Diving save earns Rays ball boy Braden Coles a spot at MLB All-Star Game

ST. PETERSBURG — Reliever Shawn Armstrong said he had to learn to trust the Rays’ star player’s glove.

It’s not the one on the field, third baseman Isaac Paredes.

The one who protects the bullpen.

Ball boy Braden Coles is not on the roster, but he will be in Arlington, Texas, for this year’s All-Star Game. Major League Baseball announced Wednesday that he won the fan vote for one of two spots on the ball boy crew.

“It’s a huge honor and I’m very happy to be in this position,” said Coles, whose role is part of his duties as a member of the Tropicana Field clubhouse staff. “I’m very grateful for everything and I’m grateful to all the fans who voted for me.”

Coles, 20, made a name for himself when he attempted to dive to stop a foul ball down the right-field line during a March 30 game against the Blue Jays. The play went viral, earning him a spot on SportsCenter’s Top 10.

“It was unbelievable,” reliever Jason Adam said. “He made it look easy. It’s not an easy play. It’s a play I would blow, for sure.”

But for Coles, who played shortstop at Marquette Catholic High School in Alton, Illinois, it was like going back to his prep school days.

“That game was really cool because it was on an MLB field,” Coles said. “That was the difference. This game was actually a little easier, because I didn’t have to get up and throw the ball. I just had to do a little somersault and throw the ball into the crowd.”

The game was only Coles’ third as the Rays’ locker room attendant, but he quickly made a name for himself. His phone blew up with praise and congratulations afterward. The same thing happened when he was voted into the All-Star Game.

“Everyone has been really supportive, so it’s great,” he said. “That’s what got me to this point.”

It makes sense that Coles was elected during the series against the Yankees. He worked as a locker room attendant for New York during spring training the past two years. His father, also a former locker room attendant for the Yankees, helped him get the job.

While working on the visiting side this spring, Coles heard about an opening with the Rays, which led to a regular-season job.

Armstrong said Coles has made a lot of good plays on foul balls, not just the one that went viral. The reliever said he needs to stop jumping when the ball comes his way and trust Coles, whose job is to sit in front of the bullpen and protect the relievers.

“I can’t say enough about him,” Armstrong said. “He works his butt off for us and we’re very grateful for that, for sure.”

This is the first year MLB has allowed the All-Star Ball Crew team to be selected by fan vote. Coles will be joined by Orioles ball boy Tyler Smith.

“It’s pretty cool that they’re doing this for the ball boys this year,” Armstrong said. “It just shows that they’re giving guys an opportunity to get involved and do things.”

“I was thrilled to hear Coles was on the option list,” Adam said. “I’m so excited for him. He does a great job out there as a guard, but he does a great job in every aspect of his job. He deserves it, and I think he’s going to have a blast.”

In addition to being on the field for the All-Star Game, Coles will also be able to attend the Red Carpet Show and the MLB Draft as part of MLB All-Star Week.

“I originally planned to go home to Illinois (for the holidays), but my plans changed,” Coles said. “I’m really excited to be able to take advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

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