​3 Former Red Sox Make MLB All-Star Game, Including Total Out-of-Nowhere Gem originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The MLB All-Star Game is on Tuesday night, and fascinating stories exist up and down the rosters.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOne of the most interesting belongs to Eduardo Rodriguez.Rodriguez is one of three former Boston Red Sox players to have made rosters for the Midsummer Classic, and by far the most unlikely.Chris Sale of the Atlanta Braves and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies made sense. E-Rod? It seemed he was past this opportunity.Rodriguez was a promising young pitcher for six seasons with the Red Sox, but he never made an All-Star roster in that time.When he left Boston in free agency, it was for a five-year, $77 million deal with the Detroit Tigers after the 2021 season, but he opted out after just two years for a four-year, $80 million contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementStill, even while getting the big contracts, he made no All-Star Game.MORE: Willson Contreras might’ve been robbed in the Home Run DerbyIn 2024 and 2025 combined with the Diamondbacks, Rodriguez had a 5.02 ERA. It seemed that at this point, he’d just be a journeyman.And then this season rolled around. In 114 innings so far, Rodriguez has a 2.29 ERA.Sale, who pitched with Rodriguez in Boston, is happy to see it.”It’s about time,” Sale told reporters, via MassLive. “He’s had a really good career. I was really happy for him. There’s nothing like your first All-Star Game. I think the first one’s always probably the most special. But I’ve always tried to find a way to enjoy each individual experience for what it is and appreciate that it might not happen again. You soak it all in, appreciate it and try to make memories from it.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementRodriguez had put together special stretches of effective pitching throughout his big league career, but it had never earned him this nod before. It was fair to think at age 33 like it probably wouldn’t happen.But on Tuesday night, E-Rod will take the field as an All Star.It’s been a long time coming, but he never stopped pushing for this honor.Latest Red Sox news2026 Red Sox schedule2026 Red Sox rosterComplete history of Red Sox championships