What first MLB All-Star Game nods mean for Webb, Giants Ramos originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
On Sunday, Logan Webb and Heliot Ramos discovered they were going for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game after Giants coach Bob Melvin surprised them with the news.
As two first-time selections, the pitcher and outfielder are proud that their hard work is not only paying off, but is also being recognized on a national scale, which they elaborated on with reporters after Sunday’s game. clash with the Cleveland Indians.
“Honestly, it’s an honor to be able to say I’m going to be an All-Star for the San Francisco Giants,” Webb said. “It’s really cool. I wasn’t expecting anything, but I thought in the past I could have expected it. So I was thinking, ‘Okay, whatever happens, happens. I’m not expecting anything.
“Fortunately, it’s an honor to say that my colleagues and coaches in the Commissioner’s Office voted for me and to be able to say that is cool.”
Webb was snubbed from last year’s Midsummer Classic and would finish the season as MLB’s innings leader and runner-up for the Cy Young Award. In 2024, however, Webb and his current 3.09 ERA will be at Globe Life Field on July 16.
And the 27-year-old has made it clear he wants to pitch in the big game.
“It’s actually perfectly aligned,” Webb said. “Because if I don’t contribute, I think it will be like 9 or 10 days off, which is not easy to do. I don’t think that would be a fun thing to do. I mean, I don’t know who makes that decision, but I would definitely love to be a part of it, for sure.”
Webb was All-Star caliber for much of his six-year MLB career.
Ramos, in turn, hasn’t even played 100 games in the big leagues yet in his career. Together, the two will represent San Francisco among the league’s top talent, and Webb is thrilled to join his young teammate.
“That was amazing,” Webb said of Ramos’ All-Star selection. “It is well deserved. Ramos, he’s a spark plug. He’s been great for us. Honestly, it’s great to see him finally get the opportunity.
“I’m super excited for him and his family.”
Ramos, 24, has been a force since the Giants drafted him on May 8.
He’s slashing .299/.370/.517 on July 8 and is really happy that everything is finally coming together after going through short, difficult stints in the majors.
“Oh, [it’s] insane,” Ramos said of making his first All-Star game. “I still can’t believe it. I didn’t expect to be in the big leagues this year all year. I didn’t expect this to happen, but I’m here and I’m very happy [and] very grateful, for sure.”
The outfielder is excited to represent his supportive family and meet the other biggest faces in baseball. He also hopes to return to San Francisco with some newfound knowledge. But many will want to meet him too, as he is the first local Giants outfielder to make the All-Star team since Chili Davis in 1986.
Most importantly, though, Ramos is proud of himself and how the trip to Arlington, Texas, is a product of his team-oriented effort, offseason after offseason.
“I do everything possible not to be an All-Star, [but] because I want to help the team win,” said Ramos. It calms me down, for sure. I know my work was not wasted. And I was doing the right things. It’s amazing because that’s what I work for.
“That’s what I do all year, every year. That’s what I’ve been doing all my life. I have been working towards this. I’ve been working to be a great league player. I’ve been working to be a Hall of Famer, an All-Star, whatever… I’m really grateful for the work I did in the offseason.”
“This is what I’ve been doing for eight years, my whole life – I’ve been working towards it.”
Ramos’ hard work and dedication is paying off pic.twitter.com/S7dL3b6e1k
– SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 7, 2024
Ramos, like Webb, is also thrilled to be an All-Star for the first time accompanied by his teammate. After all, the two have been close for almost 10 years.
“It’s great,” Ramos said. “It’s great to have Webb there. I mean, we’re boys. I’ve known him since 2017, 2018. So, I’m very happy for him too. And he deserves it. He’s a great pitcher, a great All-Star, for sure.”
The two crossed paths early in their careers as members of the Giants’ minor league affiliates. Now, after becoming major league teammates, the duo has reached another level.
Both Webb and Ramos deserve to be proud of themselves and their journeys, as well as their role in maintaining the average Giants of 2024 (44-47) alive in the competitive NL wild card race.
Without its All-Star pitcher-outfielder duo, San Francisco would likely be much worse off than 3.5 games behind the San Diego Padres (49-45) for the final wild-card spot.
