NEW YORK — Los Angeles Angels phenom Shohei Ohtani became a two-way MLB All-Star for the third straight year when he was picked for the American League pitching staff Sunday, and eight Atlanta players were chosen in all to help represent the National League in the July 11 game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park, with the Braves garnering the most selections for any franchise since 2012.
Ohtani was elected to the pitching staff by players 10 days after fans voted him to start at designated hitter. Ohtani appeared on the most ballots among AL players. He is the only two-way All-Star in Major League Baseball history.
“He’s very respectful. He doesn’t do a whole bunch of talking,” said Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, who will also be the skipper for the AL. “He comes to play, and he really handles the notoriety and the publicity with humility and greatness.”
At the 2021 All-Star Game in Denver, Ohtani grounded out against Max Scherzer and Corbin Burnes, and he pitched a perfect first inning, retiring Fernando Tatis Jr. on a flyout and Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado on groundouts. Last year at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani didn’t pitch, but he singled on Clayton Kershaw’s first pitch of the game and walked against Joe Musgrove.
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. — who appeared on more ballots than any other player this year — shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy were elected to the NL starting lineup by fans. They will be joined by five teammates voted in by fellow players: starting pitchers Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider, first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley.
“To have eight guys, it’s awesome,” Riley said.
The contingent includes Atlanta’s entire starting infield, a proud accomplishment for Ron Washington, who coaches third base for the Braves and works with that group defensively.
“Washington said this is probably the most emotional day of his career because all of his infielders went to the All-Star Game,” Albies said.
The previous team with eight selections was the 2012 Texas Rangers, an AL club. Atlanta is the first NL club with eight picks since the 2008 Chicago Cubs, and the Braves are the first club with six position players chosen since the AL’s Boston Red Sox in 2008.
Texas has six All-Stars this year and the Los Angeles Dodgers have five.
Atlanta has won 23 of its past 26 games, and its 56-27 record (.675 winning percentage) is the best in the majors, although the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays, at 57-30, have played four more games to this point.
Arizona Diamondbacks rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll, a Seattle native elected to start, is the youngest All-Star this year at 22. Dodgers designated hitter J.D. Martinez is the oldest this year at 35.
Twenty-six players are first-time All-Stars. Angels center fielder Mike Trout has the most career selections among this year’s All-Stars with 11, making his 10th trip as a starter.
Starting pitchers Kershaw (Dodgers), Zac Gallen (Diamondbacks) and Marcus Stroman (Cubs) also were voted to the NL staff, along with relievers Alexis Díaz (Cincinnati Reds), Camilo Doval (San Francisco Giants) and Josh Hader (San Diego Padres).
NL reserves voted in by players included catcher Will Smith (Dodgers), shortstop Dansby Swanson (Cubs), outfielders Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (Diamondbacks) and Nick Castellanos (Philadelphia Phillies), and designated hitter Jorge Soler (Miami Marlins).
MLB had six NL picks, using five for players on teams still without 2023 All-Stars to that point: pitchers Josiah Gray (Washington Nationals), Mitch Keller (Pittsburgh Pirates), Justin Steele (Cubs) and Devin Williams (Milwaukee Brewers), along with first baseman Pete Alonso (New York Mets) and catcher Elias Diaz (Colorado Rockies).
Starting pitchers Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees), Nathan Eovaldi (Rangers), Sonny Gray (Minnesota Twins) and Shane McClanahan (Rays) were voted by players to the AL staff along with Ohtani. The relievers elected by fellow players were Felix Bautista and Yennier Cano of the Baltimore Orioles and Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland Guardians).
AL reserves elected by players included catcher Adley Rutschman (Orioles), first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., second baseman Whit Merrifield and shortstop Bo Bichette of the Toronto Blue Jays, third baseman José Ramírez (Guardians) and outfielders Yordan Alvarez (Astros), Adolis García (Rangers) and Austin Hays (Orioles), and designated hitter Brent Rooker (Oakland Athletics).
“There’s a really cool picture of me hitting a homer off Shohei in Anaheim, and I’m going to approach him very humbly and try to get him to sign it,” Rooker said. “That’s something that I would like to have forever. If there’s anybody doubting that he’s the best baseball player of all time, I don’t really know why they are. He could be the front-page story in every newspaper every day, and it wouldn’t be talked about enough what he’s doing from an offensive and pitching standpoint.”
MLB used five of its seven AL picks for players whose teams were not already represented, selecting Luis Castillo of the host Mariners along with fellow pitchers Kevin Gausman (Blue Jays), Kenley Jansen (Red Sox), Michael Lorenzen (Detroit Tigers) and Framber Valdez (Astros), plus catcher Salvador Perez (Kansas City Royals) and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. (Chicago White Sox).
Seattle outfielder and hometown favorite Julio Rodríguez was omitted, though AL injury replacements likely will be selected for Aaron Judge of the Yankees and Houston’s Alvarez. Rodríguez has already committed to participating in the Home Run Derby as part of All-Star festivities the day before the game.
Other notable players left off despite excellent numbers included San Diego’s Tatis, Rays shortstop Wander Franco and Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte.
Keller, a 27-year-old right-hander, became an All-Star in his fifth season in the majors. Two years ago he was pitching for Triple-A Indianapolis at the time of the MLB All-Star Game, and last year he was demoted to the bullpen for two weeks in May.
“Them having the most confidence in me the last two or three years is really cool. and everyone sticking with me and showing me their support and giving me their love, it’s been awesome,” Keller said of his Pirates teammates.
AP photo by Mark J. Terrill / The Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani grimaces after swinging for a strike during the fourth inning of a home game against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif.MLB ALL-STAR GAME
Tuesday, July 11
At T-Mobile Park, Seattle
AMERICAN LEAGUE ROSTER
STARTERS
Catcher: Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers
First baseman: Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays
Second baseman: Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers
Shortstop: Corey Seager, Texas Rangers
Third baseman: Josh Jung, Texas Rangers
Designated hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels
Outfielder: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
Outfielder: Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
Outfielder: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
RESERVES
Catchers
Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals; Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles.
Infielders
Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Toronto Blue Jays; Whit Merrifield, Toronto Blue Jays; Bo Bichette, Toronto Blue Jays; Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians.
Outfielders
Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics; Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox; Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles; Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros; Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers.
Starting pitchers
Shohei Ohtani, L.A. Angels; Gerrit Cole, N.Y. Yankees; Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners; Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins; Nathan Eovaldi, Texas Rangers; Kevin Gausman, Toronto Blue Jays; Shane McClanahan, Tampa Bay Rays; Framber Valdez, Houston Astros.
Relief pitchers
Michael Lorenzen, Detroit Tigers; Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox; Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians; Felix Bautista, Baltimore Orioles; Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles.
NATIONAL LEAGUE ROSTER
STARTERS
Catcher: Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves
First baseman: Freddie Freeman, L.A. Dodgers
Second baseman: Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins
Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Atlanta Braves
Third baseman: Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals
Designated hitter: J.D. Martinez, L.A. Dodgers
Outfielder: Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves
Outfielder: Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers
Outfielder: Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks
RESERVES
Catchers
Will Smith, L.A. Dodgers; Elias Diaz, Colorado Rockies.
Infielders
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves; Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves; Austin Riley, Atlanta Braves; Dansby Sawnson, Chicago Cubs; Pete Alonso, N.Y. Mets.
Outfielders
Jorge Soler, Miami Marlins; Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Arizona Diamondbacks; Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies; Juan Soto, San Diego Padres.
Starting pitchers
Zac Gallen, Arizona Diamondbacks; Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves; Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves; Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs; Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates; Josiah Gray, Washington Nationals; Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Dodgers; Marcus Stroman, Chicago Cubs.
Relief pitchers
Alexis Diaz, Cincinnati Reds; Josh Hader, San Diego Padres; Devin Williams, Milwaukee Brewers; Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants.