The 2026 all star roster for Major League Baseball is officially set, giving fans a complete look at the players who will take the field for the 96th Midsummer Classic. Set for Tuesday, July 14, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia and airing on FOX at 8 p.m. ET, this year’s game brings together established superstars, first-time honorees, and a handful of surprise selections that have already sparked plenty of debate. With the American League and National League rosters both finalized, here is a complete look at who made the cut, how the rosters were built, and what to watch for heading into game day.
How the 2026 All-Star Rosters Were Selected
Every year, the process for building the all star roster follows a familiar path, though the details shift slightly based on fan turnout and player performance. Starting lineups were determined through a two-phase fan voting process, while the bulk of the reserves were chosen through a ballot completed by players, managers, and coaches. The league then stepped in to fill any remaining gaps, ensuring that all 30 MLB clubs have at least one representative on either the AL or NL side.
Two players bypassed the traditional second phase of fan voting entirely by earning the most votes outright in the opening round: Dodgers two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani in the National League and Blue Jays infielder Ernie Clement in the American League. Commissioner Rob Manfred also exercised a rarely used prerogative this year, naming Phillies veteran Bryce Harper to the NL squad as a “Legend Pick.” That special selection pushed the National League roster to 33 players, one more than the American League’s 32, since Harper’s spot came in addition to the reserves who earned their places through the standard voting process.
As is always the case with the all star roster, changes can still occur between the announcement and first pitch. Players occasionally withdraw due to injury, rest days, or scheduling conflicts tied to the trade deadline, and replacements are named as those situations arise. Fans following the 2026 all star roster closely should expect at least a few roster tweaks before the game begins.
National League Starting Lineup
The National League’s starting nine is headlined by the Dodgers, who placed four players into the starting lineup on the strength of their back-to-back championship run. Ohtani leads the group as the starting designated hitter after topping all players in fan voting, and he will be joined by teammates Freddie Freeman at first base, Max Muncy at third base, and Andy Pages in the outfield. The Dodgers’ pitching depth is also well represented on the reserve side, though Ohtani himself is not expected to pitch in the exhibition after Los Angeles adjusted his schedule around the break.
The rest of the NL starting lineup includes:
- Catcher: Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves
- Second base: Ozzie Albies, Atlanta Braves
- Shortstop: CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals
- Outfield: Juan Soto, New York Mets
- Outfield: Brandon Marsh, Philadelphia Phillies
Soto’s selection continues his run as one of the sport’s most consistent offensive threats, while Abrams enters the game leading all NL shortstops in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, on-base percentage, and slugging for a Nationals team that has unexpectedly led the majors in scoring this season. Baldwin and Albies give the Braves two starters, complementing a strong overall showing from Atlanta on the reserve list.
American League Starting Lineup
The American League’s starting lineup underwent a notable change shortly after the initial announcement. Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. earned the fan vote but chose to decline his starting nod in order to rest a lingering lower back issue. That opened the door for Athletics rookie standout Nick Kurtz, who had collected the most votes on the players’ ballot, to take over as the AL’s starting first baseman.
The full AL starting lineup features:
- Catcher: Shea Langeliers, Athletics
- Second base: Ernie Clement, Toronto Blue Jays
- Third base: Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays
- Shortstop: Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals
- Outfield: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels
- Outfield: Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins
- Outfield: Aaron Judge, New York Yankees
- Designated hitter: Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros
Langeliers becomes the first Athletics catcher to start the All-Star Game since Terry Steinbach in 1988, backed by 20 home runs this season. Witt continues to establish himself as one of the game’s most complete players, ranking near the top of all position players in defensive value while also contributing power and speed. Trout, who has battled injuries in recent seasons, is expected to be healthy in time for the game after dealing with a hamstring strain, and a start would mark his first since 2019.
Pitching Staffs and Reserve Selections
Pitching depth is one of the defining storylines of this year’s all star roster, particularly on the National League side. Several NL starters have posted sub-3.00 ERAs this season, and the group selected as pitching reserves reflects that strength. Milwaukee’s Jacob Misiorowski has drawn significant attention after a dominant complete-game shutout performance, positioning him as a leading candidate to start the game on the mound. Philadelphia’s Cristopher Sanchez, pitching in his home ballpark, is also in the conversation, along with Ohtani himself, though his pitching workload has been managed carefully.
The NL pitching staff includes Chase Burns, Jhoan Duran, Raisel Iglesias, Max Meyer, Mason Miller, Misiorowski, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Sanchez, Paul Skenes, Logan Webb, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Sale’s selection marks his tenth career All-Star nod, tying him with several franchise greats for total appearances, while Skenes continues to build his reputation as one of the National League’s most dominant young arms.
On the American League side, the pitching staff includes Dylan Cease, Aroldis Chapman, Jacob Latz, Parker Messick, Drew Rasmussen, Joe Ryan, Cam Schlittler, Cade Smith, Ranger Suarez, Louis Varland, and Michael Wacha. Chapman’s selection gives him nine career All-Star appearances, tying him with Craig Kimbrel for the second-most among relievers in league history, trailing only Mariano Rivera. Schlittler, a Yankees rookie who impressed during the postseason last year, has emerged as one of the American League’s top starting pitchers this season and earns his first career selection.
Reserve position players rounding out the National League roster include William Contreras, Hunter Goodman, Luis Arraez, Bryce Harper, Otto Lopez, Matt Olson, Sal Stewart, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Jordan Walker, James Wood, and Kyle Schwarber. On the American League side, reserves include Randy Arozarena, Travis Bazzana, Cody Bellinger, Yandy Diaz, Dillon Dingler, Riley Greene, Nick Kurtz, Kevin McGonigle, Ben Rice, Adley Rutschman, and Miguel Vargas.
Team Representation and Notable Storylines
The Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies each lead all of Major League Baseball with five selections apiece to the 2026 all star roster. The Dodgers’ contingent includes Ohtani, Freeman, Muncy, Pages, and pitcher Yamamoto. Atlanta’s group features Baldwin, Albies, Olson, Sale, and closer Iglesias. Philadelphia, serving as the host city, sends Harper, Schwarber, Marsh, Sanchez, and closer Duran.
On the American League side, the Blue Jays, Yankees, and Rays each placed four players on the roster. Toronto’s representatives are Clement, Guerrero (before his decline), Cease, and closer Louis Varland. New York’s group includes Judge, Rice, Bellinger, and Schlittler. Tampa Bay rounds out the trio with Caminero, Diaz, Rasmussen, and closer Bryan Baker.
This year’s roster also introduces a strong class of first-time All-Stars, including Langeliers, Baldwin, Andy Pages, Clement, Kevin McGonigle, Travis Bazzana, and Sal Stewart, with four rookies among the group. That mix of proven veterans and rising talent has become a hallmark of the modern All-Star Game, giving fans a chance to see both the sport’s biggest names and its next wave of standouts on the same field.
As with any roster announcement, the selections have generated discussion about players who were left off. Names like Milwaukee’s Brice Turang and Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds have been mentioned among the more notable omissions, though there is no official confirmation of any additional roster changes beyond those already announced. Fans should keep in mind that the all star roster is subject to further updates if injuries or scheduling conflicts arise closer to the July 14 game.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 all star roster reflects a season defined by dominant pitching, breakout young stars, and a handful of franchises enjoying especially strong first halves. With the Dodgers, Braves, and Phillies each sending five players, and standout performances from players like Nick Kurtz, Jacob Misiorowski, and CJ Abrams pushing their way into the national spotlight, this year’s Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia carries plenty of storylines heading into game day. As the trade deadline approaches and rosters face potential last-minute adjustments, fans following the 2026 all star roster will want to stay tuned for any official updates before first pitch on July 14.
Stay tuned for the latest roster updates, and share your thoughts on this year’s All-Star selections in the comments below.