Why Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. isn't going to the All-Star Game despite being voted a starter

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was voted in as an All-Star Game starter for the American League.

Despite that, the Toronto Blue Jays' first baseman won't be starting. He won't even be playing.

It's a decision Guerrero made clear not long after the starters were announced this weekend.

Fans of other teams might not mind this, because Vladdy doesn't seem to have earned this gig this season. He's batting just .265 with a career-worst .693 OPS.

That's not why Guerrero is turning down the opportunity, though.

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Why did Vladimir Guerrero Jr. turn down the All-Star Game?

Vladdy is preferring to rest up for the second half of the season.

"Very grateful to everyone who voted for me... but at this time, very respectfully I'm declining to go," he said Saturday, via Blue Jays reporter Hazel Mae.

Hazel Mae then references back discomfort Guerrero has been dealing with, so the rest could do him good in that context.

"It's a sign of Vlad growing up," Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters. "(He) wanted to definitely recognize how thankful he was, but wanted to do what's best for us."

The hope for Toronto will be that a bit of breather for Guerrero will wake up his bat for the second half. But it also means that the man chosen as an All-Star starter will be skipping out on that role.

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