The 2024 All-Star Game roster is a reminder that MLB needs more superstars, fast

By Connor Buestad | Connor@Section925.com

Hard to believe I’m even uttering these words, but the A’s are now more than halfway through their last season in Oakland. The Athletics have played 95 games thus far in their Coliseum swan song and sadly, they've only won 35 of them. Regardless, the A’s do get the God given right to send one player in the green and gold to the Midsummer Classic. This year, that man will be fireballer Mason Miller, known primarily around the league for routinely pumping 100+ mile-per-hour fastballs by helpless hitters in an empty ballpark. 

Joining Miller at the ASG from the Bay Area will be Heliot Ramos and Logan Webb of the Giants, both of which will be coming off the bench for manager Torey Lovullo. Which begs the first question. Who the hell is Torey Lovullo? Oh yes, he’d be the Arizona Diamondbacks manager who made a run to the World Series just last year. On the other side of the diamond, a much more familiar face in Bruce Bochy will be managing the American League roster. 

Regarding the current stars of our national pastime and where we stand with that, it would be helpful to start by looking at the list below. Amongst this you’ll find some household names you have certainly heard of. Guys like Aaron Judge, Juan Soto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the American League side, as well as Bryce Harper, Fernando Tatis Jr., Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani over in the National League. But when it comes to the pitchers, reserves and even some of the starters, you find out quickly how much of a baseball fan you really are. Without scrolling down, can you name 10 All-Stars? 15?? 

Are you at all familiar with position players David Fry, Jordan Westburg, or Isaac Paredes? Or how about Ryan McMahon, Jackson Merrill or even Teoscar Hernandez? From the pitching side of things, do Garrett Crochet, Cole Ragans, or Tarik Skubal ring a bell from the AL? How about Shota Imanaga, Reynaldo Lopez or Jeff Homan from the NL? The hell are these guys?

We’ve all been hearing for way too long that the MLB has a player marketability problem. The poster boy of that issue has been Mike Trout, who despite having Mickey Mantle type talent never seems to be talked about in the media at large and almost never makes an appearance in the playoffs for that matter. Baseball needs more big names, plain and simple. More guys who are fun, charismatic, personable, quirky, eye-catching, etc. Looking at today’s All-Star roster, more “stars” are desperately needed across the board.

Sure, Paul Skenes has busted on the scene after an electric run at LSU, so he’s one candidate for who's up next. Elly De La Cruz is also a National League reserve, and his uber athletic brand of baseball has some real star potential. But is that enough when you think about who’s got next?

Far too many of the stars we’ve grown accustomed to following will be sitting at home, away from the public eye next Wednesday night. Guys like Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, Jacob deGrom, Gerrit Cole, Nolan Arenado, Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Giancarlo Stanton, Manny Machado and Alex Bregman are slowly becoming the “old guard.” They will be nowhere to be found when baseball takes center stage for their big night under the bright lights. Does the MLB have a plan to replace them? Or will they treat this issue with the same neglect they’ve given the Oakland Athletics? Only time will tell, but early indicators are not exactly stellar.

2024 MLB All-Star Rosters

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Starters
C: Adley Rutschman (BAL)
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR)
2B: Marcus Semien (TEX)
3B: José Ramírez (CLE)
SS: Gunnar Henderson (BAL)
OF: Aaron Judge (NYY)
OF: Juan Soto (NYY)
OF: Steven Kwan (CLE)
DH: Yordan Alvarez (HOU)

Reserves
C: Salvador Perez (KC)
INF: Carlos Correa (MIN)
INF: Josh Naylor (CLE)
INF: Isaac Paredes (TB)
INF: Willi Castro (MIN)
INF: Jordan Westburg (BAL)
INF: Bobby Witt Jr. (KC)
OF: Jarren Duran (BOS)
OF: Riley Greene (DET)
OF: Anthony Santander (BAL)
DH: David Fry (CLE)

Starting pitchers
LHP: Tyler Anderson (LAA)
RHP: Corbin Burnes (BAL)
LHP: Garrett Crochet (CWS)
RHP: Logan Gilbert (SEA)
RHP: Tanner Houck (BOS)
RHP: Seth Lugo (KC)
LHP: Cole Ragans (KC)
LHP: Tarik Skubal (DET)

Relief pitchers
RHP: Emmanuel Clase (CLE)
RHP: Clay Holmes (NYY)
RHP: Mason Miller (OAK)
RHP: Kirby Yates (TEX)

Unavailable
INF: Jose Altuve (HOU)
INF: Rafael Devers (BOS)
OF: Kyle Tucker (HOU)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Elected starters
C: William Contreras (MIL)
1B: Bryce Harper (PHI)
2B: Ketel Marte (AZ)
3B: Alec Bohm (PHI)
SS: Trea Turner (PHI)
OF: Christian Yelich (MIL)
OF: Jurickson Profar (SD)
OF: Fernando Tatis Jr. (SD)
DH: Shohei Ohtani (LAD)

Reserves
C: Will Smith (LAD)
INF: CJ Abrams (WSH)
INF: Pete Alonso (NYM)
INF: Luis Arraez (SD)
INF: Mookie Betts (LAD)
INF: Elly De La Cruz (CIN)
INF: Freddie Freeman (LAD)
INF: Ryan McMahon (COL)
OF: Teoscar Hernández (LAD)
OF: Jackson Merrill (SD)
OF: Heliot Ramos (SF)
OF: Bryan Reynolds (PIT)
DH: Marcell Ozuna (ATL)

Starting pitchers
RHP: Hunter Greene (CIN)
LHP: Shota Imanaga (CHC)
RHP: Reynaldo López (ATL)
LHP: Chris Sale (ATL)
RHP: Paul Skenes (PIT)
LHP: Ranger Suárez (PHI)
RHP: Logan Webb (SF)
RHP: Zack Wheeler (PHI)

Relief pitchers
RHP: Ryan Helsley (STL)
RHP: Jeff Hoffman (PHI)
LHP: Tanner Scott (MIA)
LHP: Matt Strahm (PHI)
RHP: Robert Suarez (SD)

Unavailable:
Tyler Glasnow (LAD)