MLB Announces 2016 All Star Game Starters; DBacks Goldschmidt Selected as Reserve

By Francisco Romero

The stage is set and so are the starting players for the Major League Baseball All Star Game 2016 in its 87^th edition. The mid summer classic will be played at the home of the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park in San Diego, California.

The Esurance MLB All-Star Game Ballot was conducted exclusively online for the second consecutive season. The AL All-Star Team has nine elected starters via the fan balloting program, while the NL All-Star Team has eight fan-elected starters. The pitchers and reserves for both squads – totaling 25 for the NL and 24 for the AL – are determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the two All-Star managers – AL skipper Ned Yost of the defending World Series Champion Royals and NL manager Terry Collins of the reigning National League Champion New York Mets.

Kansas City Royals catcher, Salvador Perez was the leading vote getter with who 4,965,838 in total votes; Anthony Rizzo topped the NL with 3,242,670 votes en route to his third straight All-Star selection and first career fan election.

The Arizona Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt was named as a reserve. Goldschmidt, 28, is batting .290 (88-for-303) with 17 doubles, 15 home runs, 56 RBI and 63 walks in 83 games for Arizona this season. He ranks among NL leaders in on-base pct. (2nd, .416), walks (2nd), RBI (T-8th) and OPS (10th).

The following is the MLB All Star 2016 roster.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Starters

C: Salvador Perez, Royals

1B: Eric Hosmer, Royals

2B: Jose Altuve, Astros

3B: Manny Machado, Orioles

SS: Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox

OF: Mookie Betts, Red Sox

OF: Jackie Bradley Jr., Red Sox

OF: Mike Trout, Angels

DH: David Ortiz, Red Sox

Reserves

C: Stephen Vogt, Athletics

C: Matt Wieters, Orioles

1B: Miguel Cabrera, Tigers

2B: Robinson Cano, Mariners

3B: Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays

SS: Francisco Lindor, Indians

SS: Eduardo Nuñez, Twins

OF: Carlos Beltran, Yankees

OF: Ian Desmond, Rangers

OF: Mark Trumbo, Orioles

DH: Edwin Incarnation, Blue Jays

Pitchers

RHP: Dellin Betances, Yankees

RHP: Brad Brach, Orioles

LHP: Zach Britton,  Orioles

RHP: Alex Colome, Rays

RHP: Wade Davis, Royals

RHP: Marco Estrada, Blue Jays

LHP: Cole Hamels, Rangers

RHP: Will Harris, Astros

RHP: Kelvin Herrera, Royals

RHP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox

LHP: Andrew Miller, Yankees

RHP: Danny Salazar, Indians

LHP: Chris Sale, White Sox

RHP: Steven Wright, Red Sox

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Starters

C: Buster Posey, Giants

1B: Anthony Rizzo, Cubs

2B:  Ben Zobrist , Cubs

3B: Kris Bryant, Cubs

SS: Addison Russell, Cubs

OF: Yoenis Cespedes, Mets

OF: Dexter Fowler, Cubs

OF: Bryce Harper, Nationals

Reserves

C: Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers

C: Wilson Ramos, Nationals

1B: Paul Goldschmidt, D-backs

1B: Wil Myers, Padres

2B: Daniel Murphy, Nationals

3B: Nolan Arenado, Rockies

3B: Matt Carpenter, Cardinals

SS: Corey Seager, Dodgers

OF: Adam Duvall, Reds

OF: Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies

OF: Odubel Herrera, Phillies

OF: Marcell Ozuna, Marlins

Pitchers

RHP: Jake Arrieta, Cubs

LHP: Madison Bumgarner, Giants

RHP: Johnny Cueto, Giants

RHP: Jeurys Familia, Mets

RHP: Jose Fernandez, Marlins

RHP: Kenley Jansen, Dodgers

LHP: Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers

LHP: Jon Lester, Cubs

RHP: Mark Melanin, Pirates

RHP: A.J. Ramos, Marlins

RHP: Fernando Rodney, Marlins

RHP: Stephen Strasburg, Nationals

RHP: Noah Syndergaard, Mets

RHP: Julio Teheran, Braves