Five Texas Rangers players will start in Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game in Seattle.
Second baseman Marcus Semien, shortstop Corey Seager, third baseman Josh Jung, catcher Jonah Heim, and outfielder Adolis GarcÃa will be in the American League’s starting lineup.
The game marks the first time in 47 years that five players from one team will start.
Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was also named to the American League squad but will not be starting.
“Any time you can make one, it’s very special, but to be able to share it with a bunch of your teammates, it’s really cool,” Seagar said, according to Fox Sports.
Only two other franchises in baseball history have had five All-Star starters, including the New York Yankees (1939) and Cincinnati Reds (1956, 1957, and 1976).
“I got some really good guys around me,” said Jung, a rookie starting in his first All-Star Game, Fox Sports reported. “[You] don’t have as much pressure when you have Corey Seager and Marcus Semien next to you, so just go out there and have fun truly.”
GarcÃa participated in Monday night’s Home Run Derby. He was eliminated by friend and fellow Cuban Randy Arozarena, 24-17, in the first round.
“It was just a great and exciting experience,” GarcÃa said via team translator Raul Cardenas. “We’re very, very grateful that we got to do that, and we’re very very proud to be a part of it. I’m also very proud of my buddy Randy.”
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the Home Run Derby. The 24-year-old slugger edged out Arozarena, 25-23, in the final round and hit 72 home runs during the event.
Guerrero’s father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., won the derby in 2007. They became the first father-son combination to accomplish the feat.
“I don’t remember much about 2007,” said Guerrero Jr., according to AP News. “I guess I was too young.”
The MLB All-Star Game will air live at 7 p.m. CT on Fox.
