Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies will lead off as the designated hitter for the National League All-Star team, filling in for Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who withdrew from the Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Game due to a knee injury.
Dave Roberts, the Dodgers’ skipper and National League All-Star manager, announced the starting lineup during a press conference on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. Roberts tapped Schwarber to bat first as the designated hitter (DH).
Initially, Shohei Ohtani, who topped the fan vote, was slated to be the National League’s leadoff DH. However, he opted out due to a left knee issue. The two-way superstar will use the All-Star break to undergo a procedure to drain fluid from his knee.
Schwarber, a manager’s selection, now gets the nod in the starting lineup.
The Phillies slugger, who crushed 56 homers last year to claim the National League home run crown, is once again leading the league with 32 long balls this season.
The National League All-Star lineup features Schwarber, followed by Juan Soto (LF, Mets), Freddie Freeman (1B, Dodgers), CJ Abrams (SS, Nationals), Max Muncy (3B, Dodgers), Ozzie Albies (2B, Braves), Brandon Marsh (RF, Phillies), Andy Pages (CF, Dodgers), and Drake Baldwin (C, Braves).
Philadelphia’s own Zack Wheeler will take the hill as the National League’s starting pitcher. It’s the 14th time in history a hometown hurler will start the Midsummer Classic, and the first since Clayton Kershaw in 2022.
The American League counters with a lineup of Mike Trout (CF, Angels), Yordan Alvarez (DH, Astros), Shea Langeliers (C, Athletics), Junior Caminero (3B, Rays), Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Royals), Cody Bellinger (RF, Yankees), Ben Rice (1B, Yankees), Riley Greene (LF, Tigers), and Ernie Clement (2B, Blue Jays). Dylan Cease (Blue Jays) gets the starting nod on the mound.
Rice, Bellinger, and Greene earned their starting spots, replacing injured stars Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays), Byron Buxton (Twins), and Aaron Judge (Yankees).