How Yusei Kikuchi became the Mariners’ best pitcher and earned a spot on the AL All-Star team

When earning a spot on the American League All-Star team was first mentioned as a possibility and that his manager was advocating for him, Yusei Kikuchi’s face turned red with humility. Though grateful for the sentiment and proud of his performance, the idea of playing in the mid-summer classic as one of the best players in Major League Baseball is something he simply couldn’t talk about or even think about. And even Sunday afternoon, shortly after Scott Servais held a team meeting to inform Kikuchi he was the Mariners’ lone All-Star Game selection, the sheepishness returned and tears welled u...