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Cristopher Sánchez on All-Star selection: ‘My heart started beating really fast’

Cristopher Sanchez was named to the National League All-Star team. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

Cristopher Sánchez was named to the National League All-Star team. The Phillies now have eight representatives heading to Texas for the Midsummer Classic, tying an MLB record.

Five pitchers, Sánchez, Ranger Suárez, Zack Wheeler, Jeff Hoffman and Matt Strahm are on the team, setting a new MLB record for pitchers sent to the All-Star Game from one team.

A strong first half from Sánchez earned him the nod. He finishes the second half with a 7-4 record, a 2.96 ERA and 10 quality starts. He signed a four-year, $22 million extension on June 22 that takes him through 2028 with two club options for 2029 and 2030.

As the Twitter account @FranzkeLA points out, the Phillies had eight All-Stars combined from 2013 to 2019. Eight in one season is an incredible accomplishment for a team that will finish with the best record in baseball to end the first half.

Sánchez, who was named a replacement for the Braves’ Chris Sale, was informed during a team meeting pregame on Saturday. He had plans to travel to the Dominican Republic to see family during the break. He will instead spend the All-Star week with his wife in Texas.

“My heart just started beating really fast,” Sánchez said.

“I’m super proud of him,” manager Rob Thomson said. “Knowing where he’s come from, how far he’s come and what he’s accomplished. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. The room loves him. It was pretty special.”

The Phillies clubhouse was ecstatic when they found out Sánchez was named NL Pitcher of the Month for June. They had a similar reaction when Thomson told the group that Sánchez was an All-Star. Sánchez, wearing a blank NL All-Star jersey with his City Connect pants along with the other All-Stars in the Phillies locker room on Saturday afternoon, was greeted by Brandon Marsh with a hug.

“He’s very humble, but at this point in his life, he’s very confident,” Thomson said. “And he treats people the right way. They guy Kevin at the guard shack told me one time that he’s the one guy that stops everyday to say hello and talk. And that’s just who Sánchy is.”