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SEATTLE — Will it be the Year of the Newbie at the 2023 MLB All-Star Game?

There are 33 — yes, 33 — first-time All-Stars on the rosters of Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park. To put it into perspective, that’s tied for the eighth most ever (the record is 42, set in 2021) and only three fewer than in 1933 — the first All-Star Game.

While some of these players are sure to be on baseball fans’ radars — particularly if they play for their favorite team or one of its rivals — more than a few faces might be unfamiliar.

Here’s a look at some of the most notable first-timers — and how they might rock the All-Star Game.

The rookies

Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

The number(s) that got him here: The 22-year-old outfielder, born and raised in Seattle, is the first rookie in MLB history with 15 home runs and 25 stolen bases before the All-Star break.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: By hitting a home run and stealing a base. Or stealing three. He’s that good and that fast.

The quote: “It’s a great accomplishment. I’m super proud of it. Being in the stadium and hometown I grew up in is very special. The support I have here in Seattle is so cool.” — Carroll


Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: Jung is the first rookie primary third baseman with at least 15 home runs and 50 RBIs before the All-Star break since Evan Longoria in 2008.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: With a diving stop at third base. Jung is one of only eight third basemen in the majors with positive defensive runs saved.

The quote: “That’s some pretty big shoes to fill. Being here is cool, but I have a long time to make up for what he was doing.” — Jung on carrying the All-Star torch for former Ranger Adrian Beltre at third base

The ‘old’ rookie

Yennier Cano, Baltimore Orioles

The number(s) that got him here: Cano had the longest scoreless innings streak to begin a season by an Orioles reliever (21⅔) during the Expansion Era (since 1961). The 29-year-old’s 1.48 ERA is also the lowest first-half ERA from an Orioles rookie with at least 40 innings pitched in franchise history.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he allows even one baserunner it’ll be a surprise, as Cano has thrown the most innings (42⅔) with the lowest WHIP (0.89) of any reliever in the game.

The quote: “It’s the biggest thing to ever happen to me in baseball. Starting out the year in Triple-A and then being here, it’s incredible.” — Cano

The star finally getting his due

Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays

The number(s) that got him here: A lot of votes. Arozarena’s stats are good, but his popularity made him an All-Star, via the fan voting. The star of Tampa Bay’s 2020 World Series run finished in the top three among outfielders — along with injured former MVPs Aaron Judge and Mike Trout — putting him in the game.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: Take your pick. Jumping into the stands for a selfie while making a diving catch, hitting a game-winning home run or stealing one at the fence. Arozarena might do them all.

The quote: “If I were a betting man, I’d say he’s going to win the MVP. I know he’s going to fold his arms and do his pose at some point.” — Rays teammate and fellow All-Star Wander Franco

The breakout bats

Adolis Garcia, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: García leads MLB in RBIs (75) and outfield assists (10). The only other players to lead MLB in RBIs and outfield assists at the All-Star break? Manny Ramirez in 2005 and Chuck Klein in 1933.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: By throwing out a runner at home plate.

The quote: “Adolis is a great card player. We play a game called Casino. He’s probably the best one in our locker room for sure. Oh, and he’s the best hitter.” — Rangers teammate and fellow All-Star Jonah Heim


Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers

The number(s) that got him here: Heim has the most RBIs by a Rangers primary catcher before the All-Star break since Ivan Rodriguez in 2000.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he throws out a runner attempting to steal. That hasn’t happened in an All-Star Game since Lance Berkman got caught in 2011.

The quote: “He’s such a hard worker. He stays after games and hits on the field. His work ethic is unmatched. But he’s only pretty good at ping-pong and his card playing is OK. He’s always in a good mood, though.” — Rangers teammate and fellow All-Star Josh Jung


Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics

The number(s) that got him here: Rooker leads the A’s in home runs (16). He’s one of only two Oakland players to hit at least 10 in the first half (Shane Langeliers is the other).

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If he’s traded midgame. Rooker has switched teams three times since the beginning of last season, yet here he is as the lone All-Star from the A’s.

The quote: “As a 27-year-old, spending most of last season at Triple-A, this seemed like a far reach, but here I am. The All-Star Game didn’t cross my mind until last Sunday when they told me I was in it.” — Rooker

The breakout arms

Alexis Diaz, Cincinnati Reds

The number(s) that got him here: Diaz is tied for the MLB lead (26) in saves. Of the three closers he’s tied with, he has the fewest blown saves (one).

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: If, when he runs in from the bullpen, Timmy Trumpet breaks out Narco from the warning track in an ode to brother Edwin, the New York Mets closer who’s out for the season after getting hurt during the World Baseball Classic. Well, maybe not …

The quote: “He told me if you put in this hard work, you’ll be able to get there. He was excited and happy for me. But I’m not going to have Timmy Trumpet play. I’m going to play my song.” — Diaz on his brother Edwin


Camilo Doval, San Francisco Giants

The number(s) that got him here: Doval is tied for the MLB lead in saves with 26.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: He’ll make headlines if he nails a couple of hitters, as he ranks in the top five among relievers in hitting batters with pitches.

The quote: “I took advantage of the opportunities given to me. My teammates enjoy seeing me play. I really enjoy the game. It’s a dream come true. I will never forget it.” — Doval


Michael Lorenzen, Detroit Tigers

The number(s) that got him here: He has the lowest ERA among Tigers starters, outside of Eduardo Rodriguez, who was injured when selections were made, and has logged the most innings.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: When Lorenzen, a former quasi two-way player, is pressed into service as a pinch hitter, winning the game at the plate and pitching the final inning.

The quote: “There’s a little bit of, ‘Do I deserve to be here?’ Probably not, to be honest, but I’m going to enjoy it. No one can take it from me.” — Lorenzen


Justin Steele, Chicago Cubs

The number(s) that got him here: The NL starter trails Clayton Kershaw by 0.01 points (2.56 to 2.55) for the league lead in ERA at the break.

How he’s most likely to steal the show tonight: When, after making a stellar All-Star Game debut, he pivots during an on-field interview, talking about his beloved New Orleans Saints. Steele might like them more than pitching. If not, it’s close.

The quote: “I’ve done a lot of reflecting. Being here is so special. I guess I started thinking about [the All-Star Game] when it popped up on social media. And meeting Clayton Kershaw is very cool. I grew up idolizing him. To share a locker room with him is just awesome.” — Steele

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It’s MLB Home Run Derby Day! Predictions, live updates and takeaways

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It's MLB Home Run Derby Day! Predictions, live updates and takeaways

It’s 2025 MLB All-Star Home Run Derby day in Atlanta!

Some of the most dynamic home run hitters in baseball will be taking aim at the Truist Park stands on Monday (8 p.m. ET on ESPN) in one of the most anticipated events of the summer.

While the prospect of a back-to-back champion is out of the picture — 2024 winner Teoscar Hernandez is not a part of this year’s field — a number of exciting stars will be taking the field, including Atlanta’s own Matt Olson, who replaced Ronald Acuna Jr. just three days before the event. Will Olson make a run in front of his home crowd? Will Cal Raleigh show off the power that led to 38 home runs in the first half? Or will one of the younger participants take the title?

We have your one-stop shop for everything Derby related, from predictions to live updates once we get underway to analysis and takeaways at the night’s end.


MLB Home Run Derby field

Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners (38 home runs in 2025)
James Wood, Washington Nationals (24)
Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays (23)
Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins (21)
Brent Rooker, Athletics (20)
Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves (17)
Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees (17)
Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh Pirates (16)


Live updates


Who is going to win the Derby and who will be the runner-up?

Jeff Passan: Raleigh. His swing is perfect for the Derby: He leads MLB this season in both pull percentage and fly ball percentage, so it’s not as if he needs to recalibrate it to succeed. He has also become a prolific hitter from the right side this season — 16 home runs in 102 at-bats — and his ability to switch between right- and left-handed pitching offers a potential advantage. No switch-hitter (or catcher for that matter) has won a Home Run Derby. The Big Dumper is primed to be the first, beating Buxton in the finals.

Alden Gonzalez: Cruz. He might be wildly inconsistent at this point in his career, but he is perfect for the Derby — young enough to possess the stamina required for a taxing event that could become exhausting in the Atlanta heat; left-handed, in a ballpark where the ball carries out better to right field; and, most importantly, capable of hitting balls at incomprehensible velocities. Raleigh will put on a good show from both sides of the plate but will come in second.

Buster Olney: Olson. He is effectively pinch-hitting for Acuna, and because he received word in the past 72 hours of his participation, he hasn’t had the practice rounds that the other competitors have been going through. But he’s the only person in this group who has done the Derby before, which means he has experienced the accelerated pace, adrenaline and push of the crowd.

His pitcher, Eddie Perez, knows something about performing in a full stadium in Atlanta. And, as Olson acknowledged in a conversation Sunday, the park generally favors left-handed hitters because of the larger distances that right-handed hitters must cover in left field.

Jesse Rogers: Olson. Home-field advantage will mean something this year as hitting in 90-plus degree heat and humidity will be an extra challenge in Atlanta. Olson understands that and can pace himself accordingly. Plus, he was a late addition. He has got nothing to lose. He’ll outlast the young bucks in the field. And I’m not putting Raleigh any lower than second — his first half screams that he’ll be in the finals against Olson.

Jorge Castillo: Wood. His mammoth power isn’t disputed — he can jack baseballs to all fields. But the slight defect in his power package is that he doesn’t hit the ball in the air nearly as often as a typical slugger. Wood ranks 126th out of 155 qualified hitters across the majors in fly ball percentage. And he still has swatted 24 home runs this season. So, in an event where he’s going to do everything he can to lift baseballs, hitting fly balls won’t be an issue, and Wood is going to show off that gigantic power en route to a victory over Cruz in the finals.


Who will hit the longest home run of the night — and how far?

Passan: Cruz hits the ball harder than anyone in baseball history. He’s the choice here, at 493 feet.

Gonzalez: If you exclude the Coors Field version, there have been just six Statcast-era Derby home runs that have traveled 497-plus feet. They were compiled by two men: Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. James Wood — all 6-foot-7, 234 pounds of him — will become the third.

Olney: James Wood has the easy Stanton- and Judge-type power, and he will clear the Chophouse with the longest homer. Let’s say 497 feet.

Rogers: Hopefully he doesn’t injure himself doing it, but Buxton will break out his massive strength and crush a ball at least 505 feet. I don’t see him advancing far in the event, but for one swing, he’ll own the night.

Castillo: Cruz hits baseballs hard and far. He’ll crush a few bombs, and one will reach an even 500 feet.


Who is the one slugger fans will know much better after the Derby?

Passan: Buxton capped his first half with a cycle on Saturday, and he’ll carry that into the Derby, where he will remind the world why he was baseball’s No. 1 prospect in 2015. Buxton’s talent has never been in question, just his health. And with his body feeling right, he has the opportunity to put on a show fans won’t soon forget.

Olney: Caminero isn’t a big name and wasn’t a high-end prospect like Wood was earlier in his career. Just 3½ years ago, Caminero was dealt to the Rays by the Cleveland Guardians in a relatively minor November trade for pitcher Tobias Myers. But since then, he has refined his ability to cover inside pitches and is blossoming this year into a player with ridiculous power. He won’t win the Derby, but he’ll open some eyes.


What’s the one moment we’ll all be talking about long after this Derby ends?

Gonzalez: The incredible distances and velocities that will be reached, particularly by Wood, Cruz, Caminero, Raleigh and Buxton. The hot, humid weather at Truist Park will only aid the mind-blowing power that will be on display Monday night.

Rogers: The exhaustion on the hitter’s faces, swinging for home run after home run in the heat and humidity of Hot-lanta!

Castillo: Cruz’s 500-foot blast and a bunch of other lasers he hits in the first two rounds before running out of gas in the finals.

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Report: Sternberg to sell Rays for $1.7 billion

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Report: Sternberg to sell Rays for .7 billion

Tampa Bay Rays owner Stu Sternberg has agreed in principle to a $1.7 billion deal to sell the franchise to a group led by a Florida-based developer Patrick Zalupski, according to a report from The Athletic.

The deal is reportedly expected to be closed as early as September and will keep the franchise in the area, with Zalupski, a homebuilder in Jacksonville, having a strong preference to land in Tampa rather than St. Petersburg.

Sternberg bought the Rays in 2004 for $200 million.

According to Zalupski’s online bio, he is the founder, president and CEO of Dream Finders Homes. The company was founded in December 2008 and closed on 27 homes in Jacksonville the following year. Now, with an expanded footprint to many parts of the United States, Dream Finders has closed on more than 31,100 homes since its founding.

He also is a member of the board of trustees at the University of Florida.

The new ownership group also reportedly includes Bill Cosgrove, the CEO of Union Home Mortgage, and Ken Babby, owner of the Akron RubberDucks and Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, both minor-league teams.

A year ago, Sternberg had a deal in place to build a new stadium in the Historic Gas Plant District, a reimagined recreational, retail and residential district in St. Petersburg to replace Tropicana Field.

However, after Hurricane Milton shredded the roof of the stadium last October, forcing the Rays into temporary quarters, Sternberg changed his tune, saying the team would have to bear excess costs that were not in the budget.

“After careful deliberation, we have concluded we cannot move forward with the new ballpark and development project at this moment,” Sternberg said in a statement in March. “A series of events beginning in October that no one could have anticipated led to this difficult decision.”

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and some other owners began in March to privately push Sternberg to sell the franchise, The Athletic reported.

It is unclear what Zalupski’s group, if it ultimately goes through with the purchase and is approved by MLB owners, will do for a permanent stadium.

The Rays are playing at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, located at the site of the New York Yankees‘ spring training facility and home of their Single-A Tampa Tarpons.

Field Level Media contributed to this report.

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Ohtani hits leadoff for NL; Raleigh cleanup for AL

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Ohtani hits leadoff for NL; Raleigh cleanup for AL

ATLANTA — Shohei Ohtani will bat leadoff as the designated hitter for the National League in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Truist Park, and the Los Angeles Dodgers star will be followed in the batting order by left fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. of the host Atlanta Braves.

Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte will hit third in the batting order announced Monday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, followed by Los Angeles first baseman Freddie Freeman, San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado, Dodgers catcher Will Smith, Chicago Cubs right fielder Kyle Tucker, New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor and Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.

Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes will start his second straight All-Star Game, Major League Baseball announced last week. Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal will make his first All-Star start for the American League.

“I think when you’re talking about the game, where it’s at, these two guys … are guys that you can root for, are super talented, are going to be faces of this game for years to come,” Roberts said.

Detroit second baseman Gleyber Torres will lead off for the AL, followed by Tigers left fielder Riley Greene, New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero, Tigers center fielder Javy Báez and Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson.

Ohtani led off for the AL in the 2021 All-Star Game, when the two-way sensation also was the AL’s starting pitcher. He hit leadoff in 2022, then was the No. 2 hitter for the AL in 2023 and for the NL last year after leaving the Los Angeles Angels for the Dodgers.

Skenes and Skubal are Nos. 1-2 in average four-seam fastball velocity among those with 1,500 or more pitches this season, Skenes at 98.2 mph and Skubal at 97.6 mph, according to MLB Statcast.

A 23-year-old right-hander, Skenes is 4-8 despite a major league-best 2.01 ERA for the Pirates, who are last in the NL Central. The 2024 NL Rookie of the Year has 131 strikeouts and 30 walks in 131 innings.

Skubal, a 28-year-old left-hander, is the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner. He is 10-3 with a 2.23 ERA, striking out 153 and walking 16 in 121 innings.

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