Freddie Freeman was named to the National League All-Star roster on Saturday, and the Dodgers finished with five selections. Freeman’s 10th All-Star nod came in a roster announcement that pushed the Dodgers into a tie with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies for the most in the majors.
Andy Pages keeps his first All-Star spot
Andy Pages was part of that same group, and he did not want to act as if the selection was locked in before it became official. “I wanted to participate, but that wasn’t in my control. I didn’t want to put it out there until I knew it was for sure,” he said in Spanish before the Dodgers’ 3-0 win over the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
Pages added: “It’s exciting to be able to participate in my first one,” and, “I’m really proud of the work that I’ve been doing and to have the opportunity.” He joined Max Muncy, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Freeman on the roster.
Max Muncy and Ron Cey
Muncy got his third All-Star selection, and he is set to be the first Dodger to start the All-Star Game at third base since Ron Cey in 1977. That gives the Dodgers more than a round number on the roster; it gives them a starter at a position they have not filled that way in nearly five decades.
Yamamoto was named to the roster for his second All-Star selection. Ohtani had already been named an All-Star on June 25 after leading the majors in Phase 1 voting, so the Dodgers’ final total reflected both the early vote leader and the later additions that rounded out the group.
Justin Wrobleski and Ohtani
Justin Wrobleski was not named an All-Star, but he could still be added as a possible injury replacement. That leaves one opening in the background of the roster news: the five Dodgers are in, but the full July 14 picture at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia can still shift if replacements are needed.
Ohtani’s status is part of that next layer. He left Friday’s game in the seventh inning with tight right biceps and was feeling “considerably better” on Saturday. Dave Roberts said, “If things trend the way we would expect, then he’ll be in there [Sunday],” and added, “The first step is how he feels tomorrow, and then the days forthcoming,” before also saying, “So we don’t need to make that decision today, tomorrow, the next day. So we have time. And I think for us it’s just more of reading and reacting on how he feels.”
The Dodgers now have five players on the National League roster and share the majors’ top selection total with the Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies. Freeman’s 10th selection is the headline number, but the roster itself carries the larger sign: the Dodgers arrive at July 14 with a group deep enough to push the rest of the league to the same mark.
