NEW YORK — Florida Marlins second baseman Luis Arraez, whose batting average has been above or near .400 for the vast majority of the season, edged the Atlanta Braves’ Ozzie Albies on Thursday for the National League starting spot in the 2023 All-Star Game, which will be played in Seattle on July 11.
Arraez, who was acquired from the Minnesota Twins in January for right-hander Pablo López and minor league infielder Jose Salas and outfielder Byron Chourio, entered Thursday’s game in Boston hitting .396 with the Marlins at 13 games over .500 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2009. He will be a first-time All-Star starter. Meanwhile, Lopez is 3-5 with a 4.41 ERA for the Twins.
Arraez, who extended his on-base streak to 13 games on Thursday night in Boston, was hitting above .400 as recently as Saturday.
Elsewhere, Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout was elected to his 11th All-Game and four Texas Rangers were chosen by fans for the American League’s lineup.
Trout was voted to start for the 10th time and will be joined in the AL lineup by teammate Shohei Ohtani, who last week was chosen at designated hitter as the league’s top-vote getter in the first round.
Nine first-time starters were picked by fans, including three Rangers: catcher Jonah Heim, shortstop Corey Seager and third baseman Josh Jung.
Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien was chosen for his second start.
Texas’ previous high was three starters in 2012, when Adrian Beltré, Josh Hamilton and Mike Napoli were picked.
Tampa Bay first baseman Yandy Díaz and outfielder Randy Arozarena were among the first-time starters, joined by Arraez, Atlanta shortstop Orlando Arcia and catcher Sean Murphy and Atlanta outfielder Corbin Carroll.
Three Los Angeles Dodgers were picked: first baseman Freddie Freeman, outfielder Mookie Betts and designated hitter J.D. Martinez.
St. Louis third baseman Nolan Arenado was elected to his fifth start and eighth appearance.
Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, elected to start for the fifth time, hasn’t played since June 3 because of a torn ligament in his right big toe. Houston’s Yordan Alvarez finished fourth in the AL outfield voting.
Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. earned an outfield spot last week as the NL’s top vote-getter during the first round, from May 31 to June 22. The second round started Monday and ended Thursday.
Pitchers and reserves will be announced Sunday.
Heim edged Baltimore’s Adley Rutschman 52%-48% and Díaz beat out Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. 53%-47%. The closest NL votes were both 53%-47%: Arraez over Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies and Martinez over Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper.
