KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Red Sox manager Alex Cora gathered his players together before Sunday’s game against Kansas City to announce who among them had been selected to the American League All-Star team.
There was applause for Mookie Betts, Craig Kimbrel, J.D. Martinez, and Chris Sale, all obvious choices.
Cora waited until the end to say that first baseman Mitch Moreland would join them.
That’s when the room got noisy. David Price immediate hopped up and hugged Moreland with others following.
“I think out of everyone who made it, the entire clubhouse was most pleased with knowing that Mitch was going to the All-Star Game,” Kimbrel said. “We’re all excited for him.”
Betts and Martinez were voted in as starters by the fans. Kimbrel, Moreland, and Sale were selected by the player vote.
Andrew Benintendi will be one of the Final Vote candidates for the last spot on the roster. That voting will be done on line.
Moreland, 32, is a nine-year veteran who has been solid if unspectacular for the Rangers and Red Sox. He started the season as a bench player but took a starting role in May and has hit .288 with an .883 OPS, 11 homers and 43 RBIs.
“I’m very proud of all of them. But to tell the team that [Moreland] was an All-Star, that was amazing,” Cora said. “Huge standing ovation.”
Moreland never imagined he’d get the chance to play in the All-Star Game.
“It’s a huge honor,” he said. “It’s something I didn’t know would be quite possible. I’m definitely excited about the opportunity.”
The original ballot had Hanley Ramirez listed as the first baseman for the Red Sox. When Ramirez was released, in part because the Sox wanted to get Moreland more playing time, the ballot was changed.
“It’s never cut and dry. You never know what will happen,” Moreland said. “You’ve just got to keep your head down and keep working hard. That’s kind of how I approach it.”
The game will be July 17 game at Nationals Park in Washington. Moreland plans to have as many family members there as he can.
“You talk about a guy that deserves it more than anybody,” Sale said. “You see him out there on the field playing. But the work that he puts in and the amount of studying that he does and flat-out going out there on days when he doesn’t feel too good. He’s about as tough as they get.”
Said Betts: “He deserves it, man. He’s put in so much work and played through so many injuries. To see him make that is definitely huge.”
Sale, now a seven-time All-Star, is 9-4 with a 2.36 earned run average and 176 strikeouts in 122 innings.
“I always enjoy this. It’s fun for my family,” Sale said. “It’s also an honor to be able to go to this game and be voted in by players and coaches.”
Sale said his oldest son, Rylan, loves the All-Star festivities, especially the parade. Along with his wife and two sons, Sale will have his parents, in-laws, and three nephews along.
For him, it’s still a thrill.
“Every time. I could go to 30 All-Star Games and I’d be excited to go to the 31st,” he said. “It’s an honor. This is not something that happens every day and not everybody gets to experience this in their big league career.
“If you had told me when I was 12 that I would get to take my dad and my two boys and my wife to an All-Star Game, I’d probably just laughed at you.
“I’ll appreciate it and never take it for granted.”
Betts has been selected to the team three years in row. He is hitting .342 with 22 home runs, 44 RBIs and 71 runs scored and finished with 604,830 more votes than Mike Trout to lead all outfielders.
“It’s a blessing to go there and enjoy those couple of days,” Betts said. “It’s pretty exciting. It doesn’t get old. We don’t play this game very long in the grand scheme of things. Every year I can make it I definitely want to go.”
Martinez, who was selected as a reserve in 2015, was understated.
“It’s cool. It’s exciting,” he said. “It should be fun.”
Martinez has hit .329 with a major-league leading 27 home runs and 74 RBIs.
“You did well and you hope everyone sees it,” he said. “You kind of get noticed and it’s a humbling thing.”
Benintendi, who has not made the All-Star team in his career, wasn’t particularly emotional about the Final Vote.
“Whatever happens happens,” he said. “To be a part of it would be pretty fun.”
Benintendi has hit .293 with an .894 OPS, 14 homers, 55 RBIs and 16 stolen bases. But he wasn’t disappointed being left off the team.
“I don’t think so. There’s a lot of good players in the league,” he said. “There’s only a few spots and a lot of deserving guys.”
Benintendi is contending with Twins outfielder Eddie Rosario, Mariners shortstop Jean Segura, Angels shortstop Andrelton Simmons, and Yankees DH Giancarlo Stanton for the final spot.
The voting on MLB.com ends Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.