Freddie! Freddie! Freddie!
Congratulations Freddie in your ninth All-Star Sport choice and being named the 2025 NL beginning first baseman! pic.twitter.com/oQi5EYiwBJ
Sonja Chen
LOS ANGELES — One-third of this yr's Nationwide League All-Star beginning 9 will likely be carrying Dodger blue.
Will Smith and Freddie Freeman gained the fan vote at their respective positions and can be part of Shohei Ohtani within the beginning lineup for the 2025 All-Star Sport on July 15 in Atlanta. Smith beat out the Cubs' Carson Kelly at catcher, whereas Freeman outdrew the Mets' Pete Alonso at first base.
As a result of Ohtani led the league in Section 1 votes, he was named the NL's starting designated hitter final week. (Though he's again to his two-way duties, Ohtani isn’t anticipated to pitch within the All-Star Sport.)
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"I feel they've all had nice first halves, and it's nice to know that three guys are beginning," stated supervisor Dave Roberts, who can even be on the helm of the NL All-Stars. "And so hopefully we get two or three extra."
The Dodgers have three fan-elected starters for the second time within the final three seasons, their most in an All-Star Sport since 1980, when Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Invoice Russell and Reggie Smith have been all elected to characterize L.A. within the Midsummer Basic.
Tommy Edman, Mookie Betts, Max Muncy, Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández have been additionally NL finalists, however none have been elected to the beginning lineup after the conclusion of Section 2 voting. They may nonetheless probably obtain an All-Star nod when reserves and pitchers are introduced on Sunday.
Smith was additionally named to the All-Star group in 2023 and '24, although this was his first time being elected the NL's beginning catcher. The 30-year-old has not solely been probably the most impactful hitters on the Dodgers, but in addition in baseball at massive.
Your beginning NL Catcher.
Congratulations Will in your third All-Star Sport choice! pic.twitter.com/5lsDIDNUSa
Coming into Wednesday, Smith's .950 OPS is the fourth-highest mark within the Majors, behind solely Aaron Decide, Cal Raleigh and Ohtani. He additionally leads the NL with a .320 common and gives immense worth behind the plate because the Dodgers' beginning backstop.
The general numbers are spectacular, however Smith has been particularly good within the clutch. His .419 common with runners in scoring place ranks tops amongst certified Main Leaguers, and his 1.191 OPS in such conditions is second solely to teammate Max Muncy (1.227).
Freeman, in the meantime, made his ninth All-Star group and was elected to start out for the fifth time. The 35-year-old has made many returns to Atlanta since signing with the Dodgers forward of the 2022 season, however this may mark a singular alternative to be an All-Star within the place the place he spent the primary 12 years of his massive league profession.
Freddie! Freddie! Freddie!
Congratulations Freddie in your ninth All-Star Sport choice and being named the 2025 NL beginning first baseman! pic.twitter.com/oQi5EYiwBJ
Whereas Freeman has maintained that his swing hasn't felt fairly proper since mid-Could — and he has certainly cooled down after a red-hot begin to the season — he has nonetheless been one of many prime first basemen within the Majors within the first half. He entered Wednesday with a .308 common, second solely to the Rays' Jonathan Aranda amongst massive league first basemen, and an .883 OPS, which ranks fourth behind Alonso, the Cubs' Michael Busch and Aranda.
Ohtani, Smith and Freeman will possible be joined by no less than a pair extra Dodgers representatives when the total All-Star rosters are introduced on Sunday. Though Pages was not elected by followers, he in all probability has the perfect case of the group's remaining place gamers. He was capable of put a season-opening droop behind him and is now acting on par with the highest outfielders within the NL.
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Equally, Muncy additionally put collectively a strong All-Star case after a sluggish begin to the season, however he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a left knee bone bruise on Thursday.
On the pitching facet, Yoshinobu Yamamoto appears poised to make his first MLB All-Star group. His 2.51 ERA ranks third amongst certified NL pitchers, and his emergence because the Dodgers' ace has helped stabilize a rotation that has been hit arduous by accidents.
