Eric Hosmer named 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP

Tom Gatto

Eric Hosmer named 2016 MLB All-Star Game MVP image

Eric Hosmer is MLB All-Star Game royalty.

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The Kansas City first baseman was named MVP of the 2016 game after his performance Tuesday night in San Diego. He homered and drove in two runs to help the American League defeat the National League 4-2 at Petco Park. 

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Hosmer and Royals teammate Salvador Perez went deep off Johnny Cueto, their former KC teammate, in the second inning to give the AL a 3-1 lead. 

Hosmer added an RBI single in the bottom of the third to complete the Junior Circuit's scoring.

The All-Star Game MVP receives a vehicle from sponsor Chevrolet. This year, Hosmer had the opportunity to chose between a 50th anniversary Camaro sports car and a Midnight edition Colorado truck. 

"Pops needs a new truck so we are going to go with the Colorado," Hosmer told Fox Sports after the game. 

Hosmer, who joined Bo Jackson (1989) as the only two members of the Royals to be named All-Star Game MVPs, said the game felt like his first big league appearance.

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"When (Cubs third baseman Kris) Bryant came up and hit the home run (in the first inning) and I'm like, 'Man this guy must be on top of the world right now,'" Hosmer said. "Sure enough, I followed that next inning and put a good swing on one and was just smiling all around the bases. It's fun when you can play this game and it makes you feel like a kid again."

The AL victory gave the league home-field advantage in the World Series for the fourth consecutive year, an edge that Hosmer and the defending world champion Royals hope can be theirs for the third straight time.

Omnisport's Joe Rodgers contributed to this report.

Correction: Hosmer and Perez's home runs gave the American League a 3-1 lead. An incorrect score was previously given.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.