In the selection for this year’s All-Star Game, Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels was chosen for his 11th appearance. The fans also voted in four Texas Rangers players for the American League’s lineup. The fan-selected starters include nine first-time starters, including three Rangers players: catcher Jonah Heim, shortstop Corey Seager, and rookie third baseman Josh Jung. Additionally, rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll from the Arizona Diamondbacks, who hails from Seattle, was voted in, making it the third time in All-Star Game history that the starting lineups feature a pair of rookie position players.
The Texas Rangers, who will be hosting next year’s All-Star Game, have reached the midpoint of the season with a promising 49-32 record, on track for their first winning season since 2016. Their previous high for All-Star Game starters was three in 2012.
Joining Trout in the American League lineup will be his Angels teammate Shohei Ohtani, who was chosen as the designated hitter. Other first-time starters include Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena, Atlanta’s Orlando Arcia, Miami’s Luis Arraez, and Carroll.
On the National League side, three Los Angeles Dodgers players were selected: first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts, and designated hitter J.D. Martinez. St. Louis Cardinals’ third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected for his fifth start and eighth overall appearance.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who was elected to start for the fifth time, has been sidelined since June 3 due to a torn ligament in his right big toe. In the outfield voting for the American League, Houston’s Yordan Alvarez finished fourth.
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. secured an outfield spot as the National League’s top vote-getter in the first round of voting from May 31 to June 22.
The pitchers and reserves for both leagues will be announced on Sunday. The voting for the starters was close in some cases, with Jonah Heim narrowly edging out Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman and Yandy Díaz beating Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the American League. In the National League, Luis Arraez and J.D. Martinez secured their spots with slim margins over Ozzie Albies and Bryce Harper, respectively.
