Who are the only two Texas Rangers chosen to play in the Major League All-Star Game?
When the Major League Baseball All-Star Game comes to Globe Life Field on July 16, the hometown Texas Rangers fans won’t have a lot of their favorite players to root for.
Second baseman Marcus Semien and relief pitcher Kirby Yates are the only Rangers on the American League team.
That’s a stark contrast to the 2023 game in Seattle when the Rangers had six players on the team, including starters catcher Jonah Heim, second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Adolis Garcia. Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was also on the 2023 American League squad, but did not start.
Reliever Kirby Yates has a 3-1 record with a 0.86 ERA with 13 saves in 31 games. Semien was a bit of a surprise selection as he is batting just .229 with 12 home runs.
The All-Star reserves join the starters who were announced on Wednesday.
There are 32 first-time selections, including 17 pitchers.
Bruce Bochy will manage the American League team after guiding the Rangers to the World Series last season.
The AL starters include first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Toronto), second baseman Jose Altuve (Houston). shortstop Gunnar Henderson (Baltimore), third baseman Jose Ramirez (Cleveland), catcher Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), outfielders Aaron Judge (New York), Juan Soto (New York), Steven Kwan (Cleveland) and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (Houston).
The AL reserves will include Colleyville’s Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City’s star shortstop who was selected to his first All-Star Game.
The AL reserves are catcher Salvador Perez (Kansas City), shortstop Carolos Correa (Minnesota), third baseman Rafael Devers (Boston), outfielder Kyle Tucker (Kansas City), first baseman Josh Naylor (Cleveland), third baseman Isaac Paredes (Tampa Bay), outfielder Jarren Duran (Boston), outfielder Riley Greene (Detroit), designated hitter David Fry (Cleveland) and Semien and Witt.
The AL pitching staff will include starters Garrett Crochet (Chicago), Tarik Skubal (Detroit), Tanner Houck (Boston), Seth Lugo (Kansas City), Cole Ragans (Kansas City), Logan GIlbert (Seattle), Corbin Burnes (Baltimore), Tyler Anderson (Los Angeles and relievers Mason Miller (Oakland), Clay Holmes (New York), Emmanuel Clase (Cleveland) and Yates.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo will manage the National League team which will include starters first baseman Bryce Harper (Philadelphia), second baseman Ketel Marte (Arizona), shortstop Trea Turner (Philadelphia), third baseman Alec Bohm (Philadelphia), catcher William Contreras (Milwaukee) , outfielders Fernando Tatis (San Diego), Jurickson Profar (San Diego), Christian Yelich (Milwaukee) and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles).
The NL reserves include catcher Will Smith (Los Angeles), shortstop Mookie Betts (Los Angeles), first baseman Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles), outfielder Teoscar Hernandez (Los Angeles), shortstop Elly De La Cruz (Cincinnati), outfielder Bryan Reynolds (Pittsburgh, shortstop C.J. Abrams (Washington), third baseman Ryan McMahon (Colorado), outfielder Jackson Merrill (San Diego), outfielder Heliot Ramos (San Francisco), designated hitter Marcell Ozuna (Atlanta), first baseman Luis Arraez (San Diego), first baseman Pete Alonzo (New York).
The NL pitching staff will include starters Ranger Suarez (Philadelphia), Tyler Glasnow (Los Angeles), Shota Imanaga (Chicago), Reynaldo Lopez (Atlanta), Logan Webb (San Francisco), Paul Skenes (Pittsburgh), Chris Sale (Atlanta, Zack Wheeler (Philadelphia) and relievers Ryan Helsley (St. Louis), Tanner Scott (Miami), Robert Suarez (San Diego), Matt Strahm (Philadelphia) Jeff Hoffman (Philadelphia).
While the starters are picked by an online fan vote, the reserves are picked by the players, coaches and MLB officials.
The rosters could get tweaked in the coming days due to injuries or pitchers’ unavailability.
The game will be broadcast on FOX and scheduled to begin at approximately 7 p.m. on June 16.
This story was originally published July 7, 2024 at 5:18 PM.