Yankees' Gerrit Cole to start the All-Star Game for the American League

SEATTLE — The Yankees’ lone player at the All-Star Game will be center stage Tuesday night. Gerrit Cole was named the American League’s starting pitcher for the first time in his six trips to the Midsummer Classic.

“Well, the guy’s been here six times; it’s about time he started one,” AL manager Dusty Baker said with a smile. “Plus he’s one of the best there is. And he wanted it. A lot of guys, sometimes they might not want to pitch in this particular game, but he wanted to pitch. Hey, man, if a guy like Gerrit Cole wants to pitch, I’ll let him pitch.”

There’s no doubt Cole deserves the honor. He’ll be the first Yankee to start since Roger Clemens at the 2001 game, also in Seattle.

Despite the Yankees’ underachieving first half, Cole entered the All-Star break at 9-2 with a 2.85 ERA in 19 starts, the most in the majors. Even with piling up 117 innings, the fifth-most in the majors before the break, Cole didn’t want to pass up the career opportunity.

During his five previous trips, he’s pitched only once, throwing a scoreless inning (one walk, one strikeout) in the 2015 game at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.

“I think it’s just always something that I’ve wanted to do and I feel like I’m physically able to do it,” said Cole, who flew cross-country Sunday night from the Bronx. “Some of my fondest memories growing up, one of them is watching Pedro [Martinez] in the All-Star Game starting. I’ve been to a few of them and had the pleasure of watching some future Hall of Famers do it. I’ve always been like, man, I really hope I could do that one day.”

Singling out a Yankees nemesis in Martinez was an interesting choice for Cole, but it spoke to his appreciation for the art of pitching itself and the game’s history.

“I loved his changeup and I loved how he was able to create so much velocity with such a small frame,” Cole said. “It was really quite unique. His stuff was so explosive, and probably most of all, he was just always fearless. That was something I enjoyed watching the most about him.”

Aaron Judge was supposed to be the other Yankee at the All-Star Game, but the reigning MVP announced on Twitter late Sunday night that he was staying in New York to continue his rehab for his injured toe.

By David Lennon

dave.lennon@newsday.comDPLennon

David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.