Major League Baseball announced a slew of new All-Stars for next week's Midsummer Classic to take over for injured players.
Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker, and Seattle Mariners hometown stars Julio Rodriguez and George Kirby were all named to the American League squad. The National League received a bullpen boost in the form of Pittsburgh Pirates closer David Bednar.
Franco is replacing Aaron Judge, Tucker draws in Mike Trout, and the Mariners duo take the places of Yordan Alvarez and Shane McClanahan, respectively. Bednar replaces Los Angeles Dodgers lefty Clayton Kershaw on the Senior Circuit squad.
Franco gives the AL-leading Rays three All-Stars (not including McClanahan) in next Tuesday's game. The 22-year-old is enjoying the finest season of his young career, hitting .286/.345/.469 with 10 home runs and 43 RBIs. He ranks second in the AL with 27 stolen bases while being caught just eight times.
Tucker, now a two-time All-Star, has been one of the defending champion Astros' most consistent bats. Through 84 games this season, he's hitting .293/.368/.482 with 13 homers and 55 RBIs. The 26-year-old joins pitcher Framber Valdez as active Astros All-Stars in 2023.
Rodriguez, the reigning AL Rookie of the Year, has slumped in his sophomore campaign, hitting .248.310/.414 with 13 homers, 47 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases through 82 games. He'll play in his second straight All-Star Game one day after taking part in the Home Run Derby for a second consecutive season.
Kirby gives the hometown Mariners three All-Stars, joining Rodriguez and fellow starter Luis Castillo. The 25-year-old owns a 3.21 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 86 strikeouts in 16 starts, and he leads the majors with a sparkling 0.8 BB/9 rate.
Bednar, 28, has once again been dominant in the ninth inning for Pittsburgh, sporting a 1.44 ERA and 0.89 WHIP, while tallying 37 strikeouts and allowing only one homer. The Pittsburgh native will represent his hometown club in the All-Star Game for a second straight season and joins teammate Mitch Keller on the Senior Circuit's pitching staff.
After getting the call, Bednar - whose Pirates play the Dodgers in Los Angeles on Tuesday - sent Kershaw a gift to ostensibly make up for taking his All-Star spot.
To: Mr. Kershaw
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 4, 2023
From: David pic.twitter.com/x0jEXZjOYF
Judge was elected as a starter by fans despite a toe injury that's kept him sidelined since early June. Trout was also poised to start in his 11th career All-Star Game before breaking his hamate bone on a swing Monday. Alvarez and McClanahan were both named to the AL squad as reserves while already on the IL.
Kershaw, meanwhile, had been named to his 10th NL All-Star team before landing on the IL with shoulder soreness on Monday.
The 2023 MLB All-Star Game will be played on July 11 at Seattle's T-Mobile Park.
