World Baseball Classic stars Ohtani, Trout to highlight MLB All-Star Game
Major League Baseball (MLB) announced that each of its 30 teams will be represented in the 93rd All-Star Game, scheduled for Tuesday, 11 July, at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington.
WBSC Premier12 and World Baseball Classic star Shohei Ohtani, recently named the American League Player of June, earned his third consecutive two-way selection. He has been elected the starting designated hitter for the American League and is among the nine starting pitchers together with Gerrit Cole (NY Yankees), Luis Castillo (Seattle Mariners), Sonny Gray (Minnesota Twins), Nathan Eovaldi (Texas Rangers), Kevin Gausman (Toronto Blue Jays), Shane Mc Clamahan (Tampa Bay Rays), Framber Valdez (Houston Astros) and Michael Lorenzen (Detroit Tigers).
The American League position players resulting by the players' ballot are catcher Jonah Heim (Texas Rangers), first baseman Yandi Diaz (Tampa Bay Rays), second baseman Marcus Semien (Texas Rangers), third baseman Josh Jung (Texas Rangers), shortstop Corey Seager (Texas Rangers), outfielders Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels; it's his 11th All-Star Game selection and tenth start), Randy Arozarena (Tampa Bay Rays) and Aaron Judge (NY Yankees).
Trout (USA) and Arozarena (Mexico) starred at the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
The National League position players are catcher Sean Murphy (Atlanta Braves), first baseman Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers), second baseman Luis Arraez (Miami Marlins), third baseman Nolan Arenado (St. Louis Cardinals), shortstop Orlando Arcia (Atlanta Braves), outfielders Ronald Acuña Jr. (Atlanta Braves; the National League Player of June), Mookie Betts (Los Angeles Dodgers), Corbin Carroll (Arizona Diamondbacks) and designated hitter J.D. Martinez (Los Angeles Dodgers).
Freeman (Canada), Arraez (Venezuela), Arenado, and Betts (USA) were distinguished participants in the fifth World Baseball Classic.
The National League starting pitchers include Zac Gallen (Arizona Diamondbacks), Spencer Strider, Bryce Elder (Atlanta Braves), Justin Steele (Chicago Cubs), Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh Pirates), Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals), Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles Dodgers) and Marcus Stroman (Chicago Cubs), a two-time World Baseball Classic participant.
Click here for the COMPLETE ROSTERS on MLB.com.
MLB partnered with Nike for the game uniforms, which are meant to celebrate Seattle's unique position as a beacon of nature, groundbreaking technology and cultural progress.
A seven-inning All-Star Futures Game is scheduled for Saturday, 8 July. Harold Reynolds was named the American League manager, while Raul Ibanez will manage the National League. The two squads combine for 11 internationally-born players, representing five different countries and territories outside the 50 United States, the Dominican Republic (four players), Cuba (three), Venezuela (two), Bahamas and the Netherlands (one).
On Saturday, 8 July, MLB will open its virtual ballpark to fans around the world with an online watch party during the All-Star Celebrity Softball Game.
The Home Run Derby is scheduled for Monday, 10 July.
The All-Star Week (6-10 July) includes a community, youth and cultural programme. Highlights include All-Star Legacy ceremonies and moments throughout Seattle as well as events tied to MLB-led youth and cultural efforts.