By: Tim Kelly, Managing Editor
Between his May 2006 Major League debut and his July 2015 trade, Cole Hamels won 114 decisions as a Philadelphia Phillie, while being elected to three All-Star Games and winning the 2008 World Series.
Hamels, in his first full season with the Texas Rangers, appears to be on a team that will allow him to win his second World Series, as the Rangers entered the evening with the most wins in the American League. This evening it was announced that he was named to his fourth overall All-Star team, and first in the American League.
Did they just become best friends? Yup!
Congrats to @IDesmond20 & @ColeHamels being named to the AL All-Star team! pic.twitter.com/pLyQISNf78
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 5, 2016
As the graphic above shows, Hamels will be joined by former Washington National Ian Desmond, who also will be playing for his first American League All-Star team.
Hamels, 32, is 9-2 with a 2.93 ERA, 105 strikeouts and a 1.28 WHIP. As noted in the latest edition of "Phillies nuggets," Hamels and Jake Diekman, who the Phillies traded to the Rangers last July, have had a big impact this season for Texas.
Hamels' former team will be represented by center fielder Odubel Herrera, who made the catch that sealed his no-hitter in his final start with the club last July.