Stars Shine at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game
The 2025 MLB All-Star Game promises to be a memorable event, with the participation of 19 players debuting in the prestigious encounter and a legend returning to shine once more. The event will take place on July 15th at Truist Park in Atlanta, where the best baseball talents will gather.Among the prominent figures, Clayton Kershaw, pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers and three-time Cy Young Award winner, has been selected for his eleventh National League All-Star Game as a special commissioner’s selection. Kershaw joins Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera as a legendary selection, following in the footsteps of the sluggers selected in 2022.
Kershaw, known for his impressive career, became the fourth left-handed pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts in his career. His current performance backs him up, with a 4-0 record and an ERA of 3.43 in nine starts, after starting the season on the injured list. Among the rookies selected for the All-Star Game are Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Kershaw’s teammate on the Dodgers; James Wood and MacKenzie Gore of the Washington Nationals; Hunter Brown and Jeremy Peña of the Houston Astros; and Matthew Boyd of the Chicago Cubs. Previously chosen by the fans to be starters are Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners, Jacob Wilson of the Athletics, Ryan O’Hearn of the Baltimore Orioles, and Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs. In total, 19 players will make their All-Star Game debut, a figure lower than the 32 rookies who were selected for the initial rosters in 2024. Kershaw’s selection could be an emotional gesture, but Paul Skenes, ace of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who leads National League pitchers in ERA and WAR, could be the one chosen to start for the second consecutive year. Zack Wheeler, of the Philadelphia Phillies, is also a strong candidate after his outstanding victory and solid season. Kershaw started as a pitcher in the All-Star Game in 2022, at Dodger Stadium. Juan Soto of the New York Mets and Mookie Betts of the Dodgers were not selected. Soto, who signed a $765 million contract in the offseason, had a slow start, but was named National League Player of the Month in June and ranked among the best in WAR, OBP, OPS, and runs scored. Players voted for the reserves at each position, choosing James Wood, Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres as substitute outfielders. Kyle Stowers was also selected as a substitute outfielder representing the Miami Marlins. Soto could miss his first All-Star Game since his first full season in 2019, unless he is added as a replacement due to injury. The Dodgers lead with five representatives: Kershaw, Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. The Detroit Tigers and the Seattle Mariners, who lead the American League, each have four. Tarik Skubal of the Tigers will join American League starters Riley Greene, Gleyber Torres and Javier Báez, while Raleigh, the American League’s starting catcher, will be accompanied by his Seattle teammates Bryan Woo, Andres Muñoz and Julio Rodríguez. Jacob deGrom of the Texas Rangers was selected for the fifth time in his career, but it’s the first since 2021. DeGrom is healthy after only nine starts in his first two seasons with the Rangers and has a 9-2 record with a 2.13 ERA. The Atlanta Braves, the home team, will have three All-Stars: Acuña, pitcher Chris Sale (his ninth selection, tied with Freeman for the second most behind Kershaw) and first baseman Matt Olson. The San Francisco Giants saw three pitchers selected: Logan Webb, Robbie Ray and reliever Randy Rodríguez. The New York Yankees, who are in a complicated moment, will have three All-Stars: Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Max Fried. The Mets also got three All-Star selections: Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Edwin Díaz. Rosters expand from 26 to 32 players for the All-Star Game. They include starters chosen by the fans, 17 players (five starting pitchers, three relievers, and one substitute for each position) chosen in a player vote, and six players (four pitchers and two position players) selected by league officials. All teams must be represented. Acuña, Wood, and Raleigh are the three All-Stars who have so far committed to participate in the Home Run Derby.
