MLB Finalizes Home Run Derby Participants
Major League Baseball has announced the field for the 2023 Home Run Derby. The full list of participants:
- White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr.
- Mets 1B Pete Alonso
- Dodgers OF/INF Mookie Betts
- Rangers OF Adolis García
- Rays OF Randy Arozarena
- Blue Jays 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
- Mariners OF Julio Rodríguez
- Orioles C Adley Rutschman
It is a single-elimination bracket. First-round matchups are as follows: Robert/Rutschman, Alonso/Rodríguez, Betts/Guerrero, García/Arozarena. Rodríguez and Alonso are the only two repeat players from last year’s event. Alonso had won the event back-to-back times in 2019-21 (there was no Derby in 2020 because of the pandemic) before Rodríguez knocked him out in the semifinal round last season. Juan Soto took down Rodríguez to win the tournament but declined to try to defend his title.
The Derby will take place Monday evening at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park. Under the collective bargaining agreement, the winner will receive $1MM. The runner-up takes home $500K, while every other participant receives $150K. The player who hits the longest home run wins $100K.
MLB Announces 2023 All-Star Rosters
The starters for the 2023 All-Star Game were already announced earlier this week, and today the league revealed the reserve selections and the pitching staffs for the National League and American League teams. Fan balloting determined the game’s starters, while the reserves and pitchers were picked by a combination of the player ballot and selections from the league office.
This won’t be the final list of players involved, as some more substitutions will be announced later for players who are injured or who have opted not to participate. Every team must have at least one player represented at the Midsummer Classic, and the starting pitchers for the game will be announced on July 10.
Of note, Shohei Ohtani will be in the game as both a DH and as a pitcher for the third consecutive season. The Braves led all teams with eight All-Stars, while the Rangers weren’t far behind with six players chosen. This year’s All-Star Game takes place in Seattle on July 11.
National League
- Catcher: Sean Murphy, Braves
- First Base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers
- Second Base: Luis Arraez, Marlins
- Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals
- Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Braves
- Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves
- Outfield: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks
- Outfield: Mookie Betts, Dodgers
- Designated Hitter: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers
- Pitchers: Alexis Diaz/Reds, Camilo Doval/Giants, Bryce Elder/Braves, Zac Gallen/Diamondbacks, Josiah Gray/Nationals, Josh Hader/Padres, Mitch Keller/Pirates, Clayton Kershaw/Dodgers, Justin Steele/Cubs, Spencer Strider/Braves, Marcus Stroman/Cubs, Devin Williams/Brewers
- Position Players: Ozzie Albies/Braves, Pete Alonso/Mets, Nick Castellanos/Phillies, Elias Diaz/Rockies, Lourdes Gurriel Jr./Diamondbacks, Matt Olson/Braves, Austin Riley/Braves, Will Smith/Dodgers, Jorge Soler/Marlins, Juan Soto/Padres, Dansby Swanson/Cubs
American League
- Catcher: Jonah Heim, Rangers
- First Base: Yandy Díaz, Rays
- Second Base: Marcus Semien, Rangers
- Third Base: Josh Jung, Rangers
- Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers
- Outfield: Randy Arozarena, Rays
- Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels
- Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees
- Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels
- Pitchers: Felix Bautista/Orioles, Yennier Cano/Orioles, Emmanuel Clase/Guardians, Luis Castillo/Mariners, Gerrit Cole/Yankees, Nathan Eovaldi/Rangers, Kevin Gausman/Blue Jays, Sonny Gray/Twins, Kenley Jansen/Red Sox, Michael Lorenzen/Tigers, Shane McClanahan/Rays, Shohei Ohtani/Angels, Framber Valdez/Astros
- Position Players: Yordan Alvarez/Astros, Bo Bichette/Blue Jays, Adolis Garcia/Rangers, Vladimir Guerrero Jr./Blue Jays, Austin Hays/Orioles, Whit Merrifield/Blue Jays, Salvador Perez/Royals, Jose Ramirez/Guardians, Luis Robert Jr./White Sox, Brent Rooker/Athletics, Adley Rutschman/Orioles
MLB Announces 2023 All-Star Starters
Major League Baseball announced the starting lineups for the 2023 All-Star Game this evening. This year’s All-Star Game will take place at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on July 11. The starting pitchers and reserves will be announced at a later date.
American League
- Catcher: Jonah Heim, Rangers (1st selection)
- First Base: Yandy Díaz, Rays (1st selection)
- Second Base: Marcus Semien, Rangers (2nd selection)
- Third Base: Josh Jung, Rangers (1st selection)
- Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers (4th selection, 2nd consecutive)
- Outfield: Randy Arozarena, Rays (1st selection)
- Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels (11th selection, 11th consecutive)
- Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees (5th selection, 3rd consecutive)*
- Designated Hitter: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (3rd selection, 3rd consecutive)
National League
- Catcher: Sean Murphy, Braves (1st selection)
- First Base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (7th selection, 5th consecutive)
- Second Base: Luis Arraez, Marlins (2nd selection, 2nd consecutive)
- Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (8th selection, 8th consecutive)
- Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Braves (1st selection)
- Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (4th selection, 4th consecutive)
- Outfield: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (1st selection)
- Outfield: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (7th selection, 7th consecutive)
- Designated Hitter: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (6th selection, 5th consecutive)
* Currently on injured list with sprained toe
MLB Announces Futures Game Rosters
Major League Baseball announced rosters for the 2023 Futures Game this evening. The contest — a seven-inning exhibition between some of the sport’s most talented minor leaguers — kicks off All-Star festivities in Seattle on Saturday, July 8.
As Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com notes, 28 of the 50 players on the roster are included on MLB Pipeline’s recent Top 100 prospects list. Six of Pipeline’s top ten will participate. The full rosters (MLB Pipeline prospect rank included, if applicable):
American League
- Clayton Beeter, Yankees RHP (AAA)
- Lawrence Butler, A’s OF (AA)
- Junior Caminero, Rays INF (AA), #17 prospect
- Jonathan Cannon, White Sox RHP (High-A)
- Joey Cantillo, Guardians LHP (AAA)
- Jonatan Clase, Mariners OF (AA)
- Shane Drohan, Red Sox LHP (AAA)
- David Festa, Twins RHP (AA)
- Harry Ford, Mariners C (High-A), #29 prospect
- Drew Gilbert, Astros OF (AA), #76 prospect
- Jackson Holliday, Orioles INF (High-A), #1 prospect
- Spencer Jones, Yankees OF (High-A)
- Colt Keith, Tigers INF (AA), #43 prospect
- Heston Kjerstad, Orioles OF (AAA), #40 prospect
- Will Klein, Royals RHP (AAA)
- Justyn-Henry Malloy, Tigers INF (AAA)
- Kyle Manzardo, Rays INF (AAA), #42 prospect
- Marcelo Mayer, Red Sox INF (AA), #5 prospect
- Kyren Paris, Angels INF (AA)
- Edgar Quero, Angels C (AA), #72 prospect
- Sem Robberse, Blue Jays RHP (AA)
- Tyler Soderstrom, A’s C (AAA), #37 prospect
- Owen White, Rangers RHP (AAA), #48 prospect
- Nick Yorke, Red Sox INF (AA), #91 prospect
- Yosver Zulueta, Blue Jays RHP (AAA)
National League
- Mick Abel, Phillies RHP (AA), #46 prospect
- Ryan Bliss, Diamondbacks INF (AA)
- Jackson Chourio, Brewers OF (AA), #3 prospect
- Justin Crawford, Phillies OF (Low-A), #90 prospect
- Pete Crow-Armstrong, Cubs OF (AA), #10 prospect
- Yanquiel Fernandez, Rockies OF (AA), #97 prospect
- Kyle Harrison, Giants LHP (AAA), #14 prospect
- Tink Hence, Cardinals RHP (High-A), #66 prospect
- Brady House, Nationals INF (High-A), #75 prospect
- Jordan Lawlar, Diamondbacks INF (AA), #7 prospect
- Noelvi Marte, Reds INF (AA), #19 prospect
- J.P. Massey, Pirates RHP (High-A)
- Jackson Merrill, Padres INF (High-A), #12 prospect
- Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers RHP (High-A), #93 prospect
- Patrick Monteverde, Marlins LHP (AA)
- B.J. Murray, Cubs INF (AA)
- Nasim Nunez, Marlins INF (AA)
- Jeferson Quero, Brewers C (AA), #79 prospect
- Endy Rodriguez, Pirates INF/C (AAA), #39 prospect
- Dalton Rushing, Dodgers C (High-A), #51 prospect
- Victor Scott II, Cardinals OF (High-A)
- Spencer Shwellenbach, Braves RHP (Low-A)
- Mike Vasil, Mets RHP (AAA)
- Carson Whisenhunt, Giants LHP (AA)
- James Wood, Nationals OF (AA), #6 prospect
Seattle To Host All-Star Game In 2023
TODAY: The league officially announced that the 2023 game will be in Seattle.
SEPTEMBER 14: Major League Baseball is finalizing plans to host 2023 All-Star festivities at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN. MLB has yet to make an official announcement on the news.
Seattle has twice before hosted the All-Star Game — at the Kingdome in 1979 and at T-Mobile Park (then called Safeco Field) in 2001. The National League won the 1979 contest by a score of 7-6, while the American League took the 2001 game by a 4-1 margin.
Next year’s event will be hosted in Los Angeles. The Dodgers were initially announced as hosts for the 2020 festivities, but those were canceled during last year’s shortened season and will instead be made up in 2022. As Passan notes, the only other future All-Star host site known at this time is Philadelphia, which will get the event in 2026 as part of the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.