MLB announces 2017 All-Star starting lineups
By John Buhler
The starting lineups for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game have been announced. Find out which players get to start the Mid-Summer Classic down in Miami this year.
The 2017 MLB season has begun its fourth month of the year. That means the 2017 MLB All-Star Game down in Miami is only a few weeks away. The Mid-Summer Classic is always an exciting time and this will be the first time that Marlins Park gets to host baseball’s greatest glorified exhibition.
While at least one player from all 30 MLB teams will represent their club down in South Beach this July, don’t we need to know who the starters are going to be? Well, on Sunday, July 2 at 7:00 p.m. ET, the MLB announced the 17 players that have been voted in by the fans as All-Star starters.
As expected, many of the best players from the top teams in the league are well represented. There are familiar faces scattered all across the diamond. Even the hometown Marlins got one of their guys into the starting lineup. Let’s take a look at the starting position players in both leagues.
Keep in mind that the All-Star skippers, Terry Francona for the American League and Joe Maddon for the National League, get to help put together the rest of the reserves and the pitching staffs.
Here are the nine players, including the designated hitter, that will start for the American League at the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami.
American League
- Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals
- First Base: Justin Smoak, Toronto Blue Jays
- Second Base: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros
- Shortstop: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
- Third Base: Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians
- Outfield: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
- Outfield: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
- Outfield: George Springer, Houston Astros
- Designated Hitter: Corey Dickerson, Tampa Bay Rays
The Houston Astros are well represented in the American League starting lineup. That’s because they are by far and away the best team at the midway point in 2017. Second basemen Jose Altuve, shortstop Carlos Correa and power-hitting outfielder George Springer will all represent the Astros.
It should be noted that New York Yankees rookie phenom Aaron Judge will start in the outfield. The same for the best player in the American League in Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim’s Mike Trout, although he is currently injured.
Here are the eight players that will start for the National League at the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami.
National League
- Catcher: Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants
- First Base: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals
- Second Base: Daniel Murphy, Washington Nationals
- Shortstop: Zack Cosart: Cincinnati Reds
- Third Base: Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies
- Outfield: Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies
- Outfield: Bryce Harper, Washington Nationals
- Outfield: Marcell Ozuna, Miami Marlins
As for the National League, a trio of Washington Nationals and a pair of Colorado Rockies comprise five of the eight starting selections. For the Nationals, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman, second basemen Daniel Murphy and outfielder Bryce Harper make the team. Colorado has third basemen Nolan Arenado and outfielder Charlie Blackmon representing them in Miami.
Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna will be in the starting lineup for the host city. Buster Posey represents the lousy San Francisco Giants behind the plate. Because Zack Cosart won the fan vote at shortstop, teammate first baseman Joey Votto now owes him a donkey. A bet’s a bet.
It should be noted that the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t get a starter into the MLB All-Star Game. However, we should expect Dodger Blue to be well represented the reserves and pitching staff department.
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Overall, the fans got it mostly right. There wasn’t a ton of ballot stuffing by Chicago Cubs or Giants fans. It’s honestly strange to not see a member of the St. Louis Cardinals or the Boston Red Sox make the first wave of All-Star starters, but that’s just baseball for you.