Shohei Ohtani on Sunday became a two-way All-Star for the third straight year when he was picked for the American League pitching staff, while Taiwanese-American outfielder Corbin Carroll is to be the youngest All-Star this year at 22.
Carroll, whose mother was born in Taiwan, was elected in a fan vote to start in the outfield at the game in his hometown of Seattle on Tuesday next week.
“I don’t think you could really dream of anything more than that, right?” Carroll told MLB.com last week after finding out he would be starting. “To have your first All-Star Game in the city you grew up in, at the stadium you grew up going to, it’s very exciting to think about.”
Photo: AFP
The Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder is to be the first major league rookie to start a Midsummer Classic since the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge in 2017, and the 24th since 1936, MLB.com said.
A first-round draft pick out of high school in 2019, Carroll has 17 home runs and 24 stolen bases on 26 attempts, making him a favorite to win the National League Rookie of the Year, it said.
“If you’re a baseball fan and not aware of the great things this kid is doing, you must be living under rock,” MLB.com quoted the Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen as saying.
Photo: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY
Based on his regular-season statistics as of Monday last week, Carroll was on track to receive the second-biggest amount from this year’s US$50 million pre-arbitration bonus.
Based on wins above replacement calculations issued by the MLB on Friday, Carroll would get US$834,131 of the bonus established as part of last year’s collective bargaining agreement.
In the American League, Ohtani was elected to the pitching staff by players 10 days after fans voted him to start as designated hitter. He appeared on the most ballots among American League players. He is the only two-way All-Star in major league history.
“He’s very respectful. He doesn’t do a whole bunch of talking,” American League manager Dusty Baker of Houston said. “He comes to play, and he really handles the notoriety and the publicity with humility and greatness.”
At the 2021 game in Denver, Ohtani grounded out against Max Scherzer and Corbin Burnes, and pitched a perfect first inning, retiring Fernando Tatis Jr. on a flyout and Max Muncy and Nolan Arenado on groundouts.
Last year at Dodger Stadium, Ohtani singled on Clayton Kershaw’s first pitch of the game and walked against Joe Musgrove. Ohtani did not pitch.
Eight Atlanta Braves were chosen for the All-Stars game, the most of any team since 2012.
Atlanta outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr, shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy were elected to the National League starting lineup by fans. They are to be joined by five teammates voted in by fellow players: starting pitchers Spencer Strider and Bryce Elder, first baseman Matt Olson, second baseman Ozzie Albies and third baseman Austin Riley.
Atlanta is a major league-best 56-27 after winning 23 of its last 26 games.
“To have eight guys, it’s awesome,” Riley said.
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