When the All-Star Game rosters were released Sunday, how the Orioles only had three representatives was shocking. For Baltimore and Anthony Santander, it’s better late than never.
Santander will be representing the Orioles at the All-Star Game next week after being named by MLB on Thursday as the injury replacement for Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker. Just a few days after the Orioles’ All-Star total was seen as a snub, they will send five players to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2016.
“It is a blessing,” Santander said after the Orioles’ loss to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. “All the work I’ve been putting up all these years in my career, I’m happy and grateful.”
The switch-hitting Santander joins infielder Jordan Westburg as Baltimore players to originally miss out on making the American League’s roster but later get in as a replacement. MLB announced Tuesday that Westburg, who is in the midst of a breakout sophom*ore campaign, will replace Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who elected to forego his spot on the AL’s roster because of a left shoulder injury.
Santander will join Westburg, starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for the game Tuesday. Rutschman and Henderson were voted by the fans to start the contest, while Burnes has a credible case to serve as the AL’s starting pitcher. Westburg and Santander were finalists to start the game but lost the fan vote.
“Oh, awesome,” Santander said of joining his teammates in Arlington. “We’ve been together all these years. It’s happy and it’s an honor being with that young talent at the All-Star Game.”
The Orioles surprised Santander with the news when he arrived to Camden Yards before Thursday’s game.
“They called me to the office and all the staff was in the room waiting me for me and they applauded,” he said with a smile.
The All-Star appearance will be Santander’s first of his eight-year career with the Orioles. The right fielder joined the organization as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2016, debuted in 2017 and became a mainstay in manager Brandon Hyde’s lineups in 2019.
The 29-year-old is hitting .233 with a .790 OPS in perhaps the best offensive season of his career. His 23 home runs rank tied for fifth in MLB and second on the Orioles behind Henderson’s 27.
Santander, who is a free agent this offseason, got off to his usual slow start, but once the weather warmed in June, so did the Venezuela native. Thirteen of Santander’s homers came in June when he belted a long ball in nearly 12% of his at-bats for one of the best power months in Orioles history.
“Very happy, absolutely,” Hyde said. “He’s had an All-Star first half, been wonderful defense and a huge part of the middle of our order. He’s had a heck of a first half after kind of a rough start a little bit, a little bit of a slow start. So, very happy to give him the news today.”
Like Austin Hays being an All-Star last year, Santander will represent the group of players who survived the Orioles’ rebuild, remaining as key pieces of the team once it emerged to become one of the AL’s best. Hyde said it was in 2019 — during which the outfielder didn’t make Baltimore’s opening day roster but spent the second half as a near-everyday player — when a young Santander “solidified himself as a major league player.”
“He’s one of my favorites,” Hyde said. “This guy has been with us through this whole path, and it’s awesome to see him get recognition. It’s going to be fun watching him on national TV.”
The only teams with as many All-Stars as the Orioles’ five are the Philadelphia Phillies (seven), Los Angeles Dodgers (six), Cleveland Guardians (five) and San Diego Padres (five).
The Orioles have sent more than five players to the All-Star Game just four times since the club moved to Baltimore in 1954. The 1970 club, which went on to win 108 games and the World Series, sent seven players, while the 1969, 1971 and 1972 teams each had six All-Stars.
Next week will mark just the fourth time since 1973 that the Orioles have sent five players to the Midsummer Classic. In 2016, third baseman Manny Machado, outfielder Mark Trumbo, catcher Matt Wieters and relievers Brad Brach and Zack Britton represented Baltimore.
It’s possible that Santander isn’t the last Oriole to get a late invite. Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has a hip injury that kept him out of Thursday’s lineup. If he can’t play in next week’s exhibition, Ryan O’Hearn could be his replacement after the Orioles slugger lost the fan vote against Alvarez to start the game by only four percentage points. O’Hearn has been among the Orioles’ most consistent hitters this season with a .796 OPS.
Some pitchers could also elect to drop out, potentially creating room for Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel. The 36-year-old is enjoying a resurgent 2024 campaign with 23 saves (second in AL) and a 2.10 ERA. Since recovering from his early season stumble, Kimbrel has been the most valuable reliever in baseball with 1.1 wins above replacement by FanGraphs’ calculations. The right-hander has given up only one earned run in his past 21 innings.
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