The 2024 MLB All-Star Game roster features 33 first-time All-Stars and 19 players under the age of 27, a fitting snapshot of a game that is young and youth-promoting.
The American League and National League pitchers and reserves for the July 16 exhibition at Globe Life Field in Texas were announced Sunday, a week after the start.
The group of first-time All-Stars named Sunday includes Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Cincinnati Reds shortstop Eli De La Cruz, San Diego Padres rookie outfielder Jackson Merrill, Oakland Athletics closer Mason Miller and Pittsburgh Pirates rookie right-hander Paul is involved. Scones.
Skenes, who was a candidate to start for the NL, became the first player to be named an All-Star in the season after being selected first overall in the draft. The 21-year-old Merrill was the youngest player selected to either roster. 22-year-old Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson is the youngest player on an AL team after being elected the starter by fans.
“It’s good, and I’m grateful to all of you guys,” Skenes told teammates in the clubhouse after being told by manager Derek Shelton. “I’ve been a part of the team since the first day I got here. I couldn’t have done it without you guys.”
Neither roster has a player with double-digit All-Star appearances: Royals catcher Salvador Pérez, who has been named an AL reserve, and Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, who has been voted the AL starter by fans, each in nine games. Lead the pack with the selection.
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper, Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddy Freeman, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts and Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale are All-Stars for the eighth time. Harper will start after becoming the NL’s top vote-getter. Freeman, Bates and Sale were selected as reserves, although Bates would not play due to a broken hand.
“It’s definitely satisfying. I definitely appreciate it,” said Sale, acquired by the Braves from Boston in December. “They took a chance and I’m happy to be able to do that for them.”
For Bates, this was his first selection as an infielder after seven as an outfielder. He was one of five Dodgers pitchers and reserves named to the NL All-Star team on Sunday, joining Freeman, catcher Will Smith, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and right-hander Tyler Glasnow. Shohei Ohtani brought the club’s total All-Stars to six after he was named the NL’s starting designated hitter on Wednesday. This is the fifth consecutive year they have received at least five All-Stars.
Only the Phillies, who have the best record in the majors for most of the season, are better represented with seven players. Four of them, all pitchers, were named to the NL team on Sunday: Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Matt Stram and Jeff Hoffman. He joined Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm, who were all selected as starters.
The Padres have five All-Stars, including their entire starting outfield with Merrill joining Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jurickson Profar, who was voted as the starter. Closer Robert Suarez and second baseman Luis Arraez will accompany the outfielders.
The Cleveland Guardians have five picks leading the AL. Joining starters Jose Ramirez and Steven Kwan will be designated hitter David Fry, first baseman Josh Naylor and closer Emmanuel Clase. The Royals, a 106-loss team the previous season, were rewarded for their surprising first half with four All-Stars: Witt, Pérez and starting pitchers Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans.
Both AL Central teams will send more players to the game than the Orioles, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees, the three high-profile AL East contenders, who each have three selections.
Henderson, the Orioles’ first pick, and catcher Adley Rutschman, now a two-time All-Star, were named starters on Wednesday. He was joined Sunday by right-hander Corbin Burns, who was selected as an All-Star for the fourth time.
The Red Sox had three of their own All-Stars named Sunday: third baseman Rafael Devers, outfielder Jarren Duran and right-hander Tanner Houck.
Yankees closer Clay Holmes was named to the AL team on Sunday after outfielders Aaron Judge and Juan Soto were selected as starters. Judge, who led all vote-getters, is a six-time All-Star and fourth consecutive All-Star. This is Soto’s fourth selection and first start.
“I was probably a little surprised,” said Holmes, who was also an All-Star in 2022. “Making All-Star Games is a tough thing. I don’t think you can ever expect it to be perfect. I’m not sure it’s an honor to come in with a zero ERA and I’m very excited to be a part of the team.” I am happy.”
The Rangers will have two players – reliever Kirby Yates and second baseman Marcus Semien – representing Texas at Globe Life Field.
Rosters for the All-Star Game have been expanded from 26 to 32. These include the starting players selected by fans, 17 players selected by player vote (five starting pitchers, three relievers, and one backup for each position), and six players selected by league officials (four pitchers and two position players). . Every club should be represented.
Of the 15 teams with a representative, the Minnesota Twins, whose shortstop Carlos Correa was named an AL reserve on Sunday, have the best record. The Seattle Mariners, sitting in first place in the AL West, also have an All-Star: right-hander Logan Gilbert. First baseman Pete Alonso, a two-time Home Run Derby champion, was the only player selected by the New York Mets.
Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson, Miller, Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crockett, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Isaac Paredes, St. Louis Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley, Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga, Miami Marlins reliever Tanner Scott, Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams, De La Cruz, Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Colorado Rockies infielder Ryan McMahon are the lone representatives for their respective teams.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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