Three Red Sox players have been named MLB All-Stars, with outfielder Jarren Duran and starting pitcher Tanner Houck earning their first career selections while third baseman Rafael Devers was selected for the third time.
Houck’s selection was not a surprise given that the 28-year-old has been among the most dominant pitchers in the American League all season. The right-hander currently boasts a 2.68 ERA and has struck out 106 batters in 111 innings through his first 18 starts. He ranks top 10 in the AL in most major pitching categories and owns one of the most dominant outings by any pitcher in baseball this season with his masterful complete-game shutout on April 17.
Devers earning another nod was also expected. The 27-year-old third baseman leads all qualifying AL third baseman in OPS (.943) and ranks second only to starter Jose Ramirez in most other categories as well, including home runs (19), RBI (53) and total bases (163).
The big question heading into Sunday was whether or not Duran would break through, and while the outfielder didn’t get much support during the earlier fan vote, he wound up earning his first All-Star nod anyway thanks to the support of his peers.
Duran finished fifth among AL outfielders in the player vote, behind only starters Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, Steven Kwan and fellow reserve Kyle Tucker. Duran broke through thanks in large part to his ranking fourth among all AL players in bWAR (4.7), first in triples (10), second in doubles (24), third in hits (103), fourth in extra-base hits (44), fifth in stolen bases (21) and sixth in runs scored (59). He’s also played every game this season and according to Fangraphs ranks second among AL outfielders with 12 defensive runs saved.
Houck finished third among AL starting pitchers on the player ballot behind Baltimore’s Corbin Burnes and Detroit’s Tarik Skubal, and Devers was the runner-up to Ramirez among third basemen.
In addition to Boston’s three selections, three former Red Sox standouts were also selected as All-Stars.
Chris Sale, who was traded to Atlanta this past offseason in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom, is in the midst of a career renaissance after five straight injury-plagued seasons and earned his eighth career All-Star selection, and his first since 2018.
Mookie Betts, now in his fifth season with the Dodgers, earned his eighth All-Star nod as well, though he won’t play in the game due to a fractured hand. Philadelphia left-hander Matt Strahm, who pitched one season for the Red Sox in 2022, earned his first All-Star nod after placing first in the player vote among National League relievers.
American League
Starters: Adley Rutschman, C, BAL; Vladimir Guerrero Jr., 1B, TOR; Jose Altuve, 2B, HOU; Gunnar Henderson, SS, BAL; Jose Ramirez, 3B, CLE; Yordan Alvarez, DH, HOU; Aaron Judge, OF, NYY; Juan Soto, OF, NYY; Steven Kwan, OF, CLE
Reserves: Salvador Perez, C, KC; Josh Naylor, 1B, CLE; Marcus Semien, 2B, TEX; Carlos Correa, SS, MIN; Bobby Witt Jr., SS, KC; Rafael Devers, 3B, BOS; Isaac Paredes, 3B, TB; Jarren Duran, OF, BOS; Riley Greene, OF, DET; Kyle Tucker, OF, HOU; David Fry, DH, CLE
Starting pitchers: Tyler Anderson, LHP, LAA; Corbin Burnes, RHP, BAL; Garrett Crochet, LHP, CWS; Logan Gilbert, RHP, SEA; Tanner Houck, RHP, BOS; Seth Lugo, RHP, KC; Cole Ragans, LHP, KC; Tarik Skubal, LHP, DET
Relief pitchers: Emmanuel Clase, RHP, CLE; Clay Holmes, RHP, NYY; Mason Miller, RHP, OAK; Kirby Yates, RHP, TEX
National League
Starters: William Contreras, C, MIL; Bryce Harper, 1B, PHI; Ketel Marte, 2B, ARI; Trea Turner, SS, PHI; Alec Bohm, 3B, PHI; Shohei Ohtani, DH, LAD; Christian Yelich, OF, MIL; Jurickson Profar, OF, SD; Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, SD
Reserves: Will Smith, C, LAD; Pete Alonso, 1B, NYM; Freddie Freeman, 1B, LAD; Luis Arraez, 2B, SD; C.J. Abrams, SS, WAS; Mookie Betts, SS, LAD; Elly de la Cruz, SS, CIN; Ryan McMahon, 3B, COL; Teoscar Hernandez, OF, LAD; Jackson Merrill, OF, SD; Heliot Ramos, OF, SF; Bryan Reynolds, OF, PIT; Marcell Ozuna, DH, ATL
Starting pitchers: Tyler Glasnow, RHP, LAD; Shota Imanaga, LHP, CHI; Reynaldo Lopez, RHP, ATL; Chris Sale, LHP, ATL; Paul Skenes, RHP, PIT; Ranger Suarez, LHP, PHI; Logan Webb, RHP, SF; Zack Wheeler, RHP, PHI
Relief pitchers: Ryan Helsley, RHP, STL; Jeff Hoffman, RHP, PHI; Tanner Scott, LHP, MIA; Matt Strahm, LHP, PHI; Robert Suarez, RHP, SD
