MLB All-Stars Will Shine Tonight in Seattle

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Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game will take off tonight at T-Mobile Park in Seattle Washington. It will be exciting for many fans who get to see baseball’s version of dream teams competing to win what is just an exhibition game. All participants get paid bonuses for being selected and appearing in the Mid-Summer Classic and the Home Run Derby. They also get gifts in the form of tickets for family and friends, plus first class flights for themselves and two guests and per diem, also known as pocket money for food and entertainment, as if the MLB All-Star week isn’t entertaining enough.

Players also get a ring and the players appearing for their fifth, tenth or fifteenth time get a special memento.

The statue of former Mariners outfielder Ken Griffey, Jr outside of T-Mobile Park in Seattle, Washington (Claudia Gestro)

The top vote getters at each position will receive $15k, the second, $5k and the third $2.5k. That includes the Angels two-way player Shohei Ohtani and The Atlanta Braves Ronald Acuña for getting the most votes in their leagues. Players who are mic’d up will get an additional $10k, The roster of the winning team splits an $800k which equals about $25k per player.

The winner of the Home run Derby, gets $1 million. Second place $500k and the other six participants get $100k.

This year the Toronto Blue Jays super star Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. took home that $1 million dollar prize, along with the trophy and jacket. He hit a total of 72 homes runs, banging 25 in the final round. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. and his dad, Vladimir Guerrero, Sr became the first father and son to win the Home Run Derby. Senior did it in the 2007 Fall-Classic, when he was with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Guerrero Junior has participated in the Derby before, but this was hist first win.

The seven other participants were: Randy Arozarena of the Tamp Bay Rays, who came in second, Seattle hero, from the Mariners, Julio Rodriguez, Luis Roberts Jr. from the Chicago White Sox, Adley Rutschman of the Baltimore Orioles, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, two -time Home Run Derby winner Pete Alonso of the New York Mets and Adolis Garcia of the Texas Rangers.

The team with the most players in this All-Star Game is the Atlanta Braves, with eight. The Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers have five each and the Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles each had four of their players in the All-Star Game. The players from the Dodgers: Betts, Freddie Freeman, J.D. Martinez, Will Smith (a reserve) and Clayton Kershaw.

Dodgers outfielder and All-Star Mookie Betts (Claudia Gestro)
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw and All-Star (Claudia Gestro)

From the Angels: Mike Trout who will not play due to injury, and Shohei Ohtani. Trout was injured in a game against the San Diego Padres. He broke his Hamate bone, which is located where the hand and wrist meet. He will be out four to six weeks. Ohtani has been picked as a designated hitter and a pitcher. There is a very good chance we will see Ohtani go from the mound to the batter’s box.

Angels P/DH and All-Star Shohei Ohtani
(Claudia Gestro)

We can find the full rosters of the All-Star Game Here.

Our sports reporter Claudia Gestro is in Seattle working with the league. You can follow her on Twitter Here and Instagram Here. Claudia will be posting during the game tonight.

T-Mobile Park (Claudia Gestro)
T-Mobile Park (Claudia Gestro)