Dodgers have five more players selected for All-Star Game
LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ stars have played as such all season long. Accordingly, they will be well represented in the All-Star Game on July 16.
Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith were named as National League reserves and Tyler Glasnow was chosen as a pitcher on Sunday. Those five join Shohei Ohtani, who had already been named a starter to the game, which will be held in Arlington, Texas.
“When you got over 20 percent of the team on an All-Star team, that means you got a pretty good team,” Freeman said. “It’s gonna be fun.”
After a splashy offseason, headlined by the record-smashing contract that Ohtani signed to move over from Anaheim, it was the somewhat overlooked addition of Hernández that has been just as important in helping power the offense. With 19 homers and 60 RBI so far this season, Hernández will make his second career All-Star Game appearance, having done so with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2021.
The selection might open the door to competing in the Home Run Derby, something Hernández previously expressed interest in after Ohtani declined to participate.
“Yeah, why not?” he said. “Obviously, my career, I wanted to be a part of it, see how it feels and why not try to go for it?”
Manager Dave Roberts has no objections if Hernández gets an invitation.
“If he wants to go out there and hit a bunch of homers and make the fans go crazy, have at it,” Roberts said.
Glasnow is a first-time selection, leading the National League with 143 strikeouts after the Newhall native was traded to the Dodgers and signed a four-year contract extension in December.
“To come back to his hometown team and be an All-Star is great, something he’ll really relish,” Roberts said.
Freeman has made the All-Star Game in each of his three seasons with the Dodgers and received his eighth career nod.
“You never know when it’s your last one, so every single one is special,” Freeman said.
Smith is back in the All-Star Game for the second straight year.
Betts will not be able to play in his seventh career All-Star Game after breaking his hand when hit by a pitch against the Kansas City Royals on June 16. Betts, who had 10 homers, 40 RBI and a .304 batting average prior to the injury, learned of the honor while sitting in as a guest broadcaster for SportsNet LA during the 9-2 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.
MORE MIGUEL?
The Dodgers have been looking for more offense from the bottom of their lineup and a way to address Max Muncy’s ongoing absence at third base because of a strained oblique. Miguel Vargas might be the surprise answer to both dilemmas.
Vargas went 0-for-4 on Sunday, a hiccup for the 24-year-old who had been hitting .435 over his previous 10 games.
The greater challenge is making sure Vargas’ defense at third is up to par. His lone stint at third as a fielder in the majors came on September 30, 2022, handling one inning in a 10-1 rout of the Colorado Rockies.
“With Vargie, I want him to continue to get some more repetitions at third base,” Roberts said. “But, yeah, if he continues to swing the bat well, take grounders over there, I’ll find some spots over at third base for sure.”
SIM GAME SUNDAY
Clayton Kershaw and Joe Kelly each took the mound Sunday morning to face live hitters, and Roberts came away more pleased with Kershaw’s outing.
Kelly, a right-hander reliever, has not appeared in a game since May 5 because of a muscle strain. Roberts doesn’t expect Kelly to return until after the All-Star Break.
Kershaw, the venerable left-hander, underwent shoulder surgery on November 3 and has been gradually working his way towards a 17th season debut with the Dodgers. Roberts expects Kershaw to resume a rehabilitation assignment in the minor leagues next week, including a three-inning start “if all goes well.”
UP NEXT
Dodgers (RHP Bobby Miller, 1-1, 6.12 ERA) at Phillies (TBD), Tuesday, 3:40 p.m., SportsNet LA, TBS, 570 AM