Starters for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game in Seattle were announced following fan voting that concluded this week, which included two Los Angeles Angels set to start in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani claimed his third consecutive fan-elected start at designated hitter, joining Hall of Famer David Ortiz (2011-13) as the only players to do so. The two-way star, who was also the starting pitcher for the AL at the 2021 Midsummer Classic in Colorado, leads the Majors with 30 home runs on the season.
He is joined in the starting lineup by his teammate Trout, who earned his 11th career Midsummer Classic selection and 10th fan-elected start. The three-time AL MVP, who is the 14th player in Major League history to receive at least 10 fan elections, becomes just the fourth player in AL history to earn 10 fan elections with one Club, joining Hall of Famers Cal Ripken Jr. (Baltimore Orioles, 17), George Brett (Kansas City Royals, 11) and Ken Griffey Jr. (Seattle Mariners, 10).
The Texas Rangers lead all of MLB with four selections for the American League squad, which consists of catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager and rookie third baseman Josh Jung.
The AL is rounded out by Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Randy Arozarena and breakout star Yandy Díaz at first base, along with New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge in the outfield.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves each had three starters voted in. Outfielder Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman and DH J.D. Martinez earned the start to represent the Dodgers, while catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. will represent the Braves.
Acuña was the leading vote-getter among all NL players.
Joining them are the Miami Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, and Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll.
With the elections of Carroll and Jung, this marks the first time both the AL and NL will feature a rookie in the lineup for the same All-Star Game.
Furthermore, it’s only the second time that two rookies have been named All-Star starters in the same year, joining 2008 when Chicago Cubs teammates Kosuke Fukudome and Geovany Soto earned fan elections.
The pitchers and reserves for both squads – totaling 23 for each side – will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office.
The rest of the All-Star Game rosters will be announced on Sunday, July 2, at 2:30 p.m. PT.
The 93rd Midsummer Classic is set to be played on July 11 and televised nationally by Fox Sports.
MLB All-Star Game starters 2023
American League
C: Jonah Heim, Rangers (1st)
1B: Yandy Díaz, Rays (1st)
2B: Marcus Semien, Rangers (2nd)
3B: Josh Jung, Rangers (1st)
SS: Corey Seager, Rangers (4th)
OF: Mike Trout, Angels (11th)
OF: Randy Arozarena, Rays (1st)
OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees (5th)
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (3rd)
National League
C: Sean Murphy, Braves (1st career selection)
1B: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7th)
2B: Luis Arraez, Marlins (2nd)
3B: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (8th)
SS: Orlando Arcia, Braves (1st)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (4th)
OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (7th)
OF: Corbin Carroll, D-backs (1st)
DH: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (6th)
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