Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras has been named an American League All-Star replacement, assuming Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s place, as the five-time All-Star previously announced that he plans to skip this year’s festivities.

Despite a poor first half, Toronto Blue Jays fans voted Guerrero as the AL’s starting first baseman for this season’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia. But the 27-year-old won’t be attending his sixth Midsummer Classic, instead opting for some much-needed rest in the midst of the worst offensive stretch of his career — while also battling lower back discomfort for the last several weeks.

Contreras has enjoyed an excellent inaugural campaign with the Red Sox, leading all qualified AL first basemen in AVG (.287), while ranking second in home runs (20), RBIs (61), SLG (.545), wRC+ (153) and fWAR (2.8) this season. He arrived via trade from the St. Louis Cardinals last off-season.

While Guerrero won’t be in attendance, the Blue Jays will still be heavily represented at next week’s All-Star events, featuring Ernie Clement (who led AL players in voting), Louis Varland and Dylan Cease — each of whom is a first-time All-Star. They’ll be joined by manager John Schneider and the rest of Toronto’s coaching staff after advancing to the World Series last fall.

Former bench coach Don Mattingly, now the interim skipper of the Phillies, will also be attending this year’s Midsummer Classic — but as part of Dave Roberts’ NL staff. Schneider also made an honorary selection to his All-Star coaching staff, selecting Twins manager Derek Shelton, who served as the Blue Jays’ quality control coach in 2017. That’s when the two formed a strong connection within the organization.

Guerrero plans to spend the All-Star break at the club’s player development complex in Dunedin, Fla., where he’ll continue receiving treatment on his back while also attempting to work through his mechanical and mental struggles at the plate. The hope is that this time off will allow the franchise cornerstone — in the first season of his 14-year, $500 million extension — to reset and hit the ground running when the unofficial second half begins on July 17, the start of a three-game series versus the Chicago White Sox.

This offence is waiting for him to catch fire and snap out of the longest funk of his eight major league seasons, which sees him stuck on just four home runs and 35 RBIs in 87 games this season. He’s also carrying a measly .263/.345/.344 slash line and 95 wRC+ (100 league average).

Additionally, Guerrero has posted the lowest max exit velocity (116 m.p.h.) and barrel rate (6.8 per cent) of his career, while also carrying his lowest average exit velocity (90 m.p.h.) and hard-hit rate (43.9 per cent) since his rookie season in 2019.

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