mlb all star game 2026 roster

**PHILADELPHIA** – Major League Baseball officially unveiled the full rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game on Sunday evening, setting the stage for a historic Midsummer Classic at Citizens Bank Park. This year’s event carries extra weight as it coincides with the United States’ Semiquincentennial celebration, with the city of Philadelphia serving as the epicenter of both American history and the baseball world. Headlining the National League squad is hometown favorite Bryce Harper, who led the fan voting for the third consecutive year. Harper, anchoring a Phillies-heavy roster that includes pitcher Zack Wheeler and shortstop Trea Turner, expressed the significance of playing the mid-season exhibition in front of a home crowd during such a monumental year for the city. "To represent Philadelphia in 2026 is something we’ve been looking forward to since the site was announced," Harper said following the roster reveal. "Seeing the talent across both dugouts, this might be one of the most competitive All-Star rosters I’ve ever been a part of." The American League roster is once again headlined by the perennial duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, both of whom have continued their offensive dominance. However, the spotlight in the AL has shifted toward the youth movement. Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson were both named starters, signaling a definitive changing of the guard at the shortstop position. Perhaps the biggest story of the 2026 selection process is the continued evolution of Shohei Ohtani. Once again selected as both a designated hitter and a starting pitcher for the National League, Ohtani enters the break leading the majors in home runs while maintaining a sub-3.00 ERA. He is joined in the NL rotation by Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, who, in his third professional season, has firmly established himself as the most feared power pitcher in the game. The 2026 rosters also reflect a massive influx of international talent. A record-breaking 24 players born outside the United States were selected, including rising stars from the Dominican Republic, Japan, Venezuela, and the first-ever All-Star representative from the MLB development program in Australia. Notable snubs and injury replacements have already begun to dominate the conversation. Despite a resurgent season, veteran Mike Trout narrowly missed an outfielder spot in the American League, while several high-profile pitchers have been ruled out due to the rigorous schedule of the first half. Commissioner Rob Manfred noted that the league would announce final injury replacements by Wednesday morning. Beyond the game itself, Philadelphia is prepared for a week of festivities. The Home Run Derby, scheduled for Monday night, is expected to be a high-scoring affair given the hitter-friendly dimensions of Citizens Bank Park. MLB officials have also confirmed a special pre-game ceremony honoring the history of the sport as it relates to the nation’s 250th anniversary. The 96th Midsummer Classic will be broadcast live on Tuesday night. With a blend of legendary veterans and a "Generation Z" surge of talent, the 2026 All-Star Game promises to be a definitive moment in the modern era of the sport. ### 2026 MLB ALL-STAR STARTING LINEUPS **American League** * C: Adley Rutschman (BAL) * 1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) * 2B: Jackson Holliday (BAL) * 3B: Rafael Devers (BOS) * SS: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC) * OF: Aaron Judge (NYY) * OF: Juan Soto (NYY) * OF: Julio Rodríguez (SEA) * DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU) * SP: Tarik Skubal (DET) **National League** * C: William Contreras (MIL) * 1B: Bryce Harper (PHI) * 2B: Mookie Betts (LAD) * 3B: Elly De La Cruz (CIN) * SS: Trea Turner (PHI) * OF: Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) * OF: Corbin Carroll (AZ) * OF: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD) * DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD) * SP: Paul Skenes (PIT)