For the second consecutive year, Mike Trout was at midfield after the MLB All-Star Game accepting the game's MVP trophy and a free car — he chose the truck after taking the sports car last year. It marked the first time in the history of the game that a player earned the award in two consecutive seasons.
Trout is transcendent and was the no-doubt selection after his leadoff home run off Zack Greinke as he also walked and scored another run in the game. But Rangers DH Prince Fielder made his own case for the free car.
Fielder entered the game in the fifth inning, replacing starting DH Nelson Cruz, and immediately made an impact when his single off Clayton Kershaw scored Trout from second base. In the seventh inning, his sacrifice fly on a rocket to left-center scored another run as the AL waltzed to a 6-3 win and homefield advantage in the World Series this year.
Fielder was most likely second in the running in the MVP balloting behind Trout as no other AL player had more than one RBI. A win for Fielder would've marked the first Ranger to bring home the award since Michael Young.
It wasn't an MVP night for Fielder, but it might as well have been, and the Rangers hope he can carry over the momentum to the second half after his stellar first half of the season.
