The left-hander has been one of the National League’s top starters in his first season back stateside after three years across the Pacific.
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On Saturday, despite the Washington Nationals blowing their second consecutive save, there was one piece of good news: Foster Griffin was selected to the All-Star Game.
The left-hander was named as a replacement for Braxton Ashcraft. It’s the first All-Star nod for Griffin, who has pitched to a 2.77 ERA in 110⅓ innings with 109 strikeouts, all marks that ranked in the top 10 in the National League heading into Saturday’s slate of games.
Manager Blake Butera announced the news after the 4-2 loss to the Yankees, and Foster, Butera said, was his typical stoic self. But despite his demeanor, this selection does mean a lot to him, especially given the winding path it took for him to get here.
“I’m later in my career, and it happened now, and I’m super grateful for that and super proud of that,” Griffin said. “Just looking back over all the time and effort and work I put in, it’s a huge honor, and I’m excited for it.”
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Griffin was the first free agent signed under the Nationals’ new front office, and he’s proved every outing just how good of an under-the-radar pickup he’s been.
A first-round pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 2014 draft, Griffin debuted for the team in 2020, but injuries derailed his career. After pitching just 6⅓ major league innings in 2022, Griffin signed with Japan’s Yomiuri Giants, changing the trajectory of his career. He added a splitter and a cutter while overseas, expanding his repertoire from five to seven pitches, and found success and consistency.
Griffin carried that over to the Nationals, becoming the team’s most reliable starter this season. Butera and Griffin quickly formed a trust with each other, the young skipper allowing the rookie pitcher to tell him when he needed to be pulled from the game and when he could keep going. He has pitched a minimum of 4⅓ innings in every outing, making it through seven-plus five times. The Nationals are 15-4 in his starts.
“To recognize what he’s done to get this recognition is so cool,” Butera said. “We would be nowhere near where we are without Foster Griffin on this team. I couldn’t be happier for him.”
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