brayan Pena (29) during the fifth inning of their baseball game played Monday,May 25, 2015 in Cincinnati. (Gary Landers, The Associated Press)

But if his hitting failed to arrest the attention of fan voters, his defense put him on nationwidehighlight reels. His tumbling, diving catch over the tarp in San Francisco in April was a memory-maker.

"I don't think I'd make it if i didn't hit," Arenado said. "People recognize defense. But it's all aboutoffense. You want to be a hitter. In my mind growing up, hitting was always my focus."

LeMahieu didn't make it into the Top 5 fan vote-getters among NL second basemen. But he's havinga career year. Despite a recent slump, LeMahieu is hitting .298 with a .351 on-base percentage (boththird-best in the NL). And his fielding percentage, at .995, ranks second.

"The guy is a baller," Weiss said of LeMahieu earlier this season. "He's a quiet kid, but he's a gem.We already knew about the defense, and I always thought the offense was going to come. He'shaving a hell of a year offensively."

LeMaheiu's large frame, unusually wide range and high fielding percentage at second base led to hisfirst Gold Glove award last season. With Arenado and Tulowitzki, LeMahieu helps form a double-playcombination that has five Gold Glove awards among them.

"It would be pretty cool to turn one with him in the All-Star Game," Arenado said of his double-playcombo with LeMahieu.

Tulowitzki will compete in the fan vote against Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, Mets' reliever JeurysFamilia, Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez.

Tulowitzki started slowly, coming off a season-ending hip surgery last season. But he's caught onlately. He leads NL shortstops in batting average (.321), on-base percentage (.358) and sluggingpercentage (.489). He finished second in fan voting among shortstops, trailing the St. LouisCardinals' Jhonny Peralta.

The 86th All-Star Game will played July 14 at Cincinnati at 5 p.m.

Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke

Nolan Arenado, DJ LeMahieu stats

Nolan Arenado is no Coors Field aberration this year. He's hitting as well, or better, on the roadaway from Colorado:

Arenado ... Home ... Away

Games ... 37 ... 42

At-bats ... 143 ... 161

Runs ... 26 ... 23

Doubles ... 9 ... 9

Home runs ... 9 ... 15

RBIs ... 31 ... 37

Average ... .287 ... .280

On-base pct. ... .309 ... .318

Slugging pct. ... .580 ... .615

Nolan Arenado and DJ LeMahieu, who each earned selections to the National League all-star teamas reserves, and Troy Tulowitzki, who's selection is still pending, rank among the best hitters in theleague at their positions (with NL rank in parentheses, entering Monday):

Rockies ... 3B Arenado ... 2B LeMahieu ... SS Tulowitzki

Average ... .283 (4th) ... .298 (3rd) ... .321 (1st)

Doubles ... 18 (4th) ... 10 (12th) ... 19 (1st)

Home runs ... 24 (2nd) ... 4 (8th) ... 9 (4th)

RBIs ... 68 (1st) ... 34 (4th) ... 44 (2nd)

On-base pct. ... .314 (6th) ... .351 (3rd) ... .358 (1st)

Slugging pct. ... .599 (2nd) ... .387 (7th) ... .489 (1st)

Fielding pct. ... .962 (5th) ... .995 (2nd) ... .976 (7th)

Looking ahead

Angels' Andrew Heaney (1-0, 1.38 ERA) at Rockies' Chad Bettis (4-3, 3.67), 6:40 p.m. Tuesday,ROOT; 850 KOA

Bettis had been the Rockies' best pitcher for a month before struggling. In his last start, at Oakland,Bettis threw 5 innings and took a loss after allowing seven hits and three runs. He struck out fourand walked four -- and Bettis pointed to his lack of command as his downfall. The left-handedHeaney got past the Yankees in his most recent start, his second of the season. Tuesday will be hisfirst road start of 2015.

Wednesday: Angels' Matt Shoemaker (4-7, 4.91 ERA) at Rockies' Chris Rusin (3-3, 4.27), 6:40 p.m.,ROOT

Thursday: Braves' Alex Wood (5-5, 3.17) at Rockies' Kyle Kendrick (3-10, 6.00), 6:40 p.m., ROOT

Nick Groke, The Denver Post

http://www.denverpost.com/rockies/ci_28442088/nolan-arenado-dj-lemahieu-named-mlb-all-star?source=rss