Altoona Curve SS Chase d’Arnaud was a replacement for the AA Eastern League All-Star Game at MetroBank Park in Harrisburg tonight. Despite being in a bad slump, the league gave him a call after the starter was injured and tonight he was
the MVP. The Pittsburgh Pirates fourth round pick two years ago, hit a full count over the right field wall for a grand slam.
Could karma be coming our way Bucco fans? Surely not. That would be too cool. Last year’s AAA All-Star MVP Erik Kratz received the call-up during the AAA All-Star game this evening. He will be in Pittsburgh by the time you read this. ESPN didn’t even throw in a joke.
Some tweets said it was a special moment for Kratz. Hell, yeh, the guy is 30 years old and finally gets his chance? I like it. God that’s some good news Pirates fans.
Chase had faced Drew Naylor a few times before and took advantage of a mistake. From the MILB article…
"“It was a curveball up,” he said. “I recognized it. I faced Naylor a few times before and it was good I was able to face a pitcher I knew.”It was d’Arnaud’s third time in a midsummer classic, having been previously named an All-Star in the New York-Penn and South Atlantic leagues.“I’ve participated (in All-Star Games), but I’ve never been the MVP before,” he said. “This is special.”"