MLB All-Star Voting 2017: AL, NL Starting Rosters, Leaders and Final Results
July 2, 2017
Home-field advantage in the World Series will no longer be hanging in the balance during this year's MLB All-Star Game, but there are few more notable individual achievements in professional baseball than being named to the roster.
The full National and American League rosters were announced Sunday during ESPN's All-Star Selection Show. New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge leads the way for the American League, while Washington Nationals outfielder Bryce Harper spearheads the Senior Circuit group.
The game will take place in Miami on Tuesday, July 11, but the collective bargaining agreement negotiated this past offseason eliminated the rule which granted the victor home-field advantage in the Fall Classic.
Here is a look at the rosters.
National League Starters
First Baseman: WAS Ryan Zimmerman
Second Baseman: WAS Daniel Murphy
Shortstop: CIN Zack Cozart
Third Baseman: COL Nolan Arenado
Catcher: SF Buster Posey
Outfielders: WAS Bryce Harper, COL Charlie Blackmon, MIA Marcell Ozuna
American League Starters
First Baseman: TOR Justin Smoak
Second Baseman: HOU Jose Altuve
Shortstop: HOU Carlos Correa
Third Baseman: CLE Jose Ramirez
Catcher: KC Salvador Perez
Outfielders: NYY Aaron Judge, LAA Mike Trout, HOU George Springer
DH: TB Corey Dickerson
National League Pitchers and Reserves
Pitchers: LAD Clayton Kershaw, WAS Max Scherzer, STL Carlos Martinez, ARI Robbie Ray, COL Greg Holland, LAD Kenley Jansen, ARI Zack Greinke, WAS Stephen Strasburg, CHC Wade Davis, SD Brad Hand, MIL Corey Knebel, PHI Pat Neshek
First Basemen: CIN Joey Votto, ARI Paul Goldschmidt
Second Basemen: PIT Josh Harrison, COL DJ LeMahieu
Shortstop: LAD Corey Seager
Third Basemen: ARI Jake Lamb
Catcher: STL Yadier Molina
Outfielders: NYM Michael Conforto, LAD Cody Bellinger, MIA Giancarlo Stanton, ATL Ender Inciarte
Final Five (one picked by fan vote): MIA 1B Justin Bour, CHC 3B Kris Bryant, WAS 3B Anthony Rendon, COL 1B Mark Reynolds, LAD 3B Justin Turner
American League Pitchers and Reserves
Pitchers: BOS Chris Sale, MIN Ervin Santana, CLE Corey Kluber, KC Jason Vargas, CLE Andrew Miller, BOS Craig Kimbrel, HOU Dallas Keuchel, NYY Luis Severino, TEX Yu Darvish, DET Michael Fulmer, HOU Lance McCullers Jr., NYY Dellin Betances
First Baseman: OAK Yonder Alonso
Second Basemen: BAL Jonathan Schoop, NYY Starlin Castro
Shortstop: CLE Franciso Lindor
Third Baseman: MIN Miguel Sano
Catcher: NYY Gary Sanchez
Outfielders: BOS Mookie Betts, CLE Michael Brantley, CHI Avisail Garcia
DH: SEA Nelson Cruz
Final Five (one picked by fan vote): TEX SS Elvis Andrus, BOS SS Xander Bogaerts, NYY SS Didi Gregorius, KC 3B Mike Moustakas, TB 1B Logan Morrison
New Roster Rules
The elimination of home-field advantage for the World Series isn't the only change for this year's All-Star Game.
Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com broke down the differences in the roster-selection process, noting there are 32 spots for each league (20 position players and 12 pitchers) instead of the previous 34.
Rather than having the managers—Joe Maddon of the Chicago Cubs and Terry Francona of the Cleveland Indians—choose the reserves and the majority of the roster, the players, commissioner's office and fans combined to select the groups this year.
Fans voted in the starters, while the players chose 16 reserves for the NL (eight pitchers and a backup for each position) and 17 for the AL (including the designated hitter). The commissioner's office then chose four pitchers and three position players for the NL and four pitchers and one position player for the AL, ensuring every team has at least one representative.
The last roster spot for each league will be determined by a final vote by the fans, and the managers will choose the starting pitchers for the game.
Breakdown
Judge stands out among the AL players considering he is a Triple Crown contender for MLB's marquee franchise.
He has thrilled New York Yankees fans this season with a slash line of .327/.448/.687 to go along with 27 home runs and 62 RBI. Judge has become appointment viewing this season not only due to his sheer number of home runs, but the way they travel as Babe Ruth-esque blasts.
As for the NL, Harper jumps out as a household name who led the league in voting. His Nationals are running away with the NL East, and teammates Ryan Zimmerman and Daniel Murphy will join him in the starting lineup.
One household name who may not have the chance to participate is Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who is currently out with a torn ligament in his thumb. However, the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com) noted he is set to participate in a full workout with the Angels' Class A affiliate Tuesday.
While fans might not see Trout, Miami Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna is sure to be a primary draw as the lone starter for the hometown team. While the Marlins have struggled to keep pace with Washington in the standings, Ozuna has impressed with 22 long balls and a .316/.376/.573 slash line.
The 56-27 Houston Astros, who haven't struggled at all in the standings, were rewarded with a starting double-play tandem of Carlos Correa at shortstop and Jose Altuve at second base. Outfielder George Springer also drew enough votes to earn a starting role.
There were a number of notable races for starting spots heading into Sunday's announcement.
Joe Trezza of MLB.com noted the third base races were narrow in each league. Cleveland's Jose Ramirez held off charges from Minnesota's Miguel Sano and Toronto's Josh Donaldson in the AL, while Colorado's Nolan Arenado used a late push to surpass Chicago's Kris Bryant, the reigning NL MVP.
Bryant wasn't the only Cub to just miss a starting spot, as Zimmerman held off Anthony Rizzo in a tight race for starting NL first baseman.