Baseball took things along a new route this year when deciding which players deserved All–Star honors roughly halfway through this MLB season, as new system involving elimination stages offered a new approach for fans wishing to vote in their favorite players. Alongside the new system, new faces highlight the starting roster this year, which the league released earlier this week. Although many players poised to start the mid–summer classic this year raised some eyebrows after their surprise electoral victories, multiple familiar faces fill in nicely for both the AL and NL’s rosters.

With that said, the 2019 American League MLB All–Star starters are as follows.

C –Gary Sanchez, New York Yankees

1B – Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

2B – DJ LeMahieu, New York Yankees

SS – Jorge Polanco, Minnesota Twins

3B – Alex Bregman, Houston Astros

OF – Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

OF – George Springer, Houston Astros

OF – Michael Brantley, Houston Astros

DH – Hunter Pence, Texas Rangers

Players such as Santana and Polanco likely felt the most joy once the news broke, as they achieve their first ever All–Star appearances. Pence’s selection surprised many throughout the league as most saw the 36–year old veteran’s advancement to the voting’s final round riding only on sympathy and respect for the aged star . On the contrary, Trout appears as the clear veteran amongst the group, as this marks his eighth All–Star appearance, adding to a resume far larger than his teammates. Brantley and Pence both follow behind Trout, however a with a large gap as the this year’s selection brings their All–Star game totals up to just four each.

The National League’s best fill out their roster with the following players.

C – Wilson Contreras, Chicago Cubs

1B – Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves

2B – Ketel Marte, Arizona Diamondbacks

SS – Javier Baez, Chicago Cubs

3B – Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies

OF – Christian Yelich, Milwaukee Brewers

OF – Cody Bellinger, Los Angeles Dodgers

OF – Ronald Acuna Jr., Atlanta Braves

Acuna Jr. brings youth to this national league squad, as he’s the youngest selected All–Star and making his first appearance. Marte joins Acuna Jr. as another new–comer to the big game, also as perhaps its biggest surprise as few predicted such excellence from him during this season’s early stages. Arenado tops off the list, as his selection this year marks his fifth, poising to serve as the Colorado’s only starting representative at the game.

With All–Star game reserves still unannounced, other players snubbed from the honor to play amongst the league’s best still possess a chance to participate at Cleveland’s Progressive Field once the All–Star break rolls around. The All–Star game itself, as well as other events such as the Home Run Derby and Celebrity Softball Game begin Sunday, July 7.

 

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