Injury keeps Dexter Fowler out of first All-Star Game, but he says he'll be back

Fowler was all smiles and while it would have been 'awesome' to play, he's still happy

SAN DIEGO -- Dexter Fowler is having the best season of his career. Never before an All-Star, he's hitting .290/.398/.483 with 19 doubles, three triples, seven homers, 28 RBI and 41 runs in 64 games. The Cubs are 43-18 when he starts as well, so consider him the catalyst for a first-place team.

And, actually, this is an extended run. In the second half last season, Fowler hit .272/.389/.463 with 16 doubles, four triples and nine homers. That's an excellent year of a table-setting and power combo.

Dexter Fowler is having an excellent season, but injury keeps him out of the All-Star Game. USATSI

In return, Fowler was voted in as a starter for the NL All-Stars, but a hamstring injury came at the wrong time and he's been forced to miss the game. Considering that he's probably the most prototypical leadoff hitter that would've been in the NL starting lineup and that the NL will actually be the away team this year -- home/away alternates leagues and the game was in Cincinnati last year -- Fowler was a good bet to lead off the game.

When I said as much, he did admit that, yeah, it would've been pretty great. But he also laid out a promise for next season.

"It would've been awesome, but I get to take a deep breath and enjoy everything around me and then I can play in the game next year," he predicted. "I'll have the same opportunity."

What's interesting is that Fowler is almost ready to return. He's been running the bases everyday, he said. He also didn't think it was fair to push it. The Cubs would have had to activate him and play him on Friday in order for him to play in the All-Star Game.

"I weighed my options, but I feel like I'd be selfish to just run out there and play for one game."

Especially when he's called his shot that he'll be leading off in next year's Midsummer Classic.