:INFO
The 2026 Midsummer Classic
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia. Tuesday 14 July. First pitch 8 p.m. ET on FOX. The All-Star Game returns to one of baseball's loudest venues, a park where the crowd noise is famous and the cheesesteak stands run out by the third inning. Surrounding the game: the Draft on 11 and 12 July, the Futures Game on 12 July, and the Home Run Derby on 13 July. Four nights that belong entirely to the sport.


:STATS

:COUNTER
26 players making their first All-Star appearance in 2026

:NOTE
Shohei Ohtani leads the NL lineup at DH with a .927 OPS and 18 home runs. He was voted in as a hitter only, but he is having one of the most complete offensive seasons in Dodger history. Freddie Freeman earns his 10th All-Star nod and Chris Sale, now in Atlanta, makes his 10th as well. Mike Trout, healthy for the first time since 2023, starts in the AL outfield.


:NOTE.half
NL starters include Drake Baldwin (C, Braves), Freddie Freeman (1B, Dodgers), Ozzie Albies (2B, Braves), Max Muncy (3B, Dodgers), CJ Abrams (SS, Nationals), Brandon Marsh and Andy Pages (OF, Phillies and Dodgers), Juan Soto (OF, Mets), and Shohei Ohtani (DH, Dodgers).
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:NOTE.half
AL starters feature Ernie Clement (2B, Blue Jays, top vote-getter), Yordan Alvarez (DH, Astros), Bobby Witt Jr. (SS, Royals), Junior Caminero (3B, Rays), Aaron Judge (OF, Yankees), Mike Trout (OF, Angels), and Byron Buxton (OF, Twins). Nick Kurtz (A's) steps in after Guerrero Jr. withdrew with injury.


:THREAD

:CHECKLIST
Five players to watch at Citizens Bank Park on 14 July
[ ] 1. Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers DH): Can the most-voted player in history put on a    show in front of 43,000 screaming Phillies fans?
[ ] 2. Jacob Misiorowski (Brewers SP): Will the Brewers change their schedule    to let the league's best pitcher throw even one inning?
[ ] 3. Bryce Harper (Phillies DH): Named as a legend pick by Commissioner Manfred.    Nine-time All-Star. Playing at home. The crowd will not stop.
[ ] 4. Paul Skenes (Pirates SP): Only in his second full season and already a    three-time All-Star. The heir apparent to every Cy Young conversation.
[ ] 5. Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals SS): Quietly building a case for AL MVP. The    All-Star stage is overdue.

:NOTE
Biggest snubs. Brice Turang (Brewers 2B) leads NL position players by WAR among those left out. Sonny Gray (Red Sox SP) is 9-1 with a 2.69 ERA and was not selected. Zack Wheeler (Phillies SP) has an 8-1 record and a 2.36 ERA. The game is in his home park. He will almost certainly be added once the first round of replacements clears.


:LINK
https://www.mlb.com/news/2026-mlb-all-star-game-rosters-announcement
Official 2026 MLB All-Star Game roster announcement