How every player performed on All-Star stage

July 12th, 2023

In a nail-biter edition of the 93rd MLB All-Star Game -- one that included defensive gems, stellar pitching and late-game heroics -- the National League defeated the American League in a 3-2 victory, the NL's first ASG game win since 2012. In his first career All-Star Game and plate appearance, the Rockies' Elias Díaz provided a go-ahead, two-run home run in the eighth inning that proved to be the game-winner. The 32-year-old Díaz was named All-Star Game MVP

Between the dizzying displays of talent and several mic'd sessions, it might have been tougher to keep track of how your favorite stars from your team fared.

Have no fear -- we’ve got you covered with a rundown of how every All-Star contributed to this game.

AL EAST

Blue Jays

Bo Bichette: Named an All-Star for the second time, Bichette entered this year’s Midsummer Classic as a defensive replacement at shortstop in the fourth inning. He flew out to right field in his first at-bat in the fourth, but he gave the AL a 2-1 lead in the sixth with a sacrifice fly to deep right off the Reds’ Alexis Díaz. Bichette exited in the seventh.

Kevin Gausman: Although Gausman is now a two-time All-Star, he has still never pitched in a Midsummer Classic. The 32-year-old right-hander opted not to attend this year’s All-Star Game, instead taking the break to spend time with his family.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: After winning the T-Mobile Home Run Derby for the first time on Monday night, Guerrero entered Tuesday’s All-Star Game as a defensive replacement at first base in the sixth. He grounded out to third in his first at-bat, which ended the sixth, and later struck out in the ninth.

Whit Merrifield: A three-time All-Star, Merrifield entered as a defensive replacement at second base in the sixth. He flew out to right field to open the sixth in his first at-bat, but he later knocked a leadoff single to right in the eighth. However, the 34-year-old Merrifield was then doubled up at first on an inning-ending double play turned by Braves third baseman Austin Riley, who caught a liner off the bat of the A’s Brent Rooker before nabbing Merrifield.

Jordan Romano: Shortly after entering in the seventh, Romano exited with a trainer due to lower back tightness. The 30-year-old first-time All-Star got the Dodgers’ Will Smith to fly out to open the inning. Then, Romano gave up a long fly ball to left off the bat of the D-backs’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. that was initially ruled a home run but was overturned following a replay review. Romano departed before Gurriel finished the at-bat.

Orioles

Félix Bautista: It was an atypical outing for the dominant 6-foot-8 right-hander, who entered to open the eighth. Bautista issued a leadoff walk to the Reds’ Nick Castellanos, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. The Orioles’ closer then gave up a go-ahead two-run homer to the Rockies’ Elias Díaz, who put the NL ahead, 3-2. Bautista retired the next two batters (which included striking out the Braves' Ozzie Albies) before issuing a two-out walk to the Dodgers’ Will Smith and then departing after throwing 28 pitches.

Yennier Cano: The 29-year-old rookie right-hander showcased his electric stuff by striking out the Braves’ Matt Olson and the Phillies’ Nick Castellanos consecutively to open the sixth. After the Marlins’ Jorge Soler reached on an error and the Braves’ Austin Riley singled, Cano escaped the two-out jam by getting the Braves’ Ozzie Albies to ground out to second. Cano threw 24 pitches (16 strikes) in his scoreless inning.

Austin Hays: The 28-year-old first-time All-Star started in center field and batted seventh for the AL, playing the first five innings. Hays went 1-for-2, as he grounded out to second base to end the second and then knocked a one-out single to center field in the fifth. His first ASG hit came on the first pitch he saw from Cubs left-hander Justin Steele.

Adley Rutschman: It was an eventful week for Rutschman, a Portland, Ore., native who returned to the Pacific Northwest as a first-time All-Star. After an impressive switch-hitting, 27-homer showing in Monday’s T-Mobile Home Run Derby, Rutschman caught the final four innings of Tuesday’s All-Star Game -- including when O’s teammates Cano and Bautista pitched -- while being mic’d up on the FOX broadcast. He lined out to right field to end the seventh in his only at-bat of the night.

Rays

Randy Arozarena: Starting in left field for the AL, Arozarena made an impressive leaping catch at the wall to rob the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman in the top of the first. In the bottom of that inning, Arozarena hit a two-out single to left field, but he was then caught trying to steal second base. He finished 1-for-2, also striking out in the fourth.

Yandy Díaz: In the first All-Star Game at-bat of his career, the 31-year-old Díaz went deep, blasting a 383-foot solo home run to left field off Pirates right-hander Mitch Keller with one out in the second inning to give the AL a 1-0 lead. Díaz became the third Tampa Bay player to homer in an All-Star Game, joining Carl Crawford (2007) and Mike Zunino (‘21) -- and Díaz did so a day before his wife is expected to give birth to their first child. He finished 1-for-2, also grounding out in the fourth.

Wander Franco: At the start of the seventh, Franco entered as a defensive replacement at shortstop, making his Midsummer Classic debut. In his lone at-bat, the 22-year-old first-time All-Star opened the bottom of the ninth by flying out to the right-field warning track.

Shane McClanahan: After starting the 2022 All-Star Game for the AL, McClanahan didn’t pitch in his second trip to the Midsummer Classic, as he’s currently on the 15-day injured list due to mid-back tightness. However, the 26-year-old left-hander still attended the event and supported his Tampa Bay teammates.

Red Sox

Kenley Jansen: The AL turned to Jansen to get out of the eighth inning, when the NL had a runner on first and two outs. The 35-year-old Jansen, who was Boston’s lone All-Star in his first season with the team, retired the only batter he faced, punching out the D-backs’ Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on three pitches. It was Jansen’s first trip to the Midsummer Classic since he made it three straight years from 2016-18, while he was with the Dodgers.

Yankees

Gerrit Cole: The six-time All-Star right-hander started the Midsummer Classic for the first time, tossing a 1-2-3 first inning. Cole induced a pair of flyouts -- both resulting in tremendous catches in the outfield -- and a groundout in the scoreless frame, during which he threw only nine pitches (seven strikes).

Aaron Judge: Voted in as a starting outfielder in the AL, Judge did not attend the game while continuing to receive treatment on his sprained right big toe. The 31-year-old reigning AL MVP, who has been on the injured list since early June, is now a five-time All-Star.

AL CENTRAL

Guardians

Emmanuel Clase: Selected to the bullpen for a second consecutive season, Clase did not attend the game in order to return to the Dominican Republic to be with his significant other, who is expecting a baby.

José Ramírez: Ramírez's fifth All-Star appearance was as a sixth-inning defensive replacement at third base, but his big moments came at the plate. He won a seventh-inning battle with Giants closer Camilo Doval, fighting off a tough 100.7 mph cutter to extend the at-bat before slashing a 101 mph cutter into the gap in left-center for a two-out double. He wasn’t so fortunate in the ninth against Phillies closer Craig Kimbrel, striking out with the tying and winning runs on base to end the game.

Royals

Salvador Perez: A sixth-inning pinch-hitter for DH Shohei Ohtani, Perez hit an opposite-field single off Alexis Díaz and came around to score a go-ahead run on a Bo Bichette sacrifice fly. It was the first All-Star Game hit since 2016 for the eight-time All-Star. He flew out to right against Josh Hader in the eighth.

Tigers

Michael Lorenzen: The Tigers starter’s first All-Star appearance was a throwback to his bullpen days. He entered with one out in the seventh and a 1-1 count to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. after Jordan Romano left with back tightness. Gurriel reached on an infield single before Lorenzen walked Geraldo Perdomo, but Lorenzen recovered to retire Juan Soto on a popup and strike out Pete Alonso on a nasty changeup.

Twins

Sonny Gray: Gray’s third All-Star selection was his first time actually pitching in the game. He tossed a scoreless third inning, highlighted by filthy sweepers to strike out Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts. His lone baserunner allowed was a two-out walk to Freddie Freeman, who took a close fastball at the top of the zone. He induced swings and misses with six of his 20 pitches.

Pablo López: A scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts in a one-run game is a pretty good All-Star debut. López allowed singles to Juan Soto and Nick Castellanos but fanned Pete Alonso and Elias Díaz on three pitches each, the latter with back-to-back nasty sweepers off the plate.

White Sox

Luis Robert Jr.: Robert did not take part in the All-Star Game as a precautionary move after tweaking his right calf during Monday’s Home Run Derby.

AL WEST

Shohei Ohtani: Ohtani, the Japanese two-way star, started at designated hitter and went 0-for-1 with a walk and a strikeout. He struck out against Zac Gallen in the first inning and drew a leadoff walk in the fourth inning against Alex Cobb, advanced to second on a wild pitch and was stranded at third base.

Carlos Estévez: The Angels closer, who’s a perfect 21-for-21 on saves this year, had a perfect All-Star debut, striking out Corbin Carroll and Orlando Arcia in the fifth inning and getting Juan Soto to ground out to first base.

Mike Trout: Trout, selected as an All-Star starter for the 10th year in a row, missed the All-Star Game for the second year in a row because of an injury. Last year, it was an ailing back that kept the 11-time All-Star on the sidelines. He injured his left wrist on July 3 and wound up having surgery on the hamate bone, putting him out for four to eight weeks.

Astros

Yordan Alvarez: Alvarez was injured and didn’t play in the All-Star Game for the second year in a row. He was leading the Major Leagues with 55 RBIs when he strained his oblique while swinging the bat on June 8 in Toronto and missed the final 28 games prior to the All-Star break.

Kyle Tucker: Tucker, appearing in his second consecutive All-Star Game, entered the game in the fifth inning and flew out to left field in the seventh inning on the first pitch that saw – a 100.2 fastball thrown by Camilo Doval. Tucker drew a two-out walk in the bottom of the ninth and was stranded on second at the end of the game.

Framber Valdez: Valdez, the winning pitcher in the 2022 All-Star Game and the Major League’s leader in ERA (2.51), was held out of the All-Star Game after dealing with a sprained ankle in July.

Athletics

Brent Rooker: Rooker, the lone representative from the A’s, entered the game in the fifth inning and delivered a sixth-inning ground-rule double over the head of right-fielder Juan Soto. That put an exclamation point on a remarkable story by a player who was designated for assignment by the Royals last November. He lined into a double play at 106.2 mph to end the eighth.

Mariners

Luis Castillo: The Mariners ace, making his third All-Star Game – and first with the Mariners – did not pitch in the game following a terrific first half in which he ranked sixth in the AL with a 2.85 ERA and eighth in WHIP (1.04).

Julio Rodríguez: The 2022 AL Rookie of the Year got a huge ovation when he was introduced pregame before the T-Mobile Park crowd, but the hometown fans had to wait to see him play. He entered the game in center field in the fifth inning and tipped his helmet when he came to bat in the seventh to chants of “Julio!” He struck out swinging on a 101.2 mph fastball by Camilo Doval. In the ninth, with the crowd on its feet and the tying run on base, he drew a two-out walk against Craig Kimbrel and wound up getting stranded at first base.

George Kirby: Kirby, the hard-throwing starting pitcher of the hometown Mariners, wowed the crowd at T-Mobile Field when threw a 99.5 mph fastball past J.D. Martinez on his first pitch in the fourth. Martinez wound up hitting a double and scored on an RBI single by Luis Arraez that tied the game.

Rangers

Jonah Heim: Heim, a first-time All-Star and one of five Rangers starters, went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts against Josiah Gray in the third inning and Justin Steele in the fifth. His All-Star highlight came in the fourth inning when he threw out Luis Arraez trying to steal, flashing a pop time of 1.92 and 83.3 mph arm strength.

Marcus Semien: Semien, batting leadoff while making his second All-Star appearance, went 0-for-2 with two groundouts. He grounded out to third base in the first inning against Zac Gallen and grounded out to third in the third inning against Josiah Gray.

Josh Jung: The first rookie to start an All-Star Game in Rangers history, the third baseman went 0-for-2. Jung flied out against Josiah Gray in the third inning and grounded out against Justin Steele in the fifth inning

Corey Seager: Making his fourth All-Star Game, and second in a row with the Rangers, Seager had one at-bat and lined out to third base against Mitch Keller in the second inning.

Adolis García: In the first at-bat of the game, Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. hit a fly ball to right field that García leaped and caught at the wall. After initially battling the sun in right field, García quickly adjusted and made a strong leaping catch as he banged off the wall. At the plate, García struck out in the second inning against Mitch Keller and flied out in the fifth against Justin Steele.

Nathan Eovaldi: Eovaldi, pitching in his second All-Star Game, gave up singles to J.D. Martinez and Luis Arraez and struck out Sean Murphy while throwing a scoreless second inning to first-time All-Star Jonah Heim, his Rangers teammate. He threw 20 pitches while being mic’d up for the Fox broadcast.

NL EAST

Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr.: Acuña drew more votes than any other MLB player in All-Star balloting this year and he created immediate excitement. The NL leadoff hitter drove AL starting pitcher Gerrit Cole’s second pitch of the game to the right-field wall, where Adolis Garcia fought the sun to make the catch. The 25-year-old, four-time All-Star struck out in his only other plate appearance.

Sean Murphy: The Braves catcher struck out in the second inning and then flew out to right field in his only other plate appearance. The highlight of his first All-Star Game came when he recorded a 1.93 pop time while denying Randy Arozarena’s bid to steal second base in the first.

Orlando Arcia: This has been a magical year for the Braves shortstop who fought for a starting job in Spring Training and then was elected to the NL’s starting lineup. He struck out and grounded out in his only two plate appearances.

Ozzie Albies: NL manager Rob Thomson allowed the entire Braves infield to be on the field together for the bottom of the fifth.  Arcia remained at shortstop while Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Albies entered in the fifth inning.  Albies grounded out and struck out in his two plate appearances.

Matt Olson: Olson again replaced Freddie Freeman. But this time, it was a little less dramatic. After Freeman started at first base, he was replaced by the same guy who succeeded him as the Braves’ first baseman last year.  Olson struck out in his only plate appearance. He will enter the second half leading the NL in homers and RBIs.

Austin Riley : Riley earned a second straight All-Star selection as he bids for a third straight 30-homer season. The Braves third baseman singled against the Orioles’ Yennier Cano in the sixth and then fouled out against the Orioles’ Felix Bautista in the eighth. Riley turned a slick double play to nab Whit Merrifield at first base to end the eighth inning.

Bryce Elder: Elder wasn’t available to pitch after starting Sunday’s game in Tampa.

Spencer Strider: Strider chose not to pitch after throwing 6 ⅓ innings during Saturday’s game against the Rays.

Marlins

Luis Arraez:  The Marlins' second baseman just kept doing his thing as he singled to center off Nathan Eovaldi in the first and singled to right against George Kirby two innings later.  This was his second straight All-Star appearance, but his first start. He has created one of baseball’s top storylines while bidding to hit .400.

Jorge Soler: This was the first All-Star Game for the veteran slugger, who reached on an error in his only plate appearance.

Mets

Kodai Senga: The Japanese rookie was an All-Star replacement when Marcus Stroman opted not to pitch in the Midsummer Classic.  He wasn’t called upon to pitch in the NL’s victory.

Pete Alonso: Alonso has earned an All-Star selection in three of the four years the Midsummer Classic has been played going back to his 2019 rookie season. The Mets' first baseman entered in the seventh and struck out in both of his plate appearances.

Nationals

Josiah Gray: Gray showed why the Nationals have been impressed since acquiring him in the trade that sent Max Scherzer and Trea Turner to the Dodgers at the 2021 Trade Deadline. The 25-year-old hurler struck out Jonah Heim while working a perfect third inning in his All-Star Game debut.

Phillies

Nick Castellanos: Castellanos was a big reason why the Phillies reached last year’s World Series and created this opportunity for Thomson to be the NL skipper. So, it was cool to see Thomson allow his outfielder to have some fun by serving as the NL’s center fielder over the game’s final five innings. Castellanos struck out in his first plate appearance, walked ahead of Díaz's go-ahead homer in the eighth, and singled in the ninth.

Craig Kimbrel: The veteran closer gained his ninth career All-Star appearance when the Brewers’ Devin Williams made himself unavailable to pitch this past weekend. He has over 400 saves, but he didn’t have an All-Star Game save until he escaped the ninth inning on Tuesday night. After issuing consecutive two-out walks, he ended the game by striking out José Ramírez.

NL Central

Corbin Burnes: Named as a roster replacement,  Burnes was at his third All-Star Game but he did not appear in this year's edition.

Devin Williams: Williams opted not to take part in the game after he worked in five of the last eight days to finish the first half, many of them high-stress appearances.

Cardinals

Nolan Arenado: The NL starter at third base, Arenado was 0-for-2 with a popout to second base in the second inning and a groundout in the fourth.

Cubs

Justin Steele: The left-hander handled the scoreless bottom of the fifth inning with one hit and one strikeout. Austin Hays lined a one-out single into center field but Steele got Josh Jung to ground out softly to third base and struck out Jonah Heim.

Dansby Swanson: The shortstop was inactive because he's on the IL with a left heel contusion.

Marcus Stroman: Stroman, who last started on July 6 at Milwaukee, opted out from pitching in the All-Star Game to prioritize rest.

Pirates

Mitch Keller: Getting the bottom of the second inning while throwing 11 pitches, Keller gave up the game's first run when Yandy Díaz lifted his 0-1 pitch to left field for a home run. He recovered nicely to strike out Adolis García and ended the inning with Austin Hays grounding out to second base.

David Bednar: A two-time All-Star closer, including as a roster replacement in 2023, Bednar did not appear in this year's game.

Reds

Alexis Díaz:  Called on for the bottom of the sixth, Díaz gave up one earned run and two hits. He got a quick fly out to right field by Whit Merrifield but back-to-back hits followed when Salvador Perez singled to right field and Brent Rooker lifted a drive to right field for a ground-rule double. The run scored when Bo Bichette sent a sacrifice fly to right field that brought home Perez with the go-ahead run. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounded out to third base to end the inning.

NL WEST

Corbin Carroll: Carroll would finish 0-for-2, grounding out in the second and striking out in the fifth. It didn’t seem to lessen any of Carroll’s pure joy of playing his first All-Star Game in his hometown.

Zac Gallen: Gallen became the third D-backs pitcher to start an All-Star Game, joining Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling – and he lived up to the billing. In a scoreless frame, Gallen retired the first two hitters he faced, including a punchout of Shohei Ohtani, before he allowed a single to Randy Arozarena – who was promptly caught stealing.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.: Briefly, Gurriel got to experience the thrill of hitting a game-tying home run in an All-Star Game. Instead, his seventh-inning moonshot would be confirmed as foul after a replay review, though he would reach a few pitches later on an infield single. Gurriel struck out in his only other at-bat.

Geraldo Perdomo: Appearing in his first All-Star Game, Perdomo walked in the seventh before flying out in the ninth.

Dodgers

Mookie Betts: Betts really can do it all. He’s played right field, shortstop and second base already this season. And his season debut as a center fielder came in the All-Star Game, where he and first baseman Freddie Freeman engaged in some playful discourse on the mic in the first inning. Betts finished 0-for-2.

Freddie Freeman: In the first inning, Freeman hit a deep fly ball to left, tracked down by a leaping Randy Arozarena on the warning track. Half an inning later, after Arozarena’s single, he personally apologized to a mic’d up Freeman at first base. Freeman walked in the third in his only other trip to the plate.

Clayton Kershaw: In his 10th trip to the Midsummer Classic, Kershaw didn’t pitch, having recently been placed on the IL with left shoulder soreness. Nonetheless, Kershaw’s 10 All-Star Games moved him into a tie for the Dodgers record with Pee Wee Reese.

J.D. Martinez: Martinez, as he’s done all season, just kept hitting. He led off the second inning with a single, then led off the fourth with a double and would come around to score on Luis Arraez’s RBI single.

Will Smith: Smith, appearing in his first All-Star Game, flew out in the seventh, then walked in the eighth. He proceeded to swipe second on former batterymate Kenley Jansen.

Giants

Alex Cobb: Making his first All-Star appearance, Cobb walked leadoff man Shohei Ohtani in the fourth inning. But he rebounded to retire Randy Arozarena, Bo Bichette and Yandy Díaz in order, capping a scoreless frame.

Camilo Doval: Doval brought the heat in his first All-Star Game, averaging 100.2 mph with his cutter. He pitched a scoreless seventh inning, striking out Julio Rodríguez in the process, while allowing only a two-out José Ramírez double.

Padres

Josh Hader: Mic’d up for the bottom of the eighth inning, Hader allowed a leadoff single to Whit Merrifield. But he got Salvador Perez to fly to Padres teammate Juan Soto before Brent Rooker lined into a double play.

Juan Soto: Soto was awfully busy in his return to right field, and he logged three at-bats. The Padres slugger grounded out in the fifth and popped out in the seventh before lining a 115.4 mph single in the ninth – the hardest-hit ball Statcast has ever tracked in an All-Star Game.

Rockies

Elias Díaz: One of the game’s most unassuming All-Stars, it was Díaz who played the role of hero with the go-ahead, two-run blast in the top of the eighth inning, sending the National League to its first win in the Midsummer Classic since 2012. He pounced on a Félix Bautista splitter, launching it 360 feet to left. Díaz would become the first Rockie to take home the All-Star Game MVP Award.