The Atlanta Braves will have a total of eight players in the All-Star Game after a player ballot and Major League Baseball finalized complete rosters on Sunday for this year’s Midsummer Classic.
After starters were named on Thursday, the player ballot and MLB determined pitchers and reserves to round out the American and National League teams.
Catcher Sean Murphy, shortstop Orlando Arcia and outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. already secured their spots in the All-Star Game as starters, but player balloting — which includes votes from players, managers and coaches — is sending five more Braves to the showdown between the AL and NL on July 11.
First baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley will join Murphy, Arcia and Acuna as the position players representing Atlanta at the All-Star Game, while right-handers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder will also make the trek to Seattle.
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith, Chicago Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson, Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos and San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto were the other NL position players chosen via player balloting. The Miami Marlins’ Jorge Soler was voted in as a designated hitter.
Arizona’s Zac Gallen, the Cubs’ Marcus Stroman and the Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw filled in the NL’s starting rotation, while the Cincinnati Reds’ Alexis Diaz, the Padres’ Josh Hader and the San Francisco Giants’ Camilo Doval are part of the bullpen.
Pitchers Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals), Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh Pirates), Justin Steele (Cubs) and Devin Williams (Milwaukee Brewers) were added to the NL roster by MLB along with New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz.
The AL team draws most of its players from the Texas Rangers, who will be sending six to Seattle after the player ballot deemed outfielder Adolis Garcia and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi worthy of spots on the roster.
Players, managers and coaches also selected catcher Adley Rutschman and outfielder Austin Hays of the Baltimore Orioles, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and Houston Astros outfielder Yordan Alvarez. The Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker punched his ticket to the ASG as a designated hitter.
AL starters to also make the Midsummer Classic include Shane McClanahan (Tampa Bay Rays), Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees), Sonny Gray (Minnesota Twins) and Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Angels). Ohtani was also named as a starter at designated hitter. McClanahan (back) went on the injured list Saturday and won’t pitch in the game.
Baltimore’s Yennier Cano and Felix Bautista and the Guardians’ Emmanuel Clase will be among the AL squad’s relievers.
MLB made seven AL selections, choosing pitchers Luis Castillo (Seattle Mariners), Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox), Michael Lorenzen (Detroit Tigers) and Framber Valdez (Astros) in addition to Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez and Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.
–Field Level Media
