The Los Angeles Angels were already well represented in the 2021 MLB All-Star Game when the starting lineups were announced on Thursday. Superstars Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani were selected as starters in the outfield and as the AL designated hitter, respectively, but the Angels were not finished there.
With the rest of the rosters being revealed on July 4, the Angels were hopeful to get at least one more name to Denver for the Midsummer Classic. They were rewarded, as first baseman Jared Walsh was selected as a reserve for July 13’s big night. Not only that, Ohtani was selected as an American League pitcher, making him the first player in MLB history to be named an All-Star as a position player and pitcher.
Walsh showed his admiration for Angels fans and anyone who supported him after learning of his selection, according to Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com:
“It’s pretty cool,” Walsh said. “I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who voted for me, whether it was a fan or a player. I really appreciate that and am very grateful. You dream of the World Series and the All-Star Game, all that kind of stuff, but I never made one in the Minor Leagues, so this is pretty special.”
Walsh is slashing .284/.345/.564 with 20 home runs and 60 RBI’s so far this season. He joined potential MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson as the three AL choices at the position.
Trout — who is unlikely to play in the All-Star Game due to injury — made it known that Walsh deserves to be in Denver at Coors Field given the way he’s played this season.
“He’s been incredible,” Trout said. “A couple of games this year, he’s won with some big hits. You saw what he did in New York when he hit that slam. He deserves to be there.”
The Angels now have three All-Star selections, the first time they’ve achieved this feat since 2015, when Trout, Albert Pujols, and Hector Santiago were selected.
The full 2021 rosters for the American and National League can be seen below. The Midsummer Classic takes place July 13 at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado.
2021 MLB All-Star Game Rosters
National League
STARTERS
C: Buster Posey (SF)
1B: Freddie Freeman (ATL)
2B: Adam Frazier (PIT)
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Nick Castellanos (CIN)
OF: Jesse Winker (CIN)
RESERVES
C: J.T. Realmuto (PHI)
2B: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
3B: Kris Bryant (CHC)
SS: Brandon Crawford (SF)
2B: Jake Cronenworth (SD)
3B: Eduardo Escobar (ARI)
1B: Max Muncy (LAD)
SS: Trea Turner (WSH)
OF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
OF: Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
OF: Kyle Schwarber (WSH)*
OF: Juan Soto (WSH)
OF: Chris Taylor (LAD)
PITCHERS
RHP: Corbin Burnes (MIL)
RHP: Yu Darvish (SD)
RHP: Jacob deGrom (NYM)
RHP: Kevin Gausman (SF)
RHP: Germán Márquez (COL)
LHP: Trevor Rogers (MIA)
RHP: Zack Wheeler (PHI)
RHP: Brandon Woodruff (MIL)
LHP: Josh Hader (MIL)
RHP: Craig Kimbrel (CHC)
RHP: Mark Melancon (SD)
RHP: Alex Reyes (STL)
American League
STARTERS
C: Salvador Perez (KC)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Marcus Semien (TOR)
3B: Rafael Devers (BOS)
SS: Xander Bogaerts (BOS)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)*
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Teoscar Hernández (TOR)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
RESERVES
C: Mike Zunino (TB)
2B: Jose Altuve (HOU)
SS: Bo Bichette (TOR)
SS: Carlos Correa (HOU)
1B: Matt Olson (OAK)
3B: José Ramírez (CLE)
1B: Jared Walsh (LAA)
OF: Michael Brantley (HOU)
OF: Joey Gallo (TEX)
OF: Adolis García (TEX)
OF: Cedric Mullins (BAL)
DH: J.D. Martinez (BOS)
DH: Nelson Cruz (MIN)
PITCHERS
RHP: Shane Bieber (CLE)*
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NYY)
RHP: Nathan Eovaldi (BOS)
RHP: Kyle Gibson (TEX)
LHP: Yusei Kikuchi (SEA)
RHP: Lance Lynn (CWS)
LHP: Carlos Rodón (CWS)
RHP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
RHP: Matt Barnes (BOS)
LHP: Aroldis Chapman (NYY)
RHP: Liam Hendriks (CWS)
RHP: Ryan Pressly (HOU)
LHP: Gregory Soto (DET)
