Dodgers All-Star Game profile: Yasmani Grandal

Here is a look at Yasmani Grandal, making his first-ever appearance on an All-Star team

What went right

Grandal hit 14 home runs before the All-Star break, just one shy of his career high. He hit a robust .282/.401/.526, leading major league catchers (minimum 150 plate appearances) in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, OPS+ (157), wOBA (.401), wRC+ (162) and walks (42).

He also leads baseball in runs added by catcher framing, per Baseball Prospectus.

What went wrong

Grandal began the season hitting just .179/.313/.268 with one home run and two RBI in 18 games through May 1, thanks in part to a shoulder problem coming out of spring training.

But a return to health and a renewed approach at the plate allowed Grandal to hit 13 home runs and drive in 34 runs in his last 51 games, hitting .318/.432/.618 during that span.

All-Star notes

This is the first All-Star appearance for Grandal. He is the first Dodgers catcher to make an All-Star team since Russell Martin in 2008.

Catcher has been a rich position in Dodgers history, with 12 backstops combining for 35 All-Star selections — Al Lopez (1934), Babe Phelps (1938-40), Mickey Owen (1941-44), Bruce Edwards (1947), Roy Campanella (1949-56), John Roseboro (1958, 1961 twice, 1962 twice), Tom Haller (1968), Mike Scioscia (1989-90), Mike Piazza (1993-97), Paul Lo Duca (2003-04), Russell Martin (2007-08) and Grandal.

Great American Ballpark

Grandal was drafted by the Reds with the 12th overall pick in 2010, but was traded to San Diego before making it to the majors. In three career games in Cincinnati, Grandal is 0-for-4 with a walk, three strikeouts and a run scored.