DYK: Facts to know about All-Star rosters

July 3rd, 2017

The rosters for the 88th All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, set for Tuesday, July 11, at Marlins Park in Miami, feature a collection of elite talent, ranging from veteran mainstays returning to the Midsummer Classic to up-and-coming stars making their first appearances.
American and National League starting lineups and reserves were announced on Sunday night's Esurance All-Star Selection Show, and still to come is the Esurance All-Star Game Final Vote. Fans have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to help determine the final slot on each roster.
Cast your Esurance Final Vote
This year's batch of All-Stars features 23 first-time selections, 15 from the AL (four pitchers, 11 position players) and eight from the NL (three pitchers, five position players).
:: Complete All-Star Game coverage ::
On Tuesday, July 11, at 7:30 p.m. ET, tune in to the 2017 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard live on FOX, and during the game visit MLB.com to submit your choice for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet via the 2017 MLB All-Star Game MVP Vote. The 88th All-Star Game, in Miami, will be televised nationally by FOX, in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS, and worldwide by partners in more than 160 countries via MLB International's independent feed. ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide national radio coverage of the All-Star Game. MLB.com, MLB Network and SiriusXM will also provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information, please visit allstargame.com.
Miami, here we come: ASG rosters unveiled
Below is a closer look at some interesting facts for this year's squads:
(4,630,306) was the leading vote-getter, joining the Expos' Gary Carter (1982) as the only players in franchise history to top the Majors in All-Star balloting.
(4,488,702) ranked first in AL voting. He's the first AL rookie fan-elected starter since the Yankees' Hideki Matsui in 2003. At age 25, Judge is also the youngest player to lead the AL in voting since Ken Griffey Jr. in 1994, and the first Yankees player to do so since Derek Jeter in '09.

• Cardinals catcher leads the way with his eighth All-Star selection, the most of any player on this year's rosters. Dodgers ace ranks second with seven appearances. For the AL, , Chris Sale and are each tied at six.
• The Astros, Indians, Yankees and Nationals will all be sending five players to Miami, the most among the 30 teams. Houston hasn't had five All-Stars since 1994, Cleveland since 2004 and New York since '11. Washington had five All-Stars last season.

• The Rockies have a club-record four players named to the NL squad, with the potential for a fifth. and Charlie Blackmon were voted starters and will be joined by Greg Holland and DJ LeMahieu. is up for the NL Final Vote.
• Among the first-time All-Star selections, seven are starters: (SS), (3B), (1B), Judge (OF), (OF) and Corey Dickerson (DH) in the AL, and Zack Cozart (SS) in the NL.

• In addition to those six AL starters and Cozart, All-Star veterans Arenado (3B), (2B), (1B), Blackmon (OF) and (OF) were named first-time starters.
• The Final Vote candidates also feature a handful of names who could be making their first trip to the Midsummer Classic. In the NL, , , Reynolds and are vying for their first All-Star selection. In the AL, it's Didi Gregorius and .

• Trout is an All-Star for a sixth straight year since his first full season in 2012. Despite being on the disabled list since May 29, Trout was voted a starter for a fifth time, more than other 2017 All-Star. and Harper are second as four-time starters.
• Tigers slugger finished fifth in voting among AL first basemen, falling short of his 12th selection. This year's All-Star Game will be the first without Cabrera since 2009, snapping his streak of seven consecutive appearances.
, who turned 37 on Saturday, represents the oldest selection from either league. The youngest is the Dodgers' breakout rookie , who turns 22 two days after the game, on July 13. At 21 years, 354 days old the day of the game, Bellinger will be the youngest position player in Dodgers history on an All-Star team, surpassing teammate and previous record-holder (22 years, 69 days).
• The defending champion Chicago Cubs went from seven representatives at least year's game, including five starters, to just one in 2017. Closer is the lone Cubs player on the NL roster. He could, however, be joined by third baseman , who is among the NL's Final Vote candidates.
• Posey and are back behind the plate as starting catchers for a third consecutive season. This is the first time the two starting catchers have remained the same for three straight years since Hall of Famers Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez started eight consecutive All-Star Games from 1994-2001.
is an All-Star for the first time since 2008, when he was with the Angels. That nine-year stretch between All-Star Games is the longest since Adam Dunn went 10 years between All-Star Games, making the team in 2002 and then in '12. Before Santana, the last pitcher to go nine years between All-Star appearances was Andy Pettitte (2001, '10).