Major League Baseball has reached All-Star Week, with several events scheduled this past weekend until the first pitch on Tuesday night. Here’s a glimpse of what’s taking place at this year’s festivities at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles:
Top Talent Featured At All-Star Futures Game
Sunday night displayed some of the best minor league prospects in baseball as the annual All-Star Futures Game was held on Saturday in Los Angeles. The American League went on to win in this year’s matchup over the National League 6-4. The game featured some great pitching as well as several home runs.
Emerson Hancock was probably the most imposing pitcher in this game. The Seattle Mariners’ prospect struck out the side in his one inning of work, throwing 11 strikes on 17 pitches. He consistently threw in the high 90s and buckled the knees of opposing hitters with an impressive mid-80s slider. However, the NL pitchers struck out twelve total batters while the AL had just five.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowThe AL was powered by three home runs in the game from Minnesota Twins OF prospect Matt Wallner, New York Yankees OF Jason Dominguez and Oakland A’s catcher Shea Langeliers. The latter went on to win the MVP award. Besides his homer, Langeliers threw out a runner trying to steal third on a perfect throw.
Alonso Hopes To Repeat As Home Run Derby Champion
The biggest names in baseball head to Dodger Stadium for the 2022 All-Star Home Run Derby to be held tonight. Pete Alonso is the two-time defending champion and looks to become the only hitter to win three straight and also join Ken Griffey Jr. as the only person to get three victories in the Home Run Derby.
Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies is the number one seed this year on the strength of his 29 home runs this season and will face the eighth seed Albert Pujols in the first round of this year’s bracket format. However, Juan Soto of the Washington Nationals has been red-hot in the last month and is favored by many as the hitter who could face Alonso in the finals. Despite this, the defending champion is still favored to win the competition for the third straight year.
NL Looks To End All-Star Losing Streak vs. AL
The National League and American League All-Stars clash again on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium for the 92nd edition of the Midsummer Classic. The AL leads the series 46-43-2, with the NL not seeing a victory since 2012.
The starting pitchers for the game have yet to be decided, and several candidates would be excellent choices to take the hill. However, Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays seems the obvious choice for the AL with his 1.71 ERA, 0.795 WHIP, and 147 strikeouts.
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T&C APPLY | NJ, PA, IN, CO, NJ, MI, IA, LA, MS, OH ONLY Join NowTony Gonsolin of the Dodgers leads the NL with an 11-0 record and is fourth in ERA at 2.02. Starting the All-Star Game at his home stadium would also be great for the local fans. Sandy Alcantara of the Miami Marlins can also make a case for getting the starting nod and is first in the NL with a 1.76 ERA in 130.1 innings pitched.
The AL is leading in the power numbers, with Aaron Judge and his teammate Giancarlo Stanton of the New York Yankees posting impressive numbers in the first half of the season. However, seven-time All-Star Paul Goldschmidt and his NL-leading .330 batting average and 70 RBIs will have something to say in this game as he tries to lead his team to victory for the first time in ten years.
