2023 MLB All-Star Game: Biggest names coming to Seattle for the Midsummer Classic
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2023 All-Star Game in Seattle
Seattle’s T-Mobile Park is the focus of the baseball world this week as MLB’s top players gather for the 2023 All-Star Game. The TNT sports staff brings you all the action.
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Major League Baseball’s stars will gather in Seattle for the 2023 All-Star Game on Tuesday at T-Mobile Park, capping off All-Star Week events in the Pacific Northwest.
The last time Seattle hosted the Midsummer Classic was in 2001, shortly after then-Safeco Field opened. That year’s game was Cal Ripken Jr.’s 19th and final All-Star Game, and featured names like Randy Johnson, Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Alex Rodriguez and Seattle Mariners’ All-Stars John Olerud, Bret Boone, Ichiro Suzuki, Edgar Martinez and others.
This year, a new cast of All-Stars will showcase their skills in Seattle. Here’s who and what to watch for in this year’s All-Star Game.
OF ALL MLB’S STARS, ANGELS’ OHTANI SHINES BRIGHTEST
All eyes will be on Los Angeles Angels two-way megastar Shohei Ohtani, who is dominating baseball in a way that hasn’t been seen, at least in the modern era.
Ohtani, a 29-year-old from Japan, has been both one of the best pitchers and hitters in baseball since coming to the U.S. in 2018, when he won the American League Rookie of the Year award. He earned American League MVP honors in 2021 after belting 46 home runs, 26 doubles, eight triples and 100 RBI, while also going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA and 156 strikeouts for the Angels.
Even in the company of baseball’s best and brightest, Ohtani lives on a different level of stardom, one reserved for generational talents who incite spirited G.O.A.T. debates on television networks and in newspaper columns. Baseball writers and commentators have long since run out of superlatives to describe Ohtani, whose moonshot home runs and nasty pitching arsenal elicit equal parts wonder and disbelief from spectators.
Ohtani, the starting DH for the American League team, is dealing with a finger blister and likely won’t pitch in this year’s All-Star Game, but still figures to hit. Ohtani won’t be joined in Seattle by teammate Mike Trout (broken hamate bone). Home run smashing Aaron Judge, the reigning American League MVP of the New York Yankees, will also miss the game (toe).
The resurgent Texas Rangers feature four starters in the American League lineup: catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, third baseman Josh Jung and shortstop Corey Seager, the younger brother of former Mariners’ third baseman Kyle Seager.
On the National League side, both the Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves are well represented. For Los Angeles, first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez are starters. For Atlanta, catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuña earned starting nods.
SEATTLE MARINERS IN MLB ALL-STAR GAME
After making the playoffs in 2022, the Mariners have underperformed and underwhelmed in 2023, currently sitting in fourth place in the AL West, ahead of only the Oakland Athletics.
As a result, Seattle’s All-Star representation is minimal. Mariners’ pitcher Luis Castillo was initially the lone All-Star from Seattle, before pitcher George Kirby and outfielder Julio Rodríguez were named to the American League roster as replacements. Seattle manager Scott Servais was named to the American League coaching staff.
Julio Rodríguez will also participate in Monday’s Home Run Derby, after a dazzling performance in last year’s Home Run Derby.
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, who attended high school at Lakeside in Seattle, is a starter on the National League roster, his first All-Star Game appearance.
2023 MLB ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS
*Denotes a player who is inactive or chosen not to play
+Named as a replacement
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Jonah Heim (TEX)
1B: Yandy Díaz (TB)
2B: Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B: Josh Jung (TEX)
SS: Corey Seager (TEX)
OF: Mike Trout (LAA)*
OF: Randy Arozarena (TB)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)*
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
Reserves
C: Salvador Perez (KC)
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
IF: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
IF: Whit Merrifield (TOR)
IF: Bo Bichette (TOR)
IF: José Ramírez (CLE)
IF: Wander Franco (TB)+
OF: Luis Robert Jr. (CWS)
OF: Austin Hays (BAL)
OF: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)*
OF: Adolis García (TEX)
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU)+
OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA)+
DH: Brent Rooker (OAK)
Pitchers
RHP: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)
RHP: Gerrit Cole (NYY)
RHP: Luis Castillo (SEA)
RHP: Sonny Gray (MIN)
RHP: Nathan Eovaldi (TEX)
RHP: Kevin Gausman (TOR)
LHP: Shane McClanahan (TB)*
LHP: Framber Valdez (HOU)
RHP: Michael Lorenzen (DET)
RHP: George Kirby (SEA)+
Relievers
RHP: Kenley Jansen (BOS)
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)
RHP: Félix Bautista (BAL)
RHP: Yennier Cano (BAL)
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Elected starters
C: Sean Murphy (ATL)
1B: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
2B: Luis Arraez (MIA)
3B: Nolan Arenado (STL)
SS: Orlando Arcia (ATL)
OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL)
OF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
OF: Corbin Carroll (AZ)
DH: J.D. Martinez (LAD)
Reserves
C: Will Smith (LAD)
C: Elias Díaz (COL)
IF: Matt Olson (ATL)
IF: Ozzie Albies (ATL)
IF: Austin Riley (ATL)
IF: Dansby Swanson (CHC)
IF: Pete Alonso (NYM)
OF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (AZ)
OF: Nick Castellanos (PHI)
OF: Juan Soto (SD)
DH: Jorge Soler (MIA)
Pitchers
RHP: Zac Gallen (AZ)
RHP: Spencer Strider (ATL)
RHP: Bryce Elder (ATL)
LHP: Justin Steele (CHC)
RHP: Mitch Keller (PIT)
RHP: Josiah Gray (WSH)
LHP: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)*
RHP: Marcus Stroman (CHC)
Relievers
RHP: Alexis Díaz (CIN)
LHP: Josh Hader (SD)
RHP: Devin Williams (MIL)
RHP: Camilo Doval (SF)
RHP: David Bednar (PIT)+
HOW TO WATCH
HOME RUN DERBY
Date: Monday, July 10
Time: 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET
Channel: ESPN
ALL-STAR GAME
Date: Tuesday, July 11
Time: 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET
Channel: FOX (Spanish-language commentary will be airing on FOX Deportes).
This story was originally published July 6, 2023 at 5:00 AM with the headline "2023 MLB All-Star Game: Biggest names coming to Seattle for the Midsummer Classic."
