Mike Trout elected to 11th All-Star Game, 4 Texas players chosen to start

NEW YORK — Mike Trout will see a bunch of new faces surrounding him at this year’s All-Star Game.

The Los Angeles Angels center fielder was selected for his 11th appearance on Thursday, and four Texas Rangers were chosen by fans for the American League’s lineup for the July 11 game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park.

Nine first-time starters were picked by fans, including three Rangers: catcher Jonah Heim, shortstop Corey Seager and rookie third baseman Josh Jung. Arizona rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll, who’s from Seattle, also was voted in, giving the starting lineups a pair of rookie position players for the third time after Rich Rollins and Tom Tresh in 1962, and Geovany Soto and Kosuke Fukodome in 2008.

“You always put it in your mind that I want to do that someday,” Jung said.

Texas reached the season’s midpoint at 49-32, on track for its first winning season since 2016. The Rangers host next year’s All-Star Game.

Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien was chosen for his second start.

“We all strive to be the best we can be. And if the fans acknowledge us this year, that means we’re doing something,” Semien said.

Texas’ previous high was three starters in 2012, when Adrian Beltré, Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli were picked.

Trout was voted to start for the 10th time and will be joined in the AL lineup by teammate Shohei Ohtani, who last week was chosen at designated hitter as the league’s top-vote getter in the first round.

Tampa Bay first baseman Yandy Díaz and outfielder Randy Arozarena were among the first-time starters, joined by Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy, Miami second baseman Luis Arraez and Carroll.

“I almost cried there,” Arraez said after learning of his election.

Arraez was batting over .400 as recently as this past weekend. His average had dipped to .392 as of Thursday.

Three Los Angeles Dodgers were picked: first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez.

St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected to his fifth start and eighth appearance.

Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, elected to start for the fifth time, hasn’t played since June 3 because of a torn ligament in his right big toe. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez finished fourth in the AL outfield voting.

Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. earned an outfield spot last week as the NL’s top vote-getter during the first round, from May 31 to June 22. The second round started Monday and ended Thursday.

Pitchers and reserves will be announced Sunday.

Heim edged Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman 52%-48% and Díaz beat out Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 53%-47%. The closest NL votes were both 53%-47%: Arraez over Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies and Martinez over Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper.

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2023 All-Star Starters

Tuesday, July 11

At T-Mobile Park, Seattle

American League

Catcher — Jonah Heim, Texas Rangers

First Baseman — Yandy Diaz, Tampa Bay Rays

Second Baseman — Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers

Shortstop — Corey Seager, Texas Rangers

Third Baseman — Josh Jung, Texas Rangers

Designated Hitter — Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Angels

Outfield — Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

Outfield — Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays

Outfield — Aaron Judge, New York Yankees

National League

Catcher — Sean Murphy, Atlanta Braves

First Baseman — Freddie Freeman, L.A. Dodgers

Second Baseman — Luis Arraez, Miami Marlins

Shortstop — Orlando Arcia, Atlanta Braves

Third Baseman — Nolan Arenado, St. Louis Cardinals

Designated Hitter — J.D. Martinez, L.A. Dodgers

Outfield — Ronald Acuña Jr., Atlanta Braves

Outfield — Mookie Betts, Los Angeles Dodgers

Outfield — Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

Final percentages

American League

Catchers: Jonah Heim 52%, Adley Rutschman 48%

First basemen: Yandy Diaz 53%, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 47%

Second basemen: Marcus Semien 65%, Whit Merrifield 47%

Third basemen: Josh Jung 58%, Matt Chapman 42%

Shortstops: Corey Seager 59%, Bo Bichette 41%

Outfielders: Mike Trout 23%, Randy Arozarena 21%, Aaron Judge 19%, Yordan Alvarez 15%, Adolis Garcia 13%, Kevin Kiermaier 10%.

Designated hitters: Shohei Ohtani (automatic starter after phase one voting)

National League

Catcher: Sean Murphy 61%, Will Smith 39%

First basemen: Freddie Freeman 60%, Matt Olson 40%

Second basemen: Luis Arraez 53%, Ozzie Albies 47%

Shortstops: Orlando Arcia 69%, Francisco Lindor 31%

Third basemen: Nolan Arenado 57%, Austin Riley 43%

Designated Hitter — J.D. Martinez 53%, Bryce Harper 47%

Outfielders: Ronald Acuña Jr. (automatic starter after phase one voting), Mookie Betts 34%, Corbin Carroll 30%, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. 16%, Michael Harris II 19%