The Philadelphia Phillies are on a roll, sending not one, not two, but three infielders to the MLB All-Star Game this month. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Alec Bohm will be among the starters for the highly anticipated Midsummer Classic, as announced on Wednesday evening. This is quite the accolade for the Phillies, and their manager, Rob Thomson, couldn’t be more thrilled. "It's great for the organization," he said with pride.
The Exciting Lineup
For the National League, it's a star-studded infield with Harper, Turner, and Bohm leading the charge. Turner clinched his spot in a nail-biter vote against Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts. Unfortunately for Betts, even if he had won, he wouldn't be able to play due to a broken left hand. On the other hand, Bohm will be making his All-Star debut after winning a whopping 70% of the final vote over San Diego Padres' third baseman, Manny Machado.
But the excitement doesn't stop with the Phillies. The Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte will be holding down second base, while the Milwaukee Brewers' Christian Yelich will take his place in the outfield alongside Padres teammates Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. The Brewers’ William Contreras will be the man behind the plate, with Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani stepping up as the designated hitter.
American League Standouts
On the American League side, the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge and Juan Soto will be a dynamic duo in the outfield, joined by the Cleveland Guardians' Steven Kwan. The infield is equally impressive with the Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at first base, the Astros' Jose Altuve at second, the Orioles' Gunnar Henderson at shortstop, and the Guardians' Jose Ramirez at third. Adley Rutschman of the Orioles won the vote to be the starting catcher, while the Astros' Yordan Alvarez edged out Baltimore DH Ryan O'Hearn to be the designated hitter, winning 52% to 48% in the final vote.
The Big Announcement
The official list of starters for the July 16 game in Arlington, Texas was released on Wednesday. It's an exciting time for baseball fans as the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers, and San Diego Padres each boast two starters representing their squads.
More Excitement to Come
And it's not over yet! The reserves for both leagues will be announced on Sunday, adding another layer of anticipation. Phillies manager Rob Thomson is optimistic about even more representation from his team. "Hopefully [Bryson] Stott makes it as well," Thomson mentioned. "Atlanta had it last year where all four of their infielders made it."
Building Up the Hype
It's shaping up to be an exhilarating All-Star Game, with top-tier talent from both leagues coming together for an unforgettable night. The Phillies' trio of Harper, Turner, and Bohm leading the National League, and the power-packed American League lineup, promise to make this Midsummer Classic a must-watch event.
So mark your calendars, set your reminders, and get ready for a showcase of baseball's finest. The stage is set for some thrilling performances, and with the lineup announced, fans have plenty to be excited about as we countdown to July 16 in Arlington.
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