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Here Are the Latino Players Taking Center Stage At MLB All-Star Game

As the Latino presence in baseball continues to grow, so do the number of Latino players from the National and American leagues at the annual MLB All-Star Game.
Salvador Perez
Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez points skyward as he crosses home on his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Seattle. Elaine Thompson / AP

Major League Baseball holds its 88th edition of the annual All-Star Game on Tuesday night from Marlins Park in Miami, Florida. Known as “The Mid-Summer Classic”, this exhibition game (which is mostly voted on by the fans) puts the game’s best talent on the field at the same time.

And as the Latino presence in baseball continues to grow, so does the number of Latino players getting All-Star bids. Here are the Latino players participating in this year’s All-Star festivities:

National League:

Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado

Todd Frazier Nolan Arenado
Colorado Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) catches a throw from the outfield during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 8, 2017, in Denver. Joe Mahoney / AP

Making his third straight All-Star game appearance, this 26-year-old is one of only two Hispanic players in the starting lineup for the National League this year. Arenado was born in California but is of both Cuban and Puerto Rican descent. He was drafted by the Rockies in 2009, but didn’t make his Major League Debut until 2013. While he still has many years ahead of him, three straight All-Star games in his first five seasons isn’t a bad start to a young career.

Miami Marlins outfielder Marcell Ozuna

Marcell Ozuna
Miami Marlins' Marcell Ozuna, right, connects for an RBI-single off San Francisco Giants' Jeff Samardzija in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, July 8, 2017, in San Francisco.AP

This 26-year-old Dominican is the other Hispanic starter for the NL, and it’s an historic achievement. Not only is this back-to-back All-Star bids for Ozuna, but it’s also consecutive All-Star starts for him as well. On top of that, he's the only Marlins outfielder in franchise history to start in the Mid-Summer Classic.

That’s very significant, when you consider the team’s strong history of All-Star outfielders such as Gary Sheffield (1993, 1996), Jeff Conine (1994 and 1995), Moises Alou (1997), and Ozuna’s teammate Giancarlo Stanton. With the Marlins hosting the event this year, Ozuna will take the term “home field advantage” to the next level.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina

St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina reacts after lining out to end the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 7, 2017, in St. Louis.
St. Louis Cardinals' Yadier Molina reacts after lining out to end the eighth inning of a baseball game against the New York Mets Friday, July 7, 2017, in St. Louis. Jeff Roberson / AP

“Yadi” as he’s affectionately known by his teammates, will be making his eighth All-Star appearance on Tuesday night. This year will be the fifth year that he’s had to come off the bench. But 2017 has already been an All-Star year for the 34-year-old Puerto Rican, if you think about it.

In March he helped push Puerto Rico’s National Team to a second place finish in the World Baseball Classic, their best finish in that event. And for nearly a decade, Molina has been the gold standard for the catchers' position in terms of his consistency (1,665 career hits), accolades (two World Series rings), and over 12 individual awards. By now, the All-Star game is pretty much a formality for Molina.

Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton

Giancarlo Stanton, Christian Yelich
Miami Marlins' Christian Yelich, right, is congratulated by Giancarlo Stanton (27) after scoring against the San Francisco Giants in the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 9, 2017, in San Francisco. Ben Margot / AP

Stanton will be the starting designated hitter for the NL for the All-Star game.The Marlins' $325 million man will also be headlining Monday night’s Home Run Derby (he won that event last year). The 27-year-old, who’s Puerto Rican on his mother’s side, is the cornerstone of a franchise that is in the final stages of a rebuilding process. He’ll definitely be the team’s ambassador as the host of this year’s All-Star events.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte

Ender Inciarte
Atlanta Braves' Ender Inciarte (11) follows through on a two-run home run to tie the game in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Atlanta. John Bazemore / AP

You know you’ve arrived when you get your first All-Star selection, and that’s exactly the case for this 26-year-old from Venezuela. Inciarte is not the first Venezuelan to play in the All-Star game, and he won’t be the last, but hopefully for him this All-Star game will be the first of many.

RELATED: MLB'S History Is Rich With Latino Legends

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez stands on the mound after giving up a solo home run to New York Mets' Jay Bruce during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 7, 2017, in St. Louis.
St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez stands on the mound after giving up a solo home run to New York Mets' Jay Bruce during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, July 7, 2017, in St. Louis.Jeff Roberson / AP

Now making his second All-Star appearance, the Cardinals prized 25-year-old right-hander has the perfect platform to bring awareness to his Tsunami Waves Foundation. He created the charitable organization to help those in need, especially in his native Dominican Republic. Giving back is an important part of Martinez’s daily life; baseball gives him the means to do so.

American League:

Houston Astros infielders Jose Altuve (second base) and Carlos Correa (shortstop)

Carlos Correa, Jose Alltuve
Houston Astros' Carlos Correa, right, is congratulated by Jose Altuve following his solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana, left, in the fourth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 29, 2017, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)Jim Mone / AP

These middle infielders are the engines that make the Astros go game-by-game. Altuve, born in Venezuela, is playing in his fifth All-Star game. This ties him with Astros great Lance Berkman for the second most All-Star appearances in team history. Correa, who is Puerto Rican, is playing in his first All-Star game, and will be the first shortstop in Astros history to start in the Mid-Summer Classic.

Cleveland Indians third baseman Jose Ramirez

Jose Ramirez, Alex Avila
Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez watches his RBI single off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann during the third inning of a baseball game, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Cleveland. Tony Dejak / AP

This 24-year-old Dominican is also making some history with his All-Star nod. Not only is this the first All-Star game for Ramirez, but he’ll the first Indians player to start the game at third base since Travis Fryman did so back in 2000.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez

Salvador Perez
Kansas City Royals' Salvador Perez points skyward as he crosses home on his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners in the 10th inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Seattle.Elaine Thompson / AP

Many consider this 24-year-old Venezuelan to be the American League’s version of Yadier Molina. While that debate rages on, the significance of Perez’s All-Star nod for 2017 is not up for debate. That’s because he’s starting for the AL for the fourth straight year. The only other catcher to do so is 2017 Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez. That’s some elite company right there.

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Oakland Athletics first baseman Yonder Alonso

Yonder Alonso
Oakland Athletics' Yonder Alonso watches his RBI single off Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Erasmo Ramirez during the third inning of the first game of a scheduled baseball doubleheader Saturday, June 10, 2017, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Athletics' Jed Lowrie scored.Chris O'Meara / AP

Alonso is one of many Latinos on the American League bench this year. Alonso is making his first All-Star appearance at the age of 30, and he is one of baseball’s many Cuban success stories. He fled the island with his family in 1996 and settled in Miami, the site of this year’s All-Star game. He made his Major League debut with the Cincinnati Reds in 2010, but he joined Oakland last year and has become a staple of the franchise.

New York Yankees infielder Starlin Castro

Starlin Castro
New York Yankees' Starlin Castro catches a ball hit by Los Angeles Angels' Andrelton Simmons for the out during the ninth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in New York. Frank Franklin II / AP

This is the fourth All-Star selection for Castro, 27, who hails from Monte Cristi in the Dominican Republic. But it's his first as an American League player. His previous three selections came as a member of the Chicago Cubs.

Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano

Robinson Cano
Seattle Mariners' Robinson Cano, right, celebrates with Kyle Seager (15) after Cano hit a solo home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 28, 2017, in Seattle. Ted S. Warren / AP

As a member of the New York Yankees, Cano played in five consecutive All-Star games between 2010 and 2014. Now the Dominican slugger is playing in back-to-back All-Star games for the first time in a Mariners uniform.

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor

Francisco Lindor
Cleveland Indians Francisco Lindor celebrates his home run against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader Saturday, June 17, 2017, in Minneapolis. Bruce Kluckhohn / AP

Another member of Puerto Rico’s famed WBC squad, Lindor, 23, is playing in his second straight Mid-Summer Classic. He is originally from the town of Caguas.

Minnesota Twins infielder Miguel Sano

Miguel Sano
Minnesota Twins' Miguel Sano in a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles Saturday, July 8, 2017, in Minneapolis. Tom Olmscheid / AP

It’s a year of firsts on two fronts for Sano, who is 24. Not only is this the Dominican's first-career All-Star appearance, but he’s also making his rookie appearance in Monday night’s Home Run Derby.

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez

Gary Sanchez
New York Yankees designated hitter Gary Sanchez looks over his shoulder as he returns to the dugout after fouling out to Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in a baseball game in New York, Wednesday, July 5, 2017. AP

From the Dominican Republic to the New York Yankees to first-time All-Star: That’s Sanchez, 24, in a nutshell as he joins the long list of Yankee All-Star catchers. It’s a list that includes names such as Jorge Posada, current Yankees manager Joe Girardi, Hall of Famer Yogi Berra, and Mike Stanley.

Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia

MNJA114
Chicago White Sox right fielder Avisail Garcia leaps to catch a fly ball by Minnesota Twins' Brian Dozier during the eighth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, June 22, 2017, in Minneapolis. John Autey / AP

Garcia, 24, is a prime example of how hard work and determination pays off. After being traded to Chicago from the Detroit Tigers back in 2013, Garcia struggled to find himself to some degree. He batted injuries and struggles at the plate, even a position change — but he never gave up. This year has probably been the best season of this native Venezuelan’s career (.310/.353/.497 slash line, 11 home runs, 51 RBI’s) and now he’s being rewarded for overcoming his struggles with his first-career All-Star bid.

Seattle Mariners designated hitter/outfielder Nelson Cruz

Nelson Cruz
Seattle Mariners' Nelson Cruz stands in the dugout after he hit a three-run home run, the 300th of his career, in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, July 7, 2017, in Seattle. Ted S. Warren / AP

At 37, and in the twilight of his career, Cruz will play in his first All-Star game since 2015. Now we have to wait and see if the Dominican will see the field or if he’ll just be used in a pinch-hitting role.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Ervin Santana

Ervin Santana
Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Ervin Santana delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians, Sunday, June 25, 2017, in Cleveland. Tony Dejak / AP

This two-time All-Star player, who is 34 and is from La Romana in the Dominican Republic, is making his first appearance since 2008.

Pitchers Jason Vargas (Kansas City Royals) and Luis Severino (New York Yankees)

Jason Vargas
Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas throws to the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, July 5, 2017, in Seattle.Elaine Thompson / AP

Kansas City Royals' Jason Vargas is 34 and was born in Apple Valley, California; he is Mexican American. The Yankees' Luis Severino, 23, is from Sabana de la Mar, in the Dominican Republic. They are both making their first All-Star appearances.

New York Yankees pitcher Dellin Betances

Dellin Betances
New York Yankees relief pitcher Dellin Betances reacts after striking out Oakland Athletics' Matt Joyce to end a baseball game Saturday, May 27, 2017, in New York. AP

Betances, 29, from Washington Heights in New York City is the third Yankee player on this roster. He’s playing in his fourth straight All-Star game.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Roberto Osuna

Roberto Osuna
Toronto Blue Jays' Roberto Osuna throws to the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, June 21, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. Tony Gutierrez / AP

While this may be the 22-year-old right-hander's first All-Star game, his selection ensures that for the third straight year Mexico will have a presence at the Mid-Summer Classic. Last year the lone Mexican representative was Miami Marlins pitcher A.J. Ramos, and in 2015 that designation was held by Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez.

Now let’s play ball!

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