Recently, with the arrival of the All-Star Game, the first wave of selections has been officially revealed. This year, the Los Angeles Dodgers are leading the charge, boasting five players on the roster, including the National League’s star Shohei Ohtani. Notably, veteran left-hander Clayton Kershaw earned a special designation from the MLB commissioner, securing his spot with Legendary Seat. This will mark Kershaw’s 11th appearance in the All-Star Game, tying him with Mike Trout from the Los Angeles Angels for the most selections among active players. Reflecting on 2022, the MLB also facilitated the farewell All-Star games for Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera in a similar fashion.
This year’s All-Star voting is divided into two phases. Fans can cast their votes for each defensive position (three outfielders must be chosen), and the player with the highest votes will earn a starting spot automatically, skipping the second phase. In the second phase, the top two vote-getters for each position will compete in a final selection, with the ultimate winner securing the starting role. It’s important to note that the votes from the first phase will not carry over into the second phase. If a position has already identified its candidate in the first phase (like the designated hitter in the National League), there will be no voting for that position in the second phase.
Each league has a total of 32 selected players (plus one legendary spot), which includes 20 position players (starters and substitutes) and 12 pitchers. After fans select the starters, the remaining 23 spots (covering substitute players and pitchers) will be filled through two methods: first, there will be a player voting where each league will select 17 players, including 8 pitchers (5 starters and 3 relievers) and 1 substitute position player for each defensive position. If a starter for a particular position has already been chosen by the fans, the duplicate spot in the player voting will be awarded to the player with the second highest votes.
The second approach involves selecting players from the league office, where each league will add six players, including four pitchers and two fielders. The league office will ensure that all 30 teams have representatives participating. Moreover, if a fan-selected starter is unable to participate due to injury or other reasons, the player with the second-highest votes at that position will step in as the starter, while the original backup spot will be designated by the league. Each league’s starting pitchers will be announced in advance by the coaching staff of that year’s All-Star Game.
As the All-Star Game approaches, fans from all walks of life are eagerly anticipating the thrilling performances of this season. The stunning charisma and exceptional skills of numerous star players on the court will undoubtedly offer a visual feast that audiences have been looking forward to.
