The Texas Rangers’ Adolis García and the Baltimore Orioles’ Austin Hays have been selected as injury replacements for the American League All-Star lineup, making the Rangers the first team in 47 years to have five position players start in the All-Star Game. García and Hays take the spots of Aaron Judge from the New York Yankees and Mike Trout from the Los Angeles Angels.
García joins four other Rangers players in the AL lineup: catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager, and third baseman Josh Jung. The non-Rangers in the lineup are Tampa Bay’s Yandy Díaz at first base, Randy Arozarena in the outfield, Shohei Ohtani as the designated hitter, and Hays.
The only other teams to have five position players start the All-Star Game were the 1939 Yankees and the 1956, 1957, and 1976 Reds.
Hays has been out of the Orioles’ starting lineup for five consecutive games due to a bruised left hip, while Judge has been sidelined since June 3 with a ligament tear in his right big toe. Trout recently underwent surgery for a left wrist injury sustained while fouling off a pitch.
Additionally, Dansby Swanson of the Chicago Cubs will not participate due to a bruised left heel, and Emmanuel Clase, the closer for the Cleveland team, will skip the game as he awaits the birth of his child.
On Friday, Arizona infielder Geraldo Perdomo and Los Angeles Angels closer Carlos Estévez were named as replacements for Swanson and Clase, respectively. They are both first-time All-Stars.
Other additions to the AL roster earlier in the week included Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez, right-hander George Kirby, Tampa Bay shortstop Wander Franco, and Houston outfielder Kyle Tucker. Pittsburgh closer David Bednar was also selected for the National League team.
Due to injuries, Yordan Alvarez and Shane McClanahan from Houston, Judge, Trout, and Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers were removed from the All-Star roster.