Three Phillies, Judge, Soto and Ohtani among MLB All-Star starters

The Philadelphia Phillies are sending three infielders to the MLB All-Star Game later this month, as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm were among the starters named for the Midsummer Classic on Wednesday night.

Turner won the game over Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts in a close vote, although Betts will miss the game with a broken left hand. Bohm will make his first All-Star start after winning 70 percent of the vote over San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado.

“It’s great for the organization,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.

The league announced its starters for the July 16 game in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday. The New York Yankees, Houston Astros, Cleveland Guardians, Baltimore Orioles, Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres each have two starters representing their respective teams.

For the American League, the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and Juan Soto will start together in the outfield, alongside the Guardians’ Steven Kwan.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays will start at first base, with Jose Altuve of the Astros at second, Gunnar Henderson of the Orioles at shortstop and Jose Ramirez of the Guardians at third. Adley Rutschman of the O’s won the vote behind the plate, and Yordan Alvarez of the Astros did the same at designated hitter. Alvarez narrowly beat out Ryan O’Hearn, the Baltimore designated hitter, in the final vote, 52 to 48 percent.

For the National League, Harper, Turner and Bohm will join Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte in the infield, while the Brewers’ Christian Yelich will start alongside Padres teammates Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield.

Brewers catcher William Contreras will start behind the plate, and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani will be the designated hitter.

The reserves will be announced on Sunday.

“I hope (Bryson) Stott can do it, too,” Thomson said. “Atlanta had it last year, where all four of their infielders did it.”