NEW YORK - JULY 15: (L-R) David Ortiz #34 and Manny Ramirez #24 of the Boston Red Sox look on prior to the 79th MLB All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium on July 15, 2008 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) | Getty Images
When your franchise is decades older than the very first iteration of your sport’s all-star event, you’re bound to have some iconic players making some key plays during the league’s premier mid-year showcase. The Boston Red Sox are no exception to that.
Over 125 seasons and……….well, a lot of All-Stars later (I ain’t counting all of these; there’s at least four guys on there though, no arguing that), the law firm of Rafaela, Chapman, and Contreras (Suarez is on vacation, it appears) will look to add on to that legacy of Sox getting the job done during the Midsummer Classic or the preceding Home Run Derby.
With the 96th MLB All-Star Game set to take place in Philadelphia tonight, what better way to celebrate than by counting down the best Red Sox memories from All-Star festivities of yesteryear?
One catch, though: We’re looking at the moments that happened after the 1999 ASG at Fenway. Sorry, that’s too easy. You and I both know that the two best Red Sox All-Star moments are Ted Williams riding out in the golf cart from center and the masterclass that Pedro put on immediately afterwards. You can pick which order you want to put them in. Regardless, including 1999 into this countdown would make everything a foregone conclusion, so let’s mix it up a bit and call this a list of 21st century Sox memories from the ASG.
Honorable Mention: Johnny Damon Doin’ Some Karaoke With Alter Bridge (Detroit 2005)
Dudes rock.
I thought I had maybe imagined this while trying to find the footage. I was striking out for a little bit, thinking I perhaps had a Mandela Effect thing going on. Surely, World Series champion and 2005 All-Star Johnny Damon was not singing some butt rock at Comerica Park before the Home Run Derby, right?
Nope, it was real. Johnny Damon (and Mike Piazza!) were getting fans revved up to see some dingers with the best way the knew how: belting out the tunes. All-Stars can be crooners, too.
5. Brock Holt Just Being There As An All-Star (Cincinnatti 2015)
That was awesome, huh? .280/.349/.379 sure looks like the triple slash of an All-Star to me, dear reader.
In a season that was as garbage as 2015 was, it was nice to have a win like this one. Someone had to represent the team in Cincy—I’m glad it was our ol’ pal Brock. That can be the the beauty of MLB’s All-Star Game: Future Hall of Famers can rub elbows with guys who are cult heroes in their own cities.
And Holt took a bag off of one of the best defensive catchers we’ve ever seen! Not too shabby for a guy who was selected just because every team has to have a representative!
4. Manny And Papi Have Liftoff In Space City (Houston 2004)
The best 1-2 combo in the league in 2004 showed everybody what they were about during the 2004 All-Star Game, as Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz both left the yard en route to a massive 9-4 win for the Junior Circuit.
Manny was first in the opening frame, sending a two-run bomb into the Crawford Boxes to really open up the scoring. It was part of a six-run first inning against, guess who, Roger Clemens. Papi followed in the sixth inning to extend the AL’s lead with a massive dinger.
The duo went on to have no other notable hits in the 2004 season.
3. David Ortiz: Derby Champion (Anaheim 2010)
Speaking of Ortiz homers….
It took Papi a couple of tries (he was in three straight derbies between 2004 and 2006), but he was finally able to claim the Home Run Derby crown at Angels Stadium in 2010. Ironically enough, he beat future teammate Hanley Ramirez in the final.
Much like his lack of output in 2004, Mr. Ortiz went on to have a quiet career after his triumph in the summer of 2010.
(By the way, look at how far news videos have come based off of that video from the AP)
2. JD Drew Ties It Up In The Bronx (New York 2008)
JD Drew waited a while to become an All-Star. When he finally got his chance, he did not disappoint.
His two-run dinger in the seventh inning finally got the AL on the board at the old (but not the OLD old) Yankee Stadium in 2008. The game eventually lasted for 15 innings—the NL actually got the lead right back after Drew’s heroics before the AL tied it again—before the American League walked it off late into the summer night. Still, Drew’s home run was enough to earn him the MVP nod.
Drew didn’t even have the best homer as a Boston player en route to an ASG MVP award in the 21st century, though…
1. Jarren Duran Gives The AL The Lead (Texas 2024)
Jarren Duran’s excellent 2024 campaign with the Sox was punctuated with a huge go-ahead homer in the fifth inning to put the American League out in front in Texas. The AL went on to hold onto the lead for the rest of the game, and number 16 was rewarded with the game’s MVP award for his efforts. He was also rewarded with an interview from that guy who didn’t amount to much after he and his pal hit some homers of their own in Texas 20 years earlier.
On top of that, his homer ensured that people would forget that Tanner Houck gave up a nuke to that Ohtani fella earlier in the night. Nice teammate!
Hopefully, this article will be a lil’ out of date by the end of the night. Let me know if you think I forgot any memories in the comments below. Regardless of whether you think I did or didn’t, though, enjoy the game!
San Diego, CA - August 17: Gio Rojas pitches for the East team during the Dick's Sporting Goods Perfect Game All-American Classic at Petco Park on August 17, 2025 in San Diego, CA. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune via Getty Images)
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The 2026 MLB Draft took place over the weekend, with the Texas Rangers’ selections highlighted by prep lefties Gio Rojas and Brody Bumila in rounds one and three and Austin Anderson infielder Connor Comeau in round two.
Today’s Rangers Reacts survey asks you to grade the Rangers’ draft. Yes, I know, its an exercise of futility to try to grade a draft the day after it ends. It takes years to see how a draft works out. But we’re doing the poll anyway, because its fun, dammit!
St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker was the biggest star on the Home Run Derby stage Monday night in Philadelphia. But his family members cheering him on from the stands might have been a close second.
As the 24-year-old Walker slugged his way to a victory over hometown favorite Kyle Schwarber in the final round, his parents' emotional reaction to each and every homer provided a refreshingly human aspect to the slickly produced and sponsor-heavy event.
“He was awesome today," Derek gushed. "I just loved everything about it. Just his attitude, his approach, the smoothness of swing. Looked like his dad. But yeah, he just did a great job. We're so proud of him.”
That familial pride certainly came through during the competition, as the broadcast repeatedly cut to reactions from his dad and mom, Katrina, who were both sporting Cardinals jerseys with Walker's No. 18 on the front and "Jordan's Dad" and "Jordan's Mom," respectively, on the back.
“From an early age, he always loved the game. He always loved to play baseball. Loved to sleep with his glove. He always had a bat," Derek continued.
"We traveled with it all the time. He ate, slept, thought baseball, and he just kept progressing. He just kept getting better and better and working on his craft. And again, we can't be more proud.”
Walker's parents were such a hit, they later joined the postgame set, along with his sister and grandmother, to chat with MLB superstars Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols and Anthony Rizzo.
Who’s cutting onions? 🥺
You’re going to want to watch this moment with Jordan Walker and his family after he won the T-Mobile Home Run Derby ❤️ #HRDerbypic.twitter.com/bhOeQdfBVg
It all made for a memorable evening for the Walker family, especially since the $1 million prize for winning the competition was more than he'll earn in salary for the entire 2026 season.
It also made for a memorable evening for viewers who stuck around for the postgame celebration.
The Mets will return from the All-Star break on Thursday night in Philadelphia with a record of 40-57. Mathematical elimination is perhaps months away, but New York's season -- when it comes to competing for a playoff spot -- is over.
That is a gut punch for a team that entered the year with enormous expectations.
The job for the front office now becomes deciding just how much to tear down at the trade deadline and which players are true keepers for 2027 and beyond.
Juan Soto Francisco Lindor Carson Benge A.J. Ewing Nolan McLean Christian Scott
Beyond those six players, I think it makes all the sense in the world to keep Francisco Alvarez (an above average offensive catcher under team control through 2029) and Luis Torrens (one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, signed through 2028) unless the Mets are absolutely bowled over.
But pretty much everyone else should be available.
At the top of the list will be players who are set to be free agents at the end of the season, including Freddy Peralta, Brooks Raley, and A.J. Minter, while a reliever like Huascar Brazoban should also have some value given his years of control and relatively low salary.
Jun 9, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) delivers a pitch during the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta - Imagn Images
Clay Holmes' situation is tricky, since he's all but certain to decline the $12 million player option he holds for the 2027 season. But he's open to an extension, which seems like a no-brainer for the Mets.
The same can be said when it comes to Luke Weaver, who is under contract through 2027, but could potentially bring the Mets a relative haul if they trade him now.
It has been a strange, disjointed season for Lindor, who made uncharacteristic mental mistakes in the field early this season before landing on the IL with a calf injury that cost him two months.
Since returning, Lindor has been shaking off the rust at the plate, and his defense has still been iffy -- including a play last Sunday against the Red Sox where he booted a grounder that would've been a game-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Overall, Lindor's defense at shortstop is in the 65th percentile, via Baseball Savant/OAA, which is a tick above average. So the optics have been worse than the actual results.
The same can be said for his offense.
Lindor is hitting just .216/.298/.373 (.671 OPS, 86 OPS+) in 40 games, but he is average to well above average this year in 12 of 13 key advanced metrics tracked by Baseball Savant, including xwOBA, xBA, xSLG, average exit velocity, and hard hit percentage.
Add to the above the fact that Lindor was an elite player from 2022 to 2025, finishing top 10 in MVP voting each season, and it's fair to believe his numbers will be there when the year ends.
Also of interest: will the relationship between Lindor and Soto, which was frosty last season, continue to grow?
One of the Mets' hopes ahead of this season was that Jonah Tong and/or Jack Wenninger would excel for Triple-A Syracuse and be an option for the big league rotation sooner rather than later.
That hasn't happened. And in the case of Tong, who has been attempting to add some east to west pitches to his profile to complement his north to south arsenal, the struggles have been deep.
That has opened a door in the bigs for Thornton, who has been very impressive in limited action.
Jun 26, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets starting pitcher Zach Thornton (49) follows through on a pitch against the Philadelphia Phillies during the third inning at Citi Field. / Brad Penner-Imagn Images
In 17.1 innings over three starts, Thornton has a 2.60 ERA (2.98 FIP) and 0.92 WHIP while allowing just 11 hits, walking five, and striking out 15.
It is command over stuff for Thornton, who relies heavily on his four-seam fastball and cutter, while mixing in a sweeper and sinker as his other main offerings.
The Mets don't need Thornton to be a savior. They simply need him to be someone who can be relied on to eat innings and limit blowup outings -- something most of their rotation members this season have not been able to do.
If Thornton continues to pitch well -- and he should get every opportunity to remain in the rotation down the stretch -- he could add a nice element to their rotation plans for 2027.
Both Semien and Polanco are having nightmare first seasons in New York after being acquired as part of David Stearns' offensive makeover.
Semien struggled on both sides of the ball, played through a hip injury for a while, and then landed on the IL.
Polanco, who has been slowed by an Achilles issue for most of the season, has played just 19 games and posted a .514 OPS.
Jun 24, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Marcus Semien (10) turns a double play during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field. / Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Semien should be back shortly after the All-Star break, when he could potentially show that his substandard second base defense had a lot to do with his hip injury. But his offense, which was a tick below average for the Rangers last season, will be a huge concern until he shows he can again produce at an acceptable level at the plate.
As far as Polanco, he has been limited to DH duty since returning and will likely not get much playing time in the field moving forward.
Semien is under contract through 2028, with Polanco signed through 2027, so the Mets are in a bit of a bind if they don't improve.
The Mets have been high on Baty for a while, and he appeared poised to hit the ground running this season after posting a career-best .748 OPS (110 OPS+) last year while popping 18 home runs.
Baty also played a career-high 130 games last season, meaning that there was reason to believe that what he did was repeatable.
But it's been a struggle for Baty in 2026, with him hitting just .221/.297/.314 (.610 OPS) with four homers.
His advanced metrics are also mostly poor, meaning this can't be blamed on bad luck.
With this being Baty's fifth big league season, it will be very hard for the Mets to justify having him enter 2027 as an expected key piece of the offense if he doesn't turn it around in the second half.
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - JULY 07: Blaze Alexander #23 of the Baltimore Orioles celebrates with teammates after scoring against the Chicago Cubs at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 07, 2026 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) | Getty Images
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As unbelievable as this would have been when the Orioles acquired him or even at the end of April, the O’s now have to find a way to replace the production that’s been provided by Blaze Alexander at third base this season. Alexander’s hand fracture after being hit by a Royals pitcher on Sunday takes a solid defender and the team’s only .300+ hitter out of the picture for probably at least six weeks, longer if the team is unlucky.
Since we are in the middle of the All-Star break while this news is digested by the team, the Orioles do have a few days before they have to start to commit to a strategy of what to do with third base while Alexander is out. Camden Chat writer Tyler Young broke down the possibilities on the site yesterday. In this week’s survey, I want to know what you think they should do.
Are you still a Coby Mayo believer? Do you want to see Gunnar Henderson shift over to play third base? Is it time for 40-man player Christian Encarnacion-Strand to arrive on the major league roster? Or should the Orioles look outside the organization, as they did when they got Alexander in the first place? Vote in the survey below:
The Mike Elias brain trust is hard to predict. Sometimes they do the thing that makes the most sense based on information available to outsiders. Other times, they venture far afield, sometimes with good results and sometimes not. Getting Alexander in the first place was one of the “venture afield” things that has turned out well so far. The rest of this is trying to make the best of a bad situation.
What do you think? Results will be posted later in the week.
When the National League roster is announced at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, July 14 for the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, the Philadelphia Phillies will have six players introduced — and will likely receive the loudest positive welcome of all the players.
There will be one All-Star-caliber player from the hometown team missing, though.
Wheeler, who has recovered from thoracic outlet surgery in September, has once again pitched like one of baseball's top starting pitchers this season, despite missing all of spring training and most of the first month of the regular season. He went 10-1 in 15 starts in the first half, posting a 2.13 ERA in 93 innings pitched while recording 108 strikeouts.
Despite that success, he was one of the players snubbed from the original version of Dave Roberts' National League roster. He then declined the invitation from Major League Baseball on the fourth-to-last day of the first half to be a replacement player.
Here's a recap of it all:
Why is Zack Wheeler not in the MLB All-Star Game tonight?
It's a three-parter.
The first part is that Wheeler was not voted in by his fellow peers in the league. To some misconception, only positional players are voted into the All-Star Game by the fans, as pitchers are not included on the now-virtual ballots.
"The All-Star Game for pitchers is probably the most difficult because we really only get selected by our peers," former Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels told USA TODAY Sports this week. "... When you actually are having a good season, you want to get recognized for it because being an All-Star carries forward so far into not only your career, but your retirement, because those are the numbers that people recognize."
The second, and Wheeler said he'd be available despite it, is that MLB rules state a pitcher who starts the final game of the first half of the season is ineligible to pitch in the All-Star Game just two days later.
Wheeler started against the Detroit Tigers on July 12, striking out 10 across six scoreless innings.
"I think it's kind of a B.S. rule that just because I pitch on a certain day, I get punished for it," Wheeler said about the MLB rule following his July 7 start against the Cincinnati Reds, where he tied a career-high 14 strikeouts.
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) July 8, 2026
The third, and this is the big one, is that once Major League Baseball reached out to him July 9 to be a replacement player, Wheeler felt disrespected that he wasn't asked to take someone else's spot earlier and instead was like a "fifth option." Therefore, he declined the 11th-hour invitation.
"Because they disrespected me," Wheeler said July 11 when he explained his decision. "So I’m just not gonna participate in that thing."
He added: "I’m not gonna be, like, the fifth option. Maybe I didn’t earn it at the, from the get-go, but maybe just second choice. Once I feel like they kind of messed that up, I’m out."
Wheeler being left off the National League roster, despite pitching like an All-Star, created quite the uproar among those within baseball, including former and current players.
"His numbers are better than mine, and I'm sitting here. I'll leave it at that," Atlanta Braves left-hander Chris Sale told Foul Territory on July 13.
Chris Sale says Zack Wheeler not making the All-Star team is a "head-scratcher, to say the least."
"His numbers are better than mine, and I'm sitting here. I'll leave it at that." pic.twitter.com/oKIJ63YoAx
Meanwhile, San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb told reporters during the media day portion of July 11 All-Star Game events at Citizens Bank Park that he would have given Wheeler his spot.
"I would have given my spot to him for him to be here," Webb said. "He’s one of the best pitchers in baseball. Has been for a long time. It always sucks when guys who are deserving don’t make it. There was a couple of years when I didn’t make it and I thought I should have made it, but I don’t think I ever had stats that look like that."
Zack Wheeler stats
Wheeler holds a 10-1 record in 15 starts on the season to go along with a 2.13 ERA in 93 innings pitched and 108 recorded strikeouts. In his last five starts, Wheeler went 5-0 with a 1.91 ERA and struck out 60 hitters across 42 1/3 innings.
Jul 12, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Milwaukee Brewers second baseman Brice Turang (2) and left fielder Jackson Chourio (11) celebrate after both players scored run on a two run homer run by Turang against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the eighth inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images | Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Brewers fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Welcome back to another edition of our Reacts Survey! This week, we’re asking fans to grade the first half of Milwaukee’s season.
After getting out to a hot start at 8-2, the Crew faltered a bit, falling to .500 though 26 games and jut 16-14 after the first month. Since that point, however, the Brewers have been one of the best teams in baseball. After going 19-7 in the month of May, they then went 17-10 in June before a 7-3 start to July. While they were swept by the Pirates in the final weekend of the first half, they still sit at 59-37 on the season, with a five-game lead atop the NL Central and the second-best record in baseball, behind only the 61-36 Dodgers.
With that in mind, how would you grade the Brewers’ first half? Weigh in below and stay tuned for results later this week!
The Red Sox may be off this week for the All-Star break, but chief baseball officer Craig Breslow remains at work to try to salvage the season.
Breslow’s latest move was a minor one, acquiring outfielder Jahmai Jones in exchange for a player to be named later.
The Red Sox optioned Nate Eaton to Triple-A to make room for Jones.
Prior to being DFA’d, Jones suffered a massive dropoff from 2025, when he posted a .937 in 150 plate appearances, to 2026, when he’s had a .440 OPS in 105 plate appearances.
The 28-year-old is certainly a journeyman. He debuted with the Angels in 2020, played 26 games for the Orioles in 2021, spent the 2022 season in Triple-A, played 11 games for the Brewers in 2023 and played 47 games for the Yankees in 2024 before landing with Detroit in 2025.
Alex Speier, who first reported the trade, noted that Jones’ success against lefties last year likely intrigued the Red Sox. The right-handed Jones batted .288 with a .970 OPS against lefties last season. Last year, the Red Sox relied heavily on Rob Refsnyder and Romy Gonzalez to feast on opposing left-handers. Yet with Refsnyder leaving in free agency and Gonzalez just recently returning from injury, Breslow may be seeking a potential replacement with this move.
While Wilyer Abreu (.948 OPS against lefties) and Ceddanne Rafaela (.877) have been very effective, Jarren Duran (.587) has not.
Jones is unlikely to be the answer, as he got off to a slow start (.194 average in March/April), got worse in May (.114) and fell even further in June (.091) before getting DFA’d.
Yet with the Red Sox riding a ridiculous hot streak into the All-Star break (nine straight wins, victories in 14 of their last 16 games) and climbing back into postseason contention, the front office will be doing what it can to sustain some of that success through the month of July ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - JUNE 11: Rafe Perich #38 of the Frisco RoughRiders rounds the bases in the third inning during the game between the Frisco RoughRiders and the San Antonio Missions at Nelson Wolff Stadium on Thursday, June 11, 2026 in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by Zach Del Bello/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
Congratulations to Rafe Perich, who has been named the #6 prospect in the 2026 LSB Midseason Community Prospect Rankings, receiving a little under a third of the vote.
Our list so far:
1 — Sebastian Walcott
2 — Caden Scarborough
3 — Malcolm Moore
4 — A.J. Russell
5 — Yolfran Castillo
6 — Rafe Perich
Moving on…
Because there has been a history of vote-spamming shenanigans in the rankings, I used Google Forms for the last several of community rankings, and it worked out well, so we will use it again. You will need to include your LSB user name when you vote. If you don’t have an LSB user name, you need to use some sort of identifier. While this won’t eliminate the possibility of vote spamming, it will make it harder.
So who is the #7 prospect in the Rangers system right now?
It’s been a pretty rough go of it thus far this season for Gutierrez, who ranked 24th on our list of the Mets’ top prospects coming into the 2026 season, but he was on fire in the week leading up to the break. The 20-year-old edged out Christopher Morel, who started his time in Syracuse very hot after signing with the Mets recently, for these honors. Gutierrez led the Mets’ minor league system with ten hits, only struck out once, and hit a home run and a double.
We noted that Gutierrez’s defense was ahead of his offense coming into the season, and he had struggled pretty significantly at the plate up until this week. But he had at least one hit in all five games that he played, and he had multi-hit games in four of the five.
Jonathan Santucci, LHP
Week: 1 G (1 GS), 6.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K (Double-A)
Santucci ranked 12th on our list of the Mets’ top prospects before the season began, and after a bit of a rocky start to his season in April with Binghamton, he’s settled in pretty nicely. Since the beginning of May, he has a 3.02 ERA and a 3.30 FIP with a very good 29.0 percent strikeout rate and a decent enough 11.2 percent walk rate. In this start against Hartford, Santucci struck out eight, walked one, and gave up two runs, only one of which was earned.
Perhaps it’s a bit harsh not to give this one to Dakota Hawkins, who threw six perfect innings with five strikeouts in High-A Brooklyn in his lone start of the week, but given that both pitchers are 23 years old, I’ve gone with the slightly imperfect but impressive outing by Santucci. The inimitable Steve Sypa will be back on this series next week.
Jun 9, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Dylan Cease (84) pitches to the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images | John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
If old journalists are to be believed, the MLB All-Star Game used to be far more meaningful than it is today. Apparently, players took the whole league superiority thing seriously, and Pete Rose wanted to win so badly that he helped ruin Ray Fosse’s career.
Though it’s just as possible that Rose saw an opportunity to be an asshole, and never liked passing those up.
These days, with interleague play and player movement more common, it feels like nobody cares quite as much about the game. Still, as a Phillies fan, I’ve always pulled for the National League (Which has historically gone about as well as rooting for the Phillies themselves). While this game won’t decide home field advantage in the World Series or anything that serious, with this year’s game in Philadelphia, and a good number of Phillies on the team (though one fewer than there should be), I’d especially like to see the NL pull out another win this year.
I decided to familiarize myself with the American League personnel, since I realized I didn’t actually know that much about many of the players on the team. (As the years go by, it’s become more and more clear that I’m a Phillies fan, and not actually a baseball fan.)
Here’s a list of the roster – and due to all the injury dropouts, it’s quite bloated. Since I’m actively rooting against them, I’ve tried to work up a little bit of animosity for every player on the team. Apologies if any of these guys is a personal favorite of yours.
The injury dropouts
Vladimir Guerrero, Jr, Blue Jays – All-Star voting has always been as much a popularity contest as rewarding the players having the best season. Back in the day before the internet took off, when a lot of people rarely saw teams from the opposite league, you’d know half the starting lineups before the season just based on name value.
With online voting and statistics readily available, that phenomenon has lessened, yet you still get some players voted in based on their reputations. For example, Vladito was voted the starter at first base despite having a bad season. But since he’s been dealing with injuries, he’ll miss the game.
Nick Kurtz, Athletics – He was named the replacement for Guerrero, and promptly went on the IL, meaning he’ll also miss the game. That’s probably for the best as the sub-.500 homeless Athletics don’t deserve two starters.
Aaron Judge, Yankees – I get why he’s on the team as he’s probably the biggest American-born star in baseball. But he’s hurt, and it isn’t clear when (if?) he’s coming back.
Byron Buxton, Twins – The poor man’s Mike Trout in that he’s always injured and is apparently content to spend his career out of the national spotlight on a non-contender.
Ranger Suarez, Red Sox – Unfortunately, Mr. Rager just made his annual trip to the Injured List due to a hip injury suffered last week.
Cam Schlitter, Yankees – He’s apparently said he won’t pitch in the game. What the heck? You’re a 25-year-old who was never a top prospect, and you’re saying “no thanks” to appearing in the All-Star Game? Sigh…
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 12, 2026
The starters
C – Shea Langeliers, Athletics – His name reminds me of the Stephen King story “The Langoliers.” They made a movie based on it, and in the climax, Balki from Perfect Strangers gets eaten by Pac-Man.
As for Shea, let’s face it, he’s only here because Cal Raleigh inexplicably sucks this year.
1B – Ben Rice, Yankees – And here’s the third choice for the starting first base job. It’s funny that a guy named Rice is like the whitest person in baseball. I mean, the guy went to Dartmouth!
2B – Ernie Clement, Blue Jays – What the heck is Ernie Clement doing in the starting lineup? Did Blue Jays fans go absolutely nuts with the online voting?
SS – Bobby Witt, Jr., Royals – Okay, we finally have a legitimate star player. Although after the Royals gave up a “Little League home run” to the Mets, the league probably should have stepped in and banned all Royals from appearing in this game.
3B – Junior Caminero, Rays – It’s kind of fun when young Rays make the All-Star team because you get to speculate what team they’ll be representing in a few years when they inevitably get traded. (I wouldn’t be mad if the Phillies traded their entire farm system for him.)
OF – Mike Trout, Angels – I mentioned him earlier, but amazingly he actually stayed healthy for half a season. This will probably be the first national television exposure he’s gotten since Eagles players stopped handing him footballs.
OF – Riley Greene, Tigers – He’s basically the poor man’s Kyle Schwarber. But unlike others who I’ll discuss later, he’s still trying to play the field for now, so good for him.
OF – Cody Bellinger, Yankees – I am shocked that Yankees fans haven’t turned on him yet. Don’t worry, they will soon enough when they realize he’s not actually an elite hitter.
DH – Yordan Alvarez, Astros – You shouldn’t be allowed to be a primary designated hitter until you’re at least 30. Grab a glove, Yordan!
P – Dylan Cease, Blue Jays – This guy seems to be on the Aaron Nola trajectory where he’s great every other year, and average to good in the other years. Bad news, Blue Jays fans: He’s on your payroll until age 36, so you’d better hope he ages better than Nola has.
Reserves
Dillon Dingler, Tigers – I suppose when you’re saddled with a last name like Dingler, your options for naming your children are limited. At least his parents tried for some alliteration to make it halfway palatable.
Adley Rutschman, Orioles – He’s gone from “best catcher in baseball” talk to “The Orioles need to send somebody, and there aren’t that many good catchers in the league.”
Travis Bazzana, Guardians – Wonder how much the Savannah Bananas are going to pay him to play for them when his career is over?
Willson Contreras, Red Sox – I honestly can’t remember which Contreras brother is which, and in the end, does it really matter? One of them usually ends up in the game. (Although props to him for playing to the crowd as a heel on Monday night.)
Kevin McGonigle, Tigers – Hailing from Media, McGonigle is actually having a good rookie season. So I’ll just take this opportunity to say I miss the Granite Run Mall. Between the Orange Julius and Showcase Comics, that was a fun mall.
Miguel Vargas, White Sox – Remember when it used to be a big deal for Cuban players to join MLB? You never knew exactly how good – or how old – these guys would actually be when they arrived. It’s nice to see him having a breakthrough season because the Dodgers traded him away, and that team needs to take some L’s.
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox – He competed in the Home Run Derby, and I want to remind people that there is no real basis for the belief that the Derby messing up player’s swings or portending a down second half of the season. Yes, we know that Bobby Abreu stopped hitting home runs after the 2005 Derby. But he had been on a career outlier heater in the first half of that season.
I also want to remind Phillies fans that the reason the team didn’t pursue him harder is because he can barely play the field and the Phillies already have All-Stars at first base and designated hitter. (Would you really rather have him than Kyle Schwarber?)
Randy Arozarena, Mariners – Looking at this guy’s career numbers, he doesn’t scream three-time All-Star to me. That must be because he plays in media hotbeds like Tampa and Seattle. That said, if the Mariners decide to sell at the deadline, I wonder how much he would cost.
Ceddanne Rafaela, Red Sox – Solid player who is probably going to rack up a bunch of All-Star berths over his career when better players drop out, and somebody has to be chosen as replacement.
Tristan Peters, White Sox – I was wondering why the White Sox had so much representation on this team, and then I remembered that they were actually playing well this year. He was also the replacement for a previous injury replacement, so I guess somebody needed to go.
Yandy Diaz, Rays – If I had a nickel for every designated hitter on the All-Star team whose first name started with Y, I’d have two nickels! Which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice.
Pitchers
Parker Messick, Guardians – With MLB’s endless endorsement deals, and a new Spider-Man movie coming out, I’m surprised they didn’t try to work out some sort of deal where he’d call himself “Peter Parker Messick.” (Maybe I shouldn’t give them ideas.)
Nick Martinez, Rays – Yet another guy making the team as a replacement for a player who has dropped out. He’s making his first All-Star team at age 35, and I guess if I had waited that long to make the All-Star team, I’d take it any way I could get it too.
Drew Rasmussen, Rays – It’s amazing how the Milwaukee Brewers consistently make the playoffs when there seem to be so many good ex-Brewer pitchers scattered throughout the league. Remember, never trade with the Rays! (Unless you’re the Phillies and you can get the starting pitcher in the All-Star Game from them!)
Joe Ryan, Twins – He hasn’t been traded yet? It feels like he’s been in trade rumors for the better part of three years now.
All-Star Joe Ryan is pitching so well this year that it actually makes a #MNTwins trade more likely, not less. Regardless of what their record is at the trade deadline.
Here's why: • Ace-level season = peak trade value. • Twins' playoff odds remain modest (32.8% at best),… pic.twitter.com/H2qt6UT0Js
Michael Wacha, Royals – Career mediocrity makes his second ever All-Star game. I don’t know if this is a feel-good story or a testament to how few actually great pitchers there are?
Bryan Baker, Rays – Is this guy actually good, or is this a Jeanmar Gomez situation where if you put a guy into enough save situations, he’ll rack up a hefty save total?
Aroldis Chapman, Red Sox – Speaking of Cubans of questionable ages, when this guy first came over from Cuba, a lot of people assumed he was older than his listed age of 22. But at age 38, he’s still racking up saves, so maybe that was legit? Either way, I kind of hoped we’d be done with him by now.
Jacob Latz, Rangers – This is literally the first time I’ve heard of this guy. It’s weird that the Rangers are in first place, and they could only get one rep on the team, and that’s their closer. Meanwhile, the awful Royals have multiple players on the team. Why not take Jacob deGrom instead of Latz?
Cade Smith, Guardians – I wish the Phillies could call up a reliever and see him instantly dominate like Smith has the last three years.
Justin Verlander, Tigers – He gets to serve as team mascot or something? I’m not sure what the point of these “Legends” picks is supposed to be.
SPARTANBURG, SC - JULY 12: Bowling Green Hot Rods pitcher Jacob Kisting (39) throws a pitch during a High A Minor League Baseball game between the Boiling Green Hot Rods and the Hub City Spartanburgers on July 12, 2026 at Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg, S.C. (Photo by John Byrum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
This was the 14th week of full minor league play (stats are entering play on Tuesday, July 14th).
According to FanGraphs (which factors in age and proximity to the big leagues), prospect Caden Bodine remains the top performer in the system. His full season statline is further below.
Meanwhile, there is a new pitcher reigning supreme in the system, Jacob Kisting. The Rays acquired Kisting for Eric Orze last November and the 23-year old is having a breakout campaign in High-A. Thus far he has compiled a 1.67 ERA | 2.56 FIP with a 28.5 K% & 5.1 BB% over 70 IP.
RUMBLINGS
The Futures Game was Sunday. Nathan Flewelling earned MVP honors after hitting the game’s lone homerun while Theo Gillen collected a hit in three trips to the plate.
Slater de Brun finally made his organization debut as he began a rehab assignment in the Complex League
Tre’ Morgan has started another rehab assignment.
TEAM LEADERS
Must currently be assigned to that team
Baseball America’s top ten prospects are featured below each team they’re currently assigned to.
(minimum of 150 TBF & PA)
Tampa Bay Rays
Top 10 Prospects
None currently on active roster
Durham Bulls
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .261, Blake Sabol OBP: .344, Logan Davidson SLG: .444, Carson Williams HR: 11, Carson Williams wRC+: 101, Carson Williams SB: 18, Homer Bush Jr
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 2.39, Evan Reifert FIP: 3.79, Joe boyle K%: 33.0% Ty Johnson BB%: 8.6%, Chase Solesky WHIP: 0.99, Ty Johnson AVG: .171, Ty Johnson WHIFF%: 15.2%, Ty Johnson
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 4.20, Jackson Baumeister FIP: 4.45, Derrick Edington K%: 29.0%, Jackson Baumeister BB%: 3.2%, Santiago Suarez WHIP 1.10, Jackson Baumeister AVG: .190, Jackson Baumeister WHIFF%: 16.1%, Jackson Baumeister
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .312, Connor Hujsak OBP: .425, Tony Santa Maria SLG: .605, Connor Hujsak HR: 20, Connor Hujsak wRC+: 151, Ryan McCoy SB: 34, Tony Santa Maria
Team Pitching Leaders: ERA: 1.67, Jacob Kisting FIP: 2.56, Jacob Kisting K%: 28.5%, Jacob Kisting BB%: 4.6%, Dominic Niman WHIP: 0.89, Jacob Kisting AVG: .291, Andres Galan WHIFF%: 17.3%, Noah Beal
Team Offensive Leaders: AVG: .308, Tom Poole OBP: .448, Tom Poole SLG: .492, Tom Poole HR: 8, Cooper Flemming wRC+: 158, Tom Poole SB: 26, Alberth Palma
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JUNE 29: Athletics Pitching Coach Scott Emerson #14 runs back to the dugout in the top of the second inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Sutter Health Park on June 29, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Justine Willard/Athletics/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Welcome to Tuesday A’s fans! It’s All-Star Game Day!
But before we get to the game, the Athletics made a move yesterday afternoon, letting go of pitching coach Scott Emerson and promoting bullpen coach Dan Hubbs to take over for the rest of the year:
The A’s have dismissed pitching coach Scott Emerson. Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs will serve as interim pitching coach for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The move couldn’t come soon enough. The team is currently second to last in the entire sport in ERA, ahead of only the Colorado Rockies who play in the most hitter-friendly stadium in the world. A’s pitchers have had to pitch in their own hitter-friendly environment over the past season and a half but the pitching has been a problem for a while now, going back to the final Oakland years.
Emerson, who has been the pitching coach since mid-2017, has been given talented arms over the years but the Athletics have struggled to develop many quality arms in recent seasons. Righty J.T. Ginn has been a success story this year but outside of him many of the younger arms have failed to establish themselves. Veteran arms like Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino haven’t benefitted from any coaching that Emerson has done. There was a hope that as the offense came into its own that the pitching would soon follow but that hasn’t happened. A’s fans were calling for Emerson to be let go and the team has finally followed through on it.
Bullpen coach Dan Hubbs is replacing Emerson the same way Emerson got the job from Curt Young in ‘17. He likely isn’t a long-term option and the team will surely be on the lookout this offseason for pitching coaches, but the team needed to make a move. Maybe he can help provide a spark for the young arms over the second half. There have been some solid individual performances down in the bullpen.
What does this also say about Mark Kotsay? Now in his fifth year leading the team, expectations were raised entering this year. The club has finally accrued enough talent at the big league level to at least hover around .500 and that’s good enough to be in the playoff hunt. That’s where the A’s were over the first two-ish months of the season but have, for the second year in a row, suffered a season-crippling losing spell in the middle of the summer. The front office hasn’t exactly given him too much pitching to work with but with Las Vegas around the corner the front office may be getting antsy. Perhaps firing Emerson is a sign that Kotsay’s seat may be warming up as well.
Anyway, the 2026 All-Star Game is tonight! A’s fans will be treated this evening with Shea Langeliers catching and batting third. He’s likely only going to get one, maybe two at bats but it’ll still be fun to see the Green & Gold on the national stage. And it’s hard to miss the catcher so extra visibility for ‘Bangeliers’ and the A’s tonight. Any predictions on how our boy does?
First pitch is at 5 but the festivities start an hour before that. Until then guys. Have a great day everyone.
This went under the radar but Leo De Vries led off for the AL Futures squad and went 1-for-2 with a two stolen bases, a run scored and a strikeout. Not bad, Leo:
Pitcher for the New York Yankees Johnny Murphy (Photo by George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images) | Corbis via Getty Images
A New York-born boy who grew up to play for the Yankees. The dream! That is exactly the story of Johnny Murphy. The story and legend of Johnny Murphy and New York baseball are as intertwined as those of just about anyone in baseball history.
John Joseph Murphy Born: July 14, 1908 (New York, NY) Died: January 14, 1970 (New York, NY) Yankees Tenure: 1932-46
Born in the shadow of Manhattan’s skyscrapers, the Yankees first scouted Murphy while he was a student at Fordham Prep in the Bronx. The club bided its time before signing him near the end of his collegiate career at Fordham University.
After signing, the Yankees sent Murphy into their farm system. In his second professional season, and first full year, he won 16 games while throwing 256 innings. That performance earned Murphy an invitation to spring training before the 1932 season. After a strong showing, the Yankees brought the 23-year-old north to open the year.
On May 19, Murphy made his major league debut. He made one more appearance before his cup of coffee went cold and he was sent back to the minors for more seasoning. Murphy remained in the minors the following season, appearing primarily in relief.
The following year, in 1934, Murphy made the club and actually split time between the rotation and bullpen. The 20 starts he made that season would not only stand as a career high, but would ultimately account for exactly half of his career starts. Prior to the 1935 campaign, manager Joe McCarthy decided to move Murphy into the bullpen permanently.
Murphy reluctantly accepted the move. At the time, the save was not yet an official statistic, and the modern bullpen had not even begun to take shape. The role McCarthy envisioned for Murphy, however, would become one of the earliest blueprints for the modern closer. Over the next 11 seasons, Murphy established himself as one of baseball’s premier relief pitchers, becoming known as “Fireman” Murphy due to his penchant for extinguishing jams.
As a Yankee, Murphy played a major role during one of the greatest stretches in franchise history. The run began in 1936 with the Yankees defeating the Giants in the World Series. Murphy then earned All-Star selections in each of the next three seasons as New York captured championships over the Giants again in 1937, the Cubs in 1938, and the Reds in 1939.
During those four championship runs, Murphy posted a 2.16 ERA while going 1-0 across 8.1 postseason innings. He finished four games and would have been credited with three saves had the statistic existed.
After that run, the Yankees did not return to the World Series until 1941. That season was arguably the best of Murphy’s career. He posted a career-high 2.8 WAR, finished a career-best 31 games, and recorded a 1.98 ERA as the Yankees defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in five games.
Murphy had a down year in 1942 but rebounded in 1943. That season, Murphy and the Yankees captured another World Series title, this time defeating the Cardinals. Following the 1943 season, and during the final years of World War II, Murphy voluntarily retired to serve his country during the 1944 and 1945 seasons.
Returning to the Yankees in 1946, Murphy enjoyed another solid campaign, going 4-2 with a 3.40 ERA. The Yankees again fell short of the pennant, and the offseason brought sweeping changes, including a new manager and Murphy’s release.
The Red Sox signed Murphy, and he pitched the 1947 season in Boston. Following that season, he retired and moved into scouting before eventually joining Boston’s front office as vice president and director of the minor leagues.
After his stint in Boston, Murphy helped build the Mets organization from the ground up. He worked his way through the front office and was named the third general manager in franchise history before the 1968 season. Murphy is credited with helping assemble and guide the legendary “Miracle Mets,” who won the 1969 World Series behind Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Gary Gentry, Nolan Ryan, Tug McGraw, Cleon Jones, Tommie Agee, and manager Gil Hodges, who Murphy successfully recruited.
Sadly, only a few months after earning his sixth World Series ring, Murphy died of a heart attack at just 61 years old. Long before anyone tracked saves, Murphy helped define what a relief ace could be, and the way he was utilized laid part of the foundation for the closer role that would eventually become commonplace throughout baseball.
To a man known for appreciating the finer things in life, happy birthday, Johnny!
See more of the “Yankees Birthday of the Day” series here.
As we head into the All-Star break, the Guardians left us on a high note with plenty to be excited for.
Break Out the Brooms
Heading into the weekend’s series versus the Miami Marlins, I’ll admit I was worried. The Marlins were on a six-game win streak, sweeping both the Athletics and the Seattle Mariners. That streak was stopped in its tracks as soon as the Guards came to town as they turned the tables and swept the Marlins. Friday’s series opener was a close one, the Guards taking the 3-2 victory thanks to a two-run home run by Chase DeLauter and a sacrifice fly by Travis Bazzana. There was a little more breathing room in Saturday’s game, a 4-1 victory thanks to a pair of two-run doubles by Steven Kwan and Patrick Bailey. Other than a ninth inning run given up by closer Cade Smith, Sunday’s series finale was a breeze. A 5-2 win courtesy of three RBI singles and two home runs secured the sweep.
DeLauter on a Tear
Although he was not chosen as an All-Star, Chase DeLauter is proving why he should be in Philadelphia this week. Leading the team in OPS, batting average, home runs, and RBIs, DeLauter has been on a tear as of late. He is hitting .278/.345/.448 in his rookie campaign with 11 home runs and 46 RBI. He’s also been successful on the defensive side, keeping a 1.000 fielding percentage for the season. If it weren’t for his visit to the 10-day IL last month, I’m sure we’d be seeing him on the field in Philadelphia tonight.
Peterson is Guards’ Pick
With the 19th pick in the 2026 draft, the Guardians selected pitcher Liam Peterson out of the University of Florida. A member of the USA Collegiate National Team in 2024 and 2025, Peterson’s high strikeout rate is what makes him stand out. While his ERA (averaging 5.03 in his three years at Florida) is nothing exciting, his 111 strikeouts in 84.1 innings this year are definitely something to keep an eye on.
Social Media Spotlight
This week’s social media spotlight belongs (once again!) to Mason Horodyski of News 5 Cleveland. He sat down with Erik Sabrowski to talk about everything under the sun, including the Guardians Twitter favorite #monkeyinacoat meme.
On this edition of Rounding the Bases, I sit down with #Guardians reliever Erik Sabrowski.
