There are 26 first-time All-Stars, including four rookies: Kevin McGonigle of Detroit, Travis Bazzana and Parker Messick of Cleveland, and Sal Stewart of Cincinnati. McGonigle, the youngest All-Star at 21 years old, is the first Tigers rookie to make the All-Star team since Matt Nokes in 1987, and was emotional hearing the news with the game played in his hometown.
“I’ve always dreamed about going to an All-Star Game in Philly, just to go and watch,” he said. “That’s always been a dream,’’ McGonigle told reporters this week. “Now that I might have the opportunity to, you know, play in one? That would be surreal.’’
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and first baseman Jonathan Aranda celebrate after beating the Kansas City Royals on Thursday at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Mo.
Peter Aiken, Imagn Images
And the Guardians are only the fifth team in MLB history to send multiple rookies to the All-Star Game, last accomplished by the 2014 Yankees with pitchers Dellin Betances and Masahiro Tanaka. There are 11 All-Star selections who are 24 or younger, including Bazzana, who’s just the fourth Australian native to be an All Star.
While three-time MVP Aaron Judge will be unable to play in the game with his broken rib, it is the ninth consecutive season the Yankees have had at least one player voted to the game, the longest streak in MLB.
The Athletics, with catcher Shea Langeliers winning the fan balloting, have had All-Star starters in back-to-back years for the first time since 1992. A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson won the fan balloting a year ago, but this time Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. won the player and the fan balloting.
The American League players who won the fan and player balloting: Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement;, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero; Witt, Houston Astros DH Yordan Alvarez; and outfielders Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins and Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels.