Your Guide To The MLB All-Star Festivities

The first half of the MLB Season is officially in the books, and it’s now time for the Midsummer Classic: The MLB All-Star Game. Over the break, the Philadelphia Phillies will get some much-needed rest as they prepare for a push to the playoffs in the 2^nd half, but there are still some great events to hold you over until the Fightins are back. They also have some representatives that will be taking part in some of the events going on out in Seattle, the home of the 2023 All-Star Game.

If you’re like me, though, the All-Star break can sneak up on you, and then all of a sudden you’ve missed one of the big events of the week. Well, don’t worry. I have your guide to the MLB All-Star festivities, including what events will feature Phillies players that you should be keeping a special eye on. It’s not just the All-Star Game.

First of all, let’s break down the schedule for the game’s best players’ time in Seattle. There are some events that have already occurred, but could be worth going back to take a look at. Friday, July 7^th featured the inaugural HBCU Swingman Classic, a showcase of some of the top talent from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Ken Griffey Jr. came up with the concept for the event, and it was a great look into the talent that exists at HBCUs. Saturday had the MLB Futures Game, followed by the Celebrity Softball Game, two of my favorite events of the week.

The Futures Game, which was won 5-0 by the National League prospects, included 2 high-profile Phillies prospects: Mick Abel and Justin Crawford. Abel made the start for the NL and got the win in the game, and Crawford had an RBI in the contest. Certainly something worth checking out if you’re a prospect geek like me. Then came celebrity softball, featuring numerous stars from different industries, but most importantly to us here in Philly, gave us a chance to watch Ryan Howard mash some softballs. It’s not the most competitive event, but I’ll always tune in for The Big Piece.

Sunday was entirely clear to make way for the 2023 MLB Amateur Draft, which saw a pair of LSU teammates go 1-2 overall in Pitcher Paul Skenes and OF Dylan Crews. The Phillies selected Aidan Miller, a prep school 3^rd baseman with plus power potential, but who will take a while to reach the majors. No matter: that Bohm guy over there now is pretty good.

Alright, let’s get into the events still to come, the big ones. Monday night is the setting for the 2023 Home Run Derby, which boasts an interesting lineup of young talent. Luis Robert Jr., Adley Rutschman, Pete Alonso, Julio Rodriguez, Mookie Betts, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Adolis Garcia, and Randy Arozarena.

Pete Alonso is the only player in the field who has won the event before, so there’s a great opportunity for a first-time winner. The derby starts at 8pm EST, and you can watch it on ESPN. Personally, I’m rooting for either Julio Rodriguez of the hometown Mariners or Adley Rutschman, the former top prospect who has helped the Baltimore Orioles to one of the best records in baseball. It should be a fun event either way.

Then, on Tuesday Night, the game’s best players will come together for The MLB All-Star Game, with first pitch scheduled for 8pm. The Phillies have 3 representatives this year, with Nick Castellanos making the NL Roster as a reserve, Craig Kimbrel as an injury replacement (for Milwaukee’s Devin Williams), and Rob Thomson as NL Manager. It will be a great moment for the players for sure, as both Castellanos and Kimbrel are very deserving, but also for Thomson, who has gone from bench coach, to interim manager, to NL Champion, to now All-Star Game Manager, all in the span of about a year.

It will be a fun night to hear from some of baseball’s best, and in a sport that historically does not market its players well, this game is a great example of a time they do it right. Hey who knows, Nick Castellanos might even hit a homer and bring home an MVP. Whatever the results though, it should be a great couple of days of baseball out in Washington.

The mid summer classic! Held in the middle of July, the MLB All-Star Game is a staple of the summer time because its time of the year where the four major sports arent active (in meaningful games.) Its when the best of the best get together in a meaningless game where everyone gets to play and most baseball fans dont seem to care.

I think the last time I actually watched the All-Star game was the last year that it counted for something. It was controversial, and many hated it, but the All-Star game deciding home field advantage in the World Series got me to tune in. At the time, the Phillies were good. So I was interested to see if they were to get to the World Series would they have home field advantage or not. Since 2017 the All-Star game hasnt mattered at all and I rarely tune in. But there is a point of pride when your team has multiple representatives.

As I write this (Thursday) there is still time for the Phillies to gain an extra representative because pitchers drop out last minute every year. As of right now the Phillies have one lone representative and its the very deserving Nick Castellanos. Castellanos has had a bounce back season hitting .310/.352/.514 with 40 extra base hits.

So Castellanos will represent the Phillies in 2023 but lets take a look back at the Phillies representatives of the past. Some of these will be a blast from the past since every team needs a representative and there were plenty of seasons where the Phillies were bad.

Nick Castellanos (outfielder)

Kyle Schwarber (outfielder)

Bryce Harper (outfielder)

JT Realmuto (catcher)

Zach Wheeler (starting pitcher)

MLB All Star Game was cancelled

JT Realmuto (catcher)

Aaron Nola (starting pitcher)

Pat Neshek (relief pitcher....it was a down year for the Phils)

Odubel Herrera (outfielder)

Jonathan Papelbon (relief pitcher)

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Domonic Brown! (outfielder)

Cliff Lee

Cole Hamels (starting pitcher)

Jonathan Papelbon (relief Pitcher)

Carlos Ruiz (Catcher)

Shane Victorino (outfielder)

Cliff Lee (starting pitcher)

Roy Halladay (starting pitcher)

Cole Hamels (starting pitcher)

Placido Polanco (third basemen)

Roy Halladay (starting pitcher)

Ryan Howard (first basemen)

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Jayson Werth (outfielder)

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Raul Ibanez (outfielder)

Shane Victorino (outfielder)

Ryan Howard (first basemen)

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Brad Lidge (relief pitcher

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Cole Hamels (starting pitcher)

Aaron Rowand (outfielder)

Chase Utley (second basemen)

Ryan Howard (first basemen)

Tom Gordon (relief pitcher)

Bobby Abreu (outfielder)

Jimmy Rollins (shortstop)

Billy Wagner (relief pitcher)

Bobby Abreu (outfielder)

Jim Thome (first basemen)

Randy Wolf (starting pitcher)

Scott Rolen (third basemen)

Jimmy Rollins (short stop)

Vicente Padilla (starting pitcher)

Jimmy Rollins (short stop)

Mike Liberthal (catcher)