MLB All-Star Game rosters: One thing to know about every player on the NL and AL teams

The rosters for the 96th MLB All-Star Game are set — or, at least, pre-set.

>There will be numerous replacements over the next week or so before the festivities commence July 14 in Philadelphia. But the initial rosters, a valuable starting point, have been announced. As a reminder, All-Star starters are voted on by the fans, while the position-player reserves and all the pitchers are chosen by a combination of players and the league office.

>Here's a list of all the 2026 All-Stars with a few thoughts on each.

National League startersC Drake Baldwin, BravesDespite missing a full month due to an oblique strain, Baldwin is easily one of the best catchers in the sport. He hasn't looked the same since coming off the IL (2-for-43 with 20 Ks in 11 games) but was so utterly dynamic before the injury that he undoubtedly deserves the nod.

1B Freddie Freeman, DodgersAnother year, another All-Star Game for Freeman, who has been at every Midsummer Classic since 2018. That's the league's longest active streak of consecutive All-Star nods, a fitting accomplishment for one of the game's most consistent presences.

2B Ozzie Albies, BravesLook who's back! After down years in 2024 and '25, the likable Curaçaoan has kick-started his career in 2026. Still only 29 — which feels impossible when he has been in our baseball lives forever — Albies rebounded from an abysmal May with a solid June, earning him a well-deserved All-Star nod.

SS CJ Abrams, NationalsWashington's new front office and coaching staff have helped Abrams get the most out of his immense talent. The 25-year-old is still a work in progress defensively, but he has taken a monumental step forward with his bat; Abrams leads all shortstops in OPS.

3B Max Muncy, DodgersAfter signs of decline in 2022 and '23, Muncy is going on three years of outstanding offensive production. Dodgers voting bump aside, the potato-shaped slugger was far and away the most deserving NL hot-cornerman.

OF Brandon Marsh, PhilliesMarsh has been performing at an All-Star level since he returned from a short IL stint last May. This is an admittedly old-school way to look at it, but Marsh is currently one of just five hitters with double-digit long balls and a batting average north of .300. It's very rad how he has gone from comic relief goofball to key cog in the Phillies' lineup.

OF Juan Soto, MetsAs chaos and disorder swirl around him and the messy Mets, Soto has been able to ignore the noise and keep on raking. For all the ill-advised and regrettable things going on in Queens, Soto has been worth every dollar of that record-breaking megadeal.

OF Andy Pages, DodgersPages' breakout season has helped Los Angeles weather underperformance from Kyle Tucker and injuries to Teoscar Hernández, Mookie Betts and Will Smith. The only Dodger with more WAR is Shohei Ohtani.

DH Shohei Ohtani, DodgersWhat's left to say? Ohtani switched up his style this year, deciding to put more energy into pitching than hitting. The result is perhaps the best season of his already preposterous career.

Shohei Ohtani and Ernie Clement will be joined in Philly by familiar faces such as Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Schwarber, as well as emerging stars such as Shea Langeliers and CJ Abrams.Joseph Raines/Yahoo SportsAmerican League startersC Shea Langeliers, AthleticsLangeliers cooled off quite a bit in June (.637 OPS) but is still clearly one of the best catchers in baseball. He provides an astonishing amount of raw power and bat speed for a guy with a 5-foot-11 frame.

1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue JaysThis one is uncomfortable. Guerrero is suffering through by far the worst season of his career. He has yet to clock a single home run at home. But Jays fans, many of whom are frustrated with Guerrero right now, flooded the polls en masse. Don't be shocked when Vlad chooses not to participate.

2B Ernie Clement, Blue JaysClement's ascension from twice-jettisoned utilityman to Canadian cult hero has been a delightful story. The Blue Jays' second baseman, propelled by lingering enthusiasm from his club's 2025 World Series run, led the entire American League in All-Star voting.

SS Bobby Witt Jr., RoyalsIt has been an odd season for the consensus Third-Best Player In The World™. Witt's Royals stink, and his numbers have been good, not great. Still, he remains the AL MVP front-runner, based on his incredible defensive value and immense offensive upside.

3B Junior Caminero, RaysThis has a chance to be Caminero's All-Star Game. He burst onto the national scene with a scintillating Home Run Derby performance in 2025, and with a dearth of established AL stars headed to Philly, Tampa's sweet-swinging third baseman — the first confirmed participant in the Home Run Derby — should command a good deal of the spotlight at this Midsummer Classic.

OF Mike Trout, AngelsTrout, in the midst of a wonderful bounce-back campaign, has been on the IL due to a hamstring strain since mid-June. The South Jersey native is on track to return before the All-Star Game but has already taken his name out of the Derby.

OF Byron Buxton, TwinsMinnesota's main man is on pace for the most productive and complete offensive season of his injury-stunted career. Currently tied with Houston's Yordan Alvarez for the AL lead in homers (25), Buxton also deserves credit for his unrelenting loyalty to a Twins team that has failed to build a consistent contender.

OF Aaron Judge, YankeesJudge, sidelined by a stress fracture in his rib, hasn't played since May 31 and won't be back in time for the All-Star Game. Despite that, the Yankees captain received enough fan votes to be named a starter because, well, he's Aaron Judge.

DH Yordan Alvarez, AstrosA healthy Yordan is good for the soul and maybe, just maybe, the single best hitter on the planet. He leads MLB in both OPS and sheer intimidation imparted onto the opposing pitcher. What a lovely sight.

National League reservesC Hunter Goodman, RockiesYou probably know that Kyle Schwarber is leading baseball in homers, but did you know this guy ranks second? More incredibly, 18 of Goodman's 27 homers have come on the road, away from the super-charged home-run incubator that is Coors Field. The Rox might have a cornerstone here.

C William Contreras, BrewersMilwaukee’s second-best-in-MLB 3.35 team ERA? A lot of that has to do with Contreras, who isn’t the greatest framer in the world but clearly excels at handling a pitching staff. He’s also enjoying a trademark above-average offensive season, a very valuable thing for a backstop.

1B Bryce Harper, PhilliesAt the outset of last offseason, Harper's boss, Phillies POBO Dave Dombrowski, expressed doubt about whether his franchise slugger is still elite. Well, the Prince That Was Promised is currently rocking his highest OPS since his 2021 NL MVP season. Expect Harper to do the Derby as well; the spotlight is the only thing Bryce loves more than his family and posting slightly offputting TikToks.

1B Matt Olson, BravesOlson clocks 40 tanks and drives in 100 runs with the ease and nonchalance you and I employ to tie our shoes. This man is clockwork personified, the epitome of sporting consistency. And remember: Olson hasn't missed a game since 2021.

2B Luis Arraez, GiantsThe slap-hitting singles artist has had a nice offensive bounceback in his first year in San Francisco, but most importantly, Arraez has gone from a poor defensive first baseman to a sensational second baseman. Nobody saw that glow-up coming.

SS Otto Lopez, Marlins After being designated for assignment by both the Blue Jays and Giants, Lopez has fashioned himself into quite the player with the Marlins. He's a throwback type whose game relies on bat-to-ball prowess, defense and speed.

1B/3B Sal Stewart, RedsThe only rookie on the National League roster, Cincy’s young slugger has proven himself to be a dynamic and dangerous presence at the plate. Still only 22 years old, Stewart is only going to keep improving. This won’t be his last All-Star Game.

OF James Wood, NationalsIt's a hilarious combo, really. A man this large, this lean, this explosive, this singular of an athletic force, with more chill than a walk-in freezer. Usually, Wood exudes calm, oozes composure, floats through life with an endearing nonchalance. But that all changes when a baseball enters his happy zone. What a special talent.

OF Pete Crow-Armstrong, CubsPeople love roller coasters for a reason. There might not be a streakier hitter in the sport, but it's better to be streaky than stinky. After a horrid first month at the dish, PCA has posted the third-highest OPS in the sport since May 1, behind only Shohei Ohtani and Junior Caminero. He also happens to be the single most dynamic and valuable defensive player on the planet.

OF Corbin Carroll, DiamondbacksIf a generational talent balls out in the desert, does it make a sound? It dang well should because Carroll is something special. The goateed, muscle-bound 25-year-old is in the midst of yet another fantastically impactful season. He recently became one of just seven players in the Integration Era to collect 50 triples before turning 26.

OF Jordan Walker, CardinalsWalker has tailed off somewhat after a remarkable, breakout start to the season. He has 18 long balls on the year but just three since May 25. Still, on the whole, this has been a magnificent breakout from a player who appeared stuck in neutral.

DH Kyle Schwarber, PhilliesThe hero of last year's All-Star Game, with his jaw-dropping Home Run Derby swing-off performance, is back. And this time, he has an entire stadium behind him. It'll be a very cool stage for Schwarber, who re-signed with the Phillies last offseason. Hopefully the league's home run leader does the actual Derby this go-around.

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American League reservesC Dillon Dingler, TigersThe 27-year-old backstop is a legitimate MVP candidate, with the underlying metrics to back up his offensive breakout. Detroit has a star on its hands; Dingler is the real deal.

C Adley Rutschman, OriolesSince an awful end to 2024 and an even worse 2025 season, Rutschman has gotten back on the right track in 2026. Injuries have made things a bit start-stop for the Orioles’ catcher, but he's looking much more like the generational backstop the world was promised when he was selected first overall in 2019.

1B Nick Kurtz, AthleticsSince Kurtz's MLB debut on April 23, 2025, only Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani have posted a higher OPS than the hulking A's first baseman. Given the lack of established star power on the AL side, expect Kurtz, a Pennsylvania kid, to be marketed quite heavily during the Midsummer Classic.

1B Ben Rice, RaysAfter an otherworldly first two months, Rice's numbers came back to earth in June (.632 OPS). Regardless, this is a well-deserved ASG nod for one of the game's most exciting and dangerous young sluggers.

2B Travis Bazzana, GuardiansThe Australian second baseman isn't here to play around with spiders. Since getting called up in late April, Bazzana ranks in the top three of American League second basemen in nearly every meaningful statistic. And remember, the former No. 1 overall pick is still only 23 years old. This could be the first of many All-Star trips for Bazzana.

SS Kevin McGonigle, TigersThe 21-year-old has fewer than 100 MLB games under his belt, and he's already one of the best shortstops in the sport. He and Bobby Witt Jr. are going to be trading All-Star starting nods for the next decade.

3B Miguel Vargas, GuardiansNo player has been more integral to Chicago's 2026, Pope-fueled joy ride than this guy. Vargas came over from the Dodgers at the 2024 deadline and became the meme poster child for that historically awful White Sox season. What a difference two years can make.

OF Randy Arozarena, MarinersIt has been a fascinating season for Arozarena, who will hit free agency for the first time this winter. He has traded homers for base knocks this year, posting the highest batting average of his career.

OF Cody Bellinger, YankeesWith Aaron Judge on the shelf, Bellinger has earned every penny of the five-year, $162.5 million deal he signed this past winter to return to the Bronx. This is the first ASG nod of his Yankees tenure.

OF Riley Greene, TigersA relatively light crop of American League outfielders landed Greene an All-Star spot for the third consecutive season, even though his power numbers are down. On the positive front, he's walking significantly more and striking out significantly less.

DH Yandy Díaz, RaysThe Rays have the best record in the American League, and Díaz is a huge reason for that. Tampa Bay's swoll designated hitter currently leads MLB in batting average, and he has 12 long balls and a respectable 10% walk rate. This is one of the most impressive and underrated all-around hitters in the sport.

National League pitchersSP Cristopher Sánchez, PhilliesSánchez's 50 2/3 scoreless innings streak earlier this season was the fifth-longest such streak in MLB history and the longest ever by a left-hander. Barring injury, he'll get the All-Star Game start for the NL in front of his home crowd.

SP Jacob Misiorowski, BrewersLast summer, The Miz was an All-Star Game flashpoint, appointed by MLB despite having just five career starts under his belt. This year, there's zero doubt. Misiorowski is, alongside Sánchez, an NL Cy Young front-runner. No starting pitcher has ever thrown this hard.

SP Paul Skenes, PiratesMake it three All-Star Games in three years for the reigning NL Cy Young. That said, it should be noted that the Pirates' ace has hit a concerning speed bump of late, with a 5.36 ERA and zero wins across his past nine starts.

SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, DodgersThe Dodgers' ace has followed his October heroics with another fabulous first half. He has allowed more than three runs just once this season and carried a perfect game into the eighth inning on June 13 against the White Sox.

SP Logan Webb, GiantsWebb had a 5.06 ERA when he hit the IL in early May, but he has lowered that mark by nearly two full runs since his return. He'll be in the mix to be a Cy Young finalist once again.

SP Chase Burns, RedsTwo pitches, no problems, tons of strikeouts. Burns is probably the third-best pitcher in the NL right now, behind Sánchez and Misiorowski, a prototypically modern, flame-throwing dynamo.

SP Max Meyer, MarlinsMeyer started 9-0 before shouldering his first loss of the year last week against Colorado. This has been a long-awaited surge for the former No. 3 pick, who battled through injuries for the first few seasons of his big-league career.

SP Eduardo Rodriguez, DiamondbacksAfter a frustrating first two seasons in the desert, this crafty lefty has dialed things back in for 2026. The only starters with a lower ERA than Rodriguez right now are Misiorowski, Sánchez, Schlittler and Sale.

SP Chris Sale, BravesSale becomes just the eighth starting pitcher in MLB history to be selected to 10 All-Star Games. The others — Warren Spahn, Tom Seaver, Roger Clemens, Clayton Kershaw, Steve Carlton, Tom Glavine and Randy Johnson — are all either in the Hall of Fame, will be soon or, in Clemens' case, would be if not for steroids.

RP Mason Miller, PadresMiller is on pace to record the most dominant relief season of all time. He has punched out 66 of the 132 batters he has faced this season while surrendering just three earned runs. Make sure you're in front of the TV whenever Miller enters the All-Star Game.

RP Jhoan Duran, PhilliesThe Phillies gave up the farm to acquire Duran at last year's trade deadline, a decision that has paid off massively already. When he's locked in, Duran's triple-digit heat and splitter combo is impossible to hit; only Miller has a higher strikeout rate.

RP Raisel Iglesias, BravesIglesias has surrendered just four earned runs this season, reestablishing himself as a top-flight closer after a subpar 2025. The only active closers with more career saves than the flame-throwing 36-year-old are Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel and Aroldis Chapman.

American League pitchersSP Cam Schlittler, YankeesThe young Yanks ace had his first Schlitty start — *punches self in face* — of the season last week but remains the runaway favorite to win AL Cy Young. He leads American League starters in nearly every meaningful category and, as such, should start the All-Star Game for the AL.

SP Drew Rasmussen, RaysSay hello to the best pitcher on the American League's best team. Rasmussen surrendered just three runs across five June starts, helping push the Rays into first place in the AL East. The righty's superpower is a minuscule 1.57 BB/K rate that leads baseball.

SP Parker Messick, GuardiansMessick's heater is magic. The lefty throws it only 93.9 mph on average, but the pitch leads the American League in in-zone whiff rate among qualified starters. This guy is really, really fun to watch.

SP Joe Ryan, TwinsRyan overcame an early injury scare to deliver another strong first half for the Twinkies. The 30-year-old righty could be the best player dealt at the deadline if Tarik Skbual stays put. He might also help a surprisingly competent Twins team (2.5 back in the AL wild-card race) make a postseason push.

SP Dylan Cease, Blue JaysCease missed some time due to a hamstring strain but has otherwise been as advertised after signing a huge contract with the Blue Jays last offseason. It's hard to believe this will be his first All-Star Game, considering Cease has been one of the game's more effective pitchers for a half-decade now.

SP Nick Martinez, RaysMartinez is Mr. HOW DOES HE KEEP GETTING AWAY WITH THIS?. His stuff is unspectacular. He has a sixth-percentile strikeout rate. He doesn't induce groundballs. Yet his ERA starts with a 2. It's all a testament to the power of simply not walking guys.

SP Michael WachaThe 2026 Royals are a runaway freight train of woe, but that’s not Wacha’s fault. The wily vet is delivering yet another sturdy season, with eight starts of seven innings or longer.

SP Ranger Suárez, Red SoxSuárez got a large bag of money ($140 million) last winter and has lived up to that contract so far in Boston. The Venezuelan southpaw already has nine starts in which he surrendered one run or fewer.

RP Bryan Baker, RaysThere’s nothing more Rays-y than conjuring elite relievers out of dudes you’ve never heard of. Baker came over from Baltimore at last year’s deadline and has proceeded to dominate for the AL East-leading Rays with a nasty heater-change combo.

RP Louis Varland, Blue JaysVarland burst onto the scene in October, when he broke the MLB record for most games pitched in a single postseason (15). He has carried that momentum into 2026 with just five earned runs on his ledger across 47 innings.

RP Aroldis Chapman, Red SoxChapman recently broke the all-time MLB record for strikeouts by a relief pitcher. Now 38 years old, the Cuban’s famous heater is somehow still sitting in the upper-90s. He’s one of the best closers of his generation.

RP Cade Smith, GuardiansPure dominance. Smith leads AL relievers with 26 saves and a 5.70 K/BB rate. The even-keeled Canadian has been one of the game's premier late-inning demons for a while now, and he has transitioned seamlessly to the closer gig after former teammate Emmanuel Clase got popped for gambling last season.

RP Jacob Latz, RangersA starter-turned-swingman-turned closer, Latz is uniquely capable of working multiple innings late in games, something he has done 11 times already for the Rangers this season. I doubt he does that in the All-Star Game, but it’s fun to know he can.

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