The full rosters for the American League and National League All-Star teams have now been established, after today’s announcement of the pitching staffs and backup players. The starting lineups were chosen by the fan vote (under a newly-instituted format) and revealed on Thursday, with the remainder of the All-Star rosters filled out by a players’ ballot, and then choices from the league itself. As always, each team was required to have at least one All-Star representative.
Here is the full list of reserves for each league, broken down by the player vote and the league office’s picks…
AMERICAN LEAGUE
- Players’ ballot: Jose Abreu/White Sox, Mookie Betts/Red Sox, Aroldis Chapman/Yankees, Matt Chapman/Athletics, Gerrit Cole/Astros, Joey Gallo/Rangers, Lucas Giolito/White Sox, Brad Hand/Indians, Tommy La Stella/Angels, Francisco Lindor/Indians, J.D. Martinez/Red Sox, James McCann/White Sox, Austin Meadows/Rays, Charlie Morton/Rays, Jake Odorizzi/Twins, Ryan Pressly/Astros, Justin Verlander/Astros
- League selections: Shane Greene/Tigers, John Means/Orioles, Whit Merrifield/Royals, Mike Minor/Rangers, Marcus Stroman/Blue Jays, Daniel Vogelbach/Mariners
NATIONAL LEAGUE
- Players’ ballot: Josh Bell/Pirates, Walker Buehler/Dodgers, Charlie Blackmon/Rockies, Luis Castillo/Reds, David Dahl/Rockies, Jacob deGrom/Mets, Josh Hader/Brewers, Jeff McNeil/Mets, Mike Moustakas/Brewers, J.T. Realmuto/Phillies, Anthony Rendon/Nationals, Hyun-Jin Ryu/Dodgers, Max Scherzer/Nationals, Will Smith/Giants, Trevor Story/Rockies, Kirby Yates/Padres
- League selections: Sandy Alcantara/Marlins, Pete Alonso/Mets, Kris Bryant/Cubs, Paul DeJong/Cardinals, Yasmani Grandal/Brewers, Zack Greinke/Diamondbacks, Clayton Kershaw/Dodgers, Mike Soroka/Braves
As always, the All-Star choices will spark both celebration and controversy, as there simply isn’t enough roster space to acknowledge every player who is enjoying a big season. Xander Bogaerts entered the day ranked fifth among all position players in fWAR, yet the Red Sox shortstop didn’t receive an All-Star nod. Lance Lynn and Chris Sale (the second- and third-ranked pitchers by fWAR, respectively) also aren’t scheduled to be heading to Cleveland on July 9. This being said, injuries and other absences will surely create some more openings before the Midsummer Classic, so some more names will inevitably be added as replacements.
No Harper or Machado ♂️
Who?
3 out of the 4 top dollar contracts not there. Not saying stanton should be there because of injuries but still kind of interesting.
3 of the top 11 in American League OPS were snubbed . How the freak do 3 guys in the top 11 in OPS not make ur leagues All Star team?
Xander is 3rd in AL in OPS
Gleyber is 8th in AL in OPS
Voit is 11th in AL in OPS
An Indian had to make it. That means no Bogart. I would have much preferred Bogarts to both Polanco or Lindor, but rules are rules.
And Torres was is not having a better season that Semien.
About Voit. The Ms needed a representative and Vogelbach is having a better year. Not by much, but by a little. wRC+ 146 to 140
An Indian had already made it. Carlos Santana is the starting 1b. Lindor was probably selected because the game is in Cleveland.
They need to change that rule of at least one player from each team has to be selected. Theres no one good enough on the giants or Marlins. And besides lindor no one is good on the Indians.
Lindor made it by being voted in by his peers.The league fills in the cracks after (Means?)
And about Voit, if a player is marginally better and playing for a team with meaningless games vs a player who is a main contributor (without protection of judge, Stanton, etc.) that should be taken into account.
And I agree that every team does not need to be represented—the players performance should speak for itself.
I agree about they ought to change the rule about each team has to have a representative. I’ll use my Cardinals as an example for 2019. The only players who could have possibly been qualified this year was their young closer with his 105 fastball, but he’s out for the season, and Ozuna, who is also injured. Other than that, no player on their team has come close to playing All-Star quality baseball. So, by all rights, the Cardinals shouldn’t have an All-Star representative bumping out some other player with better stats in 2019.
Will Smith isn’t good enough to be an All Star?! Try again.
All these “snubs” show how hard it is to be a perennial All Star in the likes of Aaron, Musial, Mays, etc. Their off years were All Star years; their on years, HOF years.
Not sure who today fits that definition other than Trout. Surely a few will get there, just not sure who.
Uh, no. The All-Star game is a spectacle. One player from each team invigorates fans to watch. The fans choose who starts. That isn’t “fair” either, but it is the fans’ game. I know waiting for the entrance into the game of my representative has kept me tuned in. And in the end that is all that matters.
Before reading this, I was upset De Jong is going over Tatis. After reading this, I’m happy for De Jong and happy to see such a classy take by a classy fan. Tatis will get his, no worries.
Before reading this, I was upset De Jong is going over Tatis. After reading this, I’m happy for De Jong and happy to see such a classy take by a classy fan. Tatis will get his, no worries. Best wishes to your injured stars!
How many closers are 21-for-21? Will Smith deserves it.
Santana
Paul DeJong says “you dont know what a good baseball player looks like”
Machado has hit just fine for SD
Have you seen Machado’s stats? Nobody in SD complaining about that contract. Thanks very much.
Machado has been on fire lately. Around the time Tatis came back
Wait until year 6 when his performance dips and his lazy play becomes more apparent.
Harper is terrible this year. Worst of his career.
Does it not hold true that once these guys get that big contract that they close up shop?
“Does it not hold true that once these guys get that big contract that they close up shop?”
No. If anything he’s pressing way too hard. He really is working his @ss off. The results just aren’t there quite yet.
There are studies that show a drop in performance post platform year – not MLB specific studies (at least the studies I’m referencing are not).
Starting to see a similarity between Harper and the early part of Adrian Beltre’s career.
The Cubs walking him 12 or 13 times a few years ago really messed him up. I think that’s great. He hasn’t been the same since the Cubs swept that 4 game series.
This is a giant myth. Harper started struggling before the Cubs series. His season stats still looked good that time because of his hot start but the Cubs series gets way too much press for causing Harper’s decline. What it did do was expose Zimmerman, who is the definition of a streak hitter.
They don’t belong there
how is the biggest snub play for the worst team?
Complete crap Xander didn’t make it.
Devers too. Mookie should not be going. He is not having a good year, let alone a great one.
Definitely agree with you on the both points.
Mookie has a mid-.800’s OPS in a “bad” year. He’s still on pace for 5 WAR. He’s a great player having a down, albeit still REALLY good, year.
How about Vazquez? I don’t see any other catchers in the AL bench
James McCann is there. He is having an absurd season. Vasquez has been surprisingly good this year.
Omar Narvaez deserves just as much and more than Vasquez. Not everybody gets in.
Robinson Chirinos?
@24TheKid Completely underrated
Chapman is better than Devers
Why do people still care about the All Star Game? It’s just a popularity contest.
Tommy Pham brought up a good point on why players still care and it is unfairly biased toward large market teams.
Tommy Pham is a baseball player. He’ll play hurt or do whatever it takes to win a game!
Felipe Vazquez is the biggest pitcher snub.
Agree 100%
But he plays for the Pirates, so what else is new.
I agree, but really, who cares? I’d rather he (and Bell, honestly) were resting anyway.
Sidney Crosby has been an All Star about a dozen times and only played in a few. No real point.
All Star games are for 8 year olds and corporate sponsors
Don’t compare the NHL all star nonsense with guys skating at 50% to MLB with guys throwing 98+ and actually playing to win.
I feel stupid for even hoping for any different 🙁 same as 2017. I think the only reason he wasn’t ignored last year was because they had literally no other player to choose from. And funny thing it was by far his worst year of the three, at least for the first half.
It is a tougher call than I thought on Vasquez.He evidently is fourth on the relievers list as they have three on the team.The starters dominated even though only one can start.
I am old fashioned and still think that it is an honor to be selected.I think that it is a pride thing with many players as it should be.
If Vasquez is an injury replacement,he can always say what Garry Templeton said in 1979 when offered a spot.
If I ain’t startin’,I ain’t departin’!
No Ken Giles? He’s been one of the best closers in baseball.
David Dahl??
Dahl made it.
I’ll be honest. I am a huge Rockies fan and I thought that if we got a 4th All Star after the big 3, it would be Scott Oberg or Jon Gray. Never did I think Dahl was making it.
This voting is almost as fraudulent as the gold glove award.
Great observation and truth.
Keep digging!
Keep burying.
Trey Mancini
He got snubbed because the players voted in Betts; not enough offensive spots, so they had to take Means to represent Baltimore.
No issue with means but how the heck is Mancini not the O’s rep
Why would they pick Alcantara over Smith?
Same reason I’m assuming Eddie Rosario didn’t make it … because he’s injured? I agree Caleb Smith should be there by i also think Eddie Rosario should be too
i mean of they pick an injured guy they just get a sub. better vote for the injured guy. both him and his sub are all stars; everyone’s happy.
For everyone crying about this guy & that guy didn’t make the All Star roster need to remember not everyone can make the teams.
Now all you crybabies can start a petition drive to bring back the era where there were 2 All Star Games
I sort of remember those days as a kid. Nobody cared about the second all star game, least of all the stars, so all sorts of mid-level players made the team.
Congrats moose & whit!
Tatis got hella snubbed
Colomé not making it is surprising, but if he did, that would give the below 500 White Sox 4 AS, which is ridiculous. And very easily could have had a case for Anderson and Moncada, but they were rightfully kept off.
they’re good final vote options at least (if that still exists that is)
Moncada deserves to be there – as do Giolito and McCann. Abreu? Not so much.
Lets see
3 indians
3 white sox
2 twins
Yeah makes total sense.
The reward for teams playing good baseball is the postseason. The reward for players playing good baseball in the first half is the All Star game.
The Sox had a super top heavy first half (McCann, TA, Yoan, Lucas, Marshall, Bummer Colome). Their All-Star worthiness shouldn’t be punished because of the performances of Alonso, starters 2-5, Ruiz, et al.
Ozzie Albies got snubbed
How so?
I would have much preferred John Gant over DeJong.
At 7-0 as a set up man, plus a below 2.00 ERA, I agree!! Gang has better quality All-Star stats than DeJong of the Cardinals.
Still cracking up at this joke of a process when a player like Gleyber Torres is not on this list.
Amir Garrett… 1.75 era with a practically unhittable slider…snubbed
Rizzo got snubbed. It should be him over Alonso.. bell could be the DH and Rizzo who is the best defensive first baseman in the NL. By far he gets picked over one and done Pete. Maybe Alonso will over swing in the HRD that’s the only way Rizzo gets to go
Not even close to accurate. Rizzo isn’t even a top 5 1B in the NL based on fWAR, and Alonso is the best 1B in baseball this year.
You cant be logical with Cubs fans. They think all their players are the best at their positions.
Rizzo has a reputation of injuring catchers on illegal/questionable slides. He has not made an All-Star team since. If he’s not voted in by the fans, I doubt he participates in another All-Star game.
I’m unsure what you’re talking about- it was one slide, May 2018. Rizzo’s a notorious slow starter, but usually snaps out of it in late May/June, sometimes making an All-Star berth a hard sell. This year he was squeezed by a good crop of 1st basemen, but he’ll finish with 30+ home runs and 100+ RBI per usual. That’s what he does. I recommend checking out other active stats on Baseball Reference to get a fuller picture. A little research should be a prerequisite before spouting off on players.
He’s renowned for his sportsmanship on and off the field, earning the Marvin Miller Man of the Year award in 2017, voted on by players, the Roberto Clemente award in 2017, and tied for the Gold Glove in 2018, voted in by managers and coaches not from his team. These are all guys you said would have a beef with Rizzo, You’re dead wrong. The kid’s recognized league-wide as a class-act,
Check out Baseball Reference and educate yourself.
Lol better defender than Bellinger?
I’m still trying to figure out how BLOOPS JAY from the White Sox got snubbed. He’s the straw that stirs the drink.
I’m a Mets fan and am thrilled that McNeill and Alonso made the roster but deGrom really doesn’t deserve it this year. He has not been the dominant player that he was last year.
Who is means
His profile is linked in the post…
The fact that torres, voit, bogearts and especially devers aren’t in this game is an absolute joke but the voting is never done right every year so what’s new
That being said preparing for the second half of this season and beyond is more important than this game so I’d rather have Torres and voit rest than compete in this year’s all star game
Tbh problem is Yankees have so many deserving players there is no way all who deserve it would make it.
Who exactly is “the league” finishing up these selections? Is there a committee or something?
I know there is a question of position, but Scott Kingery is the most deserving Phillie and it is a shame he didn’t make it.
Just put in the top 4 WAR for each position and call it a day.