MLB Announces Yu Darvish, David Freese as Final Members of All-Star Team

The final two members of the 2012 MLB All-Star Game have officially been decided.

The MLB.com Twitter page has the results:

"

And the #FinalVote winners are ... Yu Darvish and David Freese! Watch them in the #ASG on FOX on July 10. And thanks again for voting!

— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2012"

Fans decided the outcome with an online vote.

Darvish is the Texas Rangers' Japanese rookie sensation who has more than lived up to the six-year, $56 million deal he signed in the offseason.

In his 16 starts this season, Darvish has accumulated a 10-5 record with a 3.59 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, .227 BAA and 117 strikeouts in 102.2 innings. He has been one of the best pitchers in the Texas starting rotation this season and is currently on pace for a 20-win season.

He beat out Jake Peavy, Jason Hammel, Jonathan Broxton and Ernesto Frieri for the final spot on the All-Star roster. Darvish will be the eighth member of the Rangers to take part in the Midsummer Classic in Kansas City on July 10.

With home-field advantage in the World Series on the line, the Rangers are well-positioned to have a serious impact on the outcome in an attempt to reach the Fall Classic for a third consecutive year.  

Japanese players have historically fared well in the All-Star Final Vote. In 2004, Hideki Matsui won the vote for the New York Yankees, and Hideki Okajima did the same in 2007 with the Boston Red Sox.

Freese, the 2011 World Series MVP, is batting .285 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI while helping the St. Louis Cardinals stay afloat without Albert Pujols.

He fended off Bryce Harper of the Washington Nationals, Michael Bourn of the Atlanta Braves and Aaron Hill of the Arizona Diamondbacks.

It comes as a mild surprise that Freese won out over 19-year-old rookie sensation Harper, who is hitting .280 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 59 games.

Freese will be the fifth member of the Cardinals to play for former St. Louis manager Tony La Russa and the National League, who will be looking to win their third straight over the American League.

You can catch the action Tuesday, beginning at 8 p.m. ET on Fox. 

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