Finnegan is late addition to NL All-Star team

Kyle Finnegan is an All-Star after all.

Finnegan was added to the National League’s squad late this afternoon, replacing Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley barely more than 24 hours before first pitch of the Midsummer Classic in Arlington, Texas, and after all the other players already held their media availabilities at Globe Life Field.

The right-hander, who fortunately makes his home in Texas, will join shortstop CJ Abrams in representing the Nationals during Tuesday night’s game, giving the team multiple All-Stars for the first time since 2021. Both are first-time All-Stars.

Finnegan had a strong case to be included on the roster all along. His 25 saves rank second (to Helsley’s 32) in the NL, and his 1.98 ERA when the initial selections were made ranked third among NL closers. (That number has since jumped to 2.45 after two rough outings last week.)

The NL players and coaches, who vote for All-Star pitchers, wound up selecting two Phillies relievers (Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm) and Padres closer Robert Suarez (22 saves, 1.67 ERA). Major League Baseball then added Helsley and Marlins closer Tanner Scott, ensuring both of their teams were represented in the game.

Finnegan becomes the fifth reliever in Nationals history to be named to an All-Star team, joining Sean Doolittle (2018), Tyler Clippard (2011, 2014), Matt Capps (2010) and Chad Cordero (2005). Coincidentally enough, when he closed out Saturday’s dramatic come-from-behind win over the Brewers, Finnegan tied Doolittle and Rafael Soriano for third place on the club’s all-time list with 75 saves. He trails only Cordero (113) and Drew Storen (95) on that list.

A late-bloomer who toiled for six seasons in the Athletics farm system without ever being added to their 40-man roster, Finnegan became a minor league free agent after the 2019 season and wound up signing a major league deal with the Nationals, who thought enough of him to give him a chance. He made the team’s COVID-delayed 2020 Opening Day roster and has remained in the big leagues since.

Over the last five seasons, the 32-year-old owns a 3.37 ERA and 1.270 WHIP in 267 appearances, gradually working his way from middle reliever to setup man to part-time closer to full-time closer.

Finnegan is under club control through the 2025 season, but after watching the Nationals trade setup man Hunter Harvey (who had the same contract status) to the Royals on Saturday night, he looms as another potential piece to be dealt prior to the July 30 trade deadline.