The American League won the 2026 MLB All-Star Game 4-0, shutting out the National League in front of a sellout crowd at Citizens Bank Park in South Philly.
Phillies batters struggle as American League wins All-Star Game
Phillies Bryce Harper waves to the fans during the sixth inningElizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Well that was rough.
The American League blanked the National League 4-0 in the MLB All-Star Game in South Philly Tuesday night, where the only real fireworks were during a recreation of “The Sandlot.”
Phillies’ batters didn’t help much. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh went a combined 0-5 with three strikeouts.
Starting his first All-Star Game, Cristopher Sánchez struggled, giving up three runs on three hits. Teammates Jesús Luzardo and Jhoan Duran pitched well during their limited time on the mound.
Overall, the National League managed just three hits against dominant American League pitching, which recorded 15 strikeouts.
The AL has won 11 of the last 13 All-Star Games, for those keeping score.
Phillies fan nabs a souvenir that will ‘go into a case for life’
Phillies fan David MacDonald and his dad, Jim, after catching a Brandon Marsh foul ball. Abraham Gutman / staff
David MacDonald will leave the MLB All-Star game tonight with a souvenir.
The 23-year-old from Cape May caught a ball Brandon Marsh fouled in the second inning.
“My dad and I have been talking about going to the All-Star game even before it was announced it was here,” MacDonald said. “I shed tears during the national anthem and everything.”
Adding to the lore of what is guaranteed to be a story told and retold in the MacDonald household, father Jim MacDonald was in the bathroom for Marsh’s at bat.
The ball instantly became the young MacDonald’s most prized possession, he said, and it will immediately “go into a case for life” after the game.
The father-son due are Phillies diehards, and like so many children and their parents, they’ve bonded over their love of baseball.
“It means everything to us,” the young MacDonald said. “This is one of the coolest days of my life.”
A recreation of ‘The Sandlot’ at the All-Star Game
A recreation of The Sandlot scene was shown, and then those kids rode bikes onto the field to meet the players, all while “America the Beautiful” from Ray Charles plays.
Sánchez gives up three runs in All-Star Game start
Cristopher Sanchez walks off of the mound after pitching the first inning.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Upon being introduced Tuesday night, Cristopher Sánchez stood in the bullpen, hands on his hips, tapped his chest and saluted the crowd.
It was all downhill after that.
Sánchez, the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011, labored through a 34-pitch first inning in which he faced eight batters and gave up three runs on three hits.
The trouble for Sánchez began with a one-out single from the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez. Sánchez walked Shea Langeliers of the Athletics, and two batters later, walked the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases.
With action in the National League bullpen, Sánchez allowed back-to-back RBI singles to the Yankees’ Cody Bellinger and Ben Rice to drop the NL in a 3-0 hole before Kyle Schwarber led off the bottom of the first.
Sánchez came into the All-Star Game with a 2.62 ERA, ninth among all pitchers. But he quietly struggled before the break. He gave up nine runs in 3 1/3 innings in his worst career start July 6 in Kansas City, then dodged 10 hits in allowing only two runs in seven innings last Saturday in Detroit.
The full Philadelphia sports fan range of emotion in seconds, in equal passion applauding Kyle Schwarber and booing Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/k8C7Y5iBSK
Jennifer Hudson performs before the start of the All-Star Game.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerActor Miles Teller introduces the All-Star Game to fans and viewers on Fox. Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerJhoan Duran, Jesús Luzardo and Bryce Harper during player introductions.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 7:59pm
Big cheers for Phillies All-Stars during player introductions
Kyle Schwarber passes Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy during batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerLos Angeles Angles centerfielder Mike Trout prepares for batting practice.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer(From left) Phillies’ Jesús Luzardo, Pirates’ Braxton Ashcraft, Phillies’ Jhoan Duran, and Dodgers’ Justin Wrobleski talk during batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff PhotographerPhillies interim manager Don Mattingly watches batting practice.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 5:47pm
Brandon Marsh’s dry hair among best looks from the MLB All-Star Game red carpet
Brandon Marsh waves during the All-Star red carpet event.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
You can take the baseball players off the field, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to stop sporting coordinated outfits.
The All-Star red carpet ran through Independence Mall on Tuesday before that night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, and the stars were putting their stellar fashion skills on display, as fans saw a lot of coordinated outfits between families.
Sometimes the best outfits are less about the clothes and more about the overall look, and with a head of hair like Brandon Marsh’s, there’s little the clothes have to do.
Marsh wore his signature locks notably dry and tied back with an all-black look, from shirt to pants, jacket, and shoes.
But he wasn’t just bringing the fashion, he also was offering tips on haircare.
The Phillies outfielder shared his hair routine with MLB Network’s Kait Maniscalco, stating that he doesn’t do much beyond washing it once or twice a week, usually after day games, and then, of course, wetting it every inning.
“I just water it every inning just like you do the grass or the flowers,” Marsh said.
Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton to throw ceremonial first pitches
Tonight’s ceremonial first pitches will be thrown by a pair of Phillies legends, Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt and Steve Carlton.
Receiving the pitches will be two other Phillies greats, Hall of Famer Scott Rolen and 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels. #AllStarGamepic.twitter.com/PFRYN89wra
All-Stars talk Philly fans and ‘impressive’ Derby atmosphere
A fan celebrates after catching a home run from St. Louis Cardinals All-Star Jordan Walker during the Home Run Derby.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Philly has a reputation for having some of the toughest fans in professional sports — and Monday night was a clear reminder why they’ve earned that reputation. During the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park, fans booed anyone without Philly affiliation.
“I thought it was in a pretty impressive atmosphere last night,” said Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan. “Just seeing the Home Run Derby, [Philly fans are] always going to have a good time and they want to win. So, yeah, [I] respect it.”
And nobody was safe — not even the kids in the outfield tasked with tracking down the non-home runs. After a failed attempt, some took heat from the Philly crowd, while others were cheered for their successful catches.
“To be honest, I didn’t see [the Home Run Derby,]” said Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman. “But they’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.”
“They’re passionate, man. I got to give them credit.” — Adley Rutschman on Philly fans pic.twitter.com/XGdWCO3phP
Phillies fans cheered loudly for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper on Monday night. The other Home Run Derby contestants? They got a different reception.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
The boos at Monday’s Home Run Derby may have surprised some but it’s nothing new in Philly.
Fifty years ago, the fans at Veterans Stadium provided the soundtrack at the All-Star Game just like they did on Monday at Citizens Bank Park. The fans booed the rival Reds players during pregame introductions and roared for the Phillies. The Reds, who would beat the Phillies that October in the playoffs, had no issue with the South Philly serenade.
“They’ve got people in this town who boo the crack in the Liberty Bell,” said Pete Rose, who was one of five Reds in the starting lineup. “So I knew I’d get a few raspberries playing third base instead of Mike Schmidt. If the game was in Cincinnati and there were that many Phillies voted into the lineup, they would be getting boos. These people are going to hate us a lot more come October.”
The All-Star Game has grown substantially since 1976 as the midsummer classic is now a week-long event. But it’s a safe bet that it will sound like 1976 during pre-game introductions on Tuesday night. Mets, Braves, Dodgers, and even some others: cover your ears.
“I think the important thing is that Bryce’s activity was not a violation of the basic agreement,” commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday in a meeting with the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. “We made sure about that, and we’ll continue to try to figure out exactly how we ended up, where we ended up on that.”
MLB’s collective bargaining agreement, which will expire on Dec. 1, allows players to appear in advertisements or make personal appearances for casinos, racetracks, or sportsbook companies, as long as they do not encourage betting on baseball.
The Inquirer obtained a copy of a 21-second video from November 2024 in which Harper offered a greeting to a bettor, Terry Thompson, who wagered $18.5 million with FanDuel and lost $1.5 million, according to a lawsuit that the Public Health Advocacy Institute filed in March in Common Pleas Court in Philadelphia.
Harper posted to Instagram on Monday that he thought he was just doing a message on the site Cameo — in which celebrities are paid to record videos for fans — but “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote, adding that he read a script “in good faith” before FanDuel put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. “I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
Harper declined to comment beyond his initial statement on the advice of counsel.
Manfred said he’s “aware of the situation” and Harper’s statement about it, but said, “I’m not really certain that I know all of the underlying facts well enough to evaluate the behavior.”
Harper will be in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park. He was selected as the commissioner’s “Legends Pick,” one spot on each league’s roster that is filled by Manfred.
Photos: Check out the Phillies All-Stars on the red carpet
All six of the Phillies All-Stars took to the red carpet Tuesday on Independence Mall, sporting their freshest outfits with their families joining in on several of the looks. Here’s how they looked …
Phillies pitcher Jesús Luzardo and his wife, Francesca Sue Luzardo.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies closer Jhoan Duran and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies outfielder Brandon Marsh.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerGov. Josh Shapiro (left) greets Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies pitcher Cristopher Sanchez and his family.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies first baseman Bryce Harper and his wife Kayla Harper.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
// Timestamp 07/14/26 2:45pm
Bryce Harper talks Home Run Derby and red-carpet fit
Greg Amsinger loves his red carpet outfit, but Bryce Harper isn't the biggest fan.😂
Harper spoke about what it means to represent the @Phillies in their home ballpark at the #AllStarGame!
Gameday Central: Previewing the All-Star Game — and the trade deadline
The All-Star Game is back in Philly for the first time in 30 years, and The Inquirer has you covered. Join Phillies reporter Scott Lauber and Phillies beat writer Lochlahn March for a special All-Star episode of Gameday Central at 2 p.m.
They’ll be on site at Citizens Bank Park to discuss All-Star week, recap the Phillies’ first half, and look ahead to the trade deadline and beyond.
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:57pm
The stars are here: Watch the MLB Network Red Carpet show
// Timestamp 07/14/26 1:18pm
Fans arrive on Independence Mall ahead off red carpet
Farr: Stop whining about the boos at the Home Run Derby
A fan reacts after catching a home run from Tampa Bay Rays Junior Caminero during the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
I understand some folks on social media are very upset with Phillies fans today for booing every baseball player but their own two during the Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park Monday night.
To those whom we’ve offended, may I humbly say: BOOOOO!!! There’s no crying in baseball, you whiny babies.
I wasn’t there in person so sadly I can’t claim to have been a part of the cacophonous crowd that joyfully jeered player after player as they walked onto the field (except, of course, for Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper, who received thunderous applause), but I did laugh like hell while watching the incessant booing on TV.
Philly literally booed these guys just for daring to show up and be introduced at our ballpark. We are so unserious.
Our humor is just as brutal as our honesty and while it may not seem like it on the surface, both come from a place of respect. Sure we could be fake and feign applause for players from other teams, or we could be “polite” and not say anything at all, but we’d rather be engaged and enjoy a good time and a good ribbing.
Heck, last night Phillies fans booed one of the kids picking up baseballs in the outfield because he didn’t catch a fly ball, so yeah, puppies and sunshine should be on high alert.
All-Star Game in Philly: Here’s how to watch and stream
Joe Davis (left) and Hall of Famer John Smoltz will call tonight’s All-Star Game on Fox.Fox Sports
The Phillies will be well-represented in tonight’s MLB All-Star Game (8 p.m., Fox), which is back on Fox for the 26th straight year.
Cristopher Sánchez will start for the National League, and two Phillies players will be in the starting lineup — Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh. Bryce Harper, Jesús Luzardo, and closer Jhoan Duran are also on the National League squad.
Calling the game is Fox’s World Series crew — play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and Hall of Famer John Smoltz. Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci will report from Citizens Bank Park.
How to stream the All-Star Game
The game will stream live on the Fox Sports app, although it’s only available there for cable subscribers. It will also stream live on MLB.TV, although the subscription service is hardly worth it for Phillies fans in the Philadelphia market due to its blackout rules.
The game can also be streamed on a host of services that carry Fox, including FuboTV, Hulu With Live TV, DirecTV Stream, Sling TV, or YouTube TV. If you live near Philadelphia, you can also watch it for free using a digital antenna, since Fox 29 is a broadcast channel.
Other All-Star Game coverage
Fox Sports will begin its live coverage at 7 p.m. with a pregame show hosted by Kevin Burkhardt alongside analysts Derek Jeter, Alex Rodriguez, and David Ortiz.
The MLB All-Star Red Carpet Show will begin at 2 p.m. on MLB Network.
All-Star Game lineups: Kyle Schwarber will lead off for National League
Kyle Schwarber finished second in Monday night’s Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The starting lineups for Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game were revealed by the teams’ respective managers Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
The lineup behind Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, who gets the start on the mound for the National League, will begin with his Phillies teammate, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh for Dave Roberts’ NL squad.
Here’s a look at the full order:
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
Juan Soto, LF, Mets
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies
Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers
Drake Baldwin, C, Braves
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the starting lineup for John Schneider’s American League side, behind starting pitcher Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays:
Some of MLB’s biggest stars are missing from this year’s All-Star Game
Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani isn’t at the All-Star Game.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer
The best player in Major League Baseball — a player who can make a claim to being the greatest baseball player ever — will not play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
The best player on the most popular team in Major League Baseball — a player who hit at least 53 home runs in three of the previous four seasons and is among the most recognizable figures in the sport — will not play either.
And the best pitcher for the franchise that is hosting the game — a pitcher who can make a claim to being the best starter in the majors for the last several years — wasn’t initially selected to be an All-Star, then was, then rejected the invitation.
If the stars everyone wants to see don’t play, does the All-Star Game still make a sound? It was a question worth contemplating Monday. It wasn’t the only one. The players who will make up the American and National League rosters Tuesday night plopped down on chairs along Ashburn Alley for the game’s media availability, and the juice wasn’t quite what it might have been.
The Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani has irritation in his left knee. The Yankees’ Aaron Judge has a stress fracture in his right rib. The Phillies’ Zack Wheeler has a bruise to his ego.
Kyle Schwarber falls in Home Run Derby heartbreaker
Kyle Schwarber looked set to take his first Home Run Derby title before Jordan Walker went on a late frenzy.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.
Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.
And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.
Schwarber won the round and nearly the Derby. But the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who drew cheers from the 43,863 paying customers after each swing that didn’t result in a homer, smashed four homers in a row in bonus time to eke out a 12-11 victory in the finals.
It marked Schwarber’s third career Derby and second runner-up finish. He came in second to Harper in 2018 in Washington, then Harper’s home ballpark. Four years later, they became teammates with the Phillies.
There would be no rematch this time. Harper hit eight homers in the first round and didn’t advance despite crushing a 482-footer that disappeared beyond the second deck in right field before touching down in Ashburn Alley.
Philly road closures due to tonight’s All-Star Game
All-Star Game banners are in place around town.Conor Smith / Staff
Independence Mall will see road closures in place from 5 a.m. to midnight Tuesday due to the MLB Red Carper show, which begins at 2 p.m.
Those closures will affect:
Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets
Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets
Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth Street to Seventh Streets
Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.
All roads affected by closures will also be temporary no-parking zones, the city said. If vehicles are parked in those locations during the times they are closed, the vehicles will be moved.
Drivers who may have had their cars moved should contact the police district of the area where their vehicle was parked, the city said.
To accommodate fans heading to Citizens Bank Park, SEPTA will run six additional express trains on the Broad Street Line, also known as the B Line, to NRG Station before and after the All-Star Game.
Free rides on the line from NRG Station will also be available at select times during those events. Free rides begin after the sixth inning of the All-Star Game Tuesday, the city said.
Leading in the final round of the Home Run Derby. His opponent down to one last swing. On the precipice of lifting his tired arms once more to hoist a trophy.
In 2018, it was Bryce Harper who smashed nine home runs in a row in an all-time Derby flourish to vanquish his future Phillies teammate.
So, guess what Schwarber was thinking about Monday night when the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker cut through the boos in sold-out Citizens Bank Park with back-to-back-to-back … to-back homers to walk off the hometown star, 12-11, in a cruel twist to a pulsating Derby final.
“Oh, trust me,” Schwarber said, “yeah, it was definitely popping in your head. Seeing Bryce do what he did in ‘18, and then, obviously what [Walker] was able to do, the run he just had, it’s impressive. I mean, you tip your cap, right?”
What else was there to do?
Schwarber went deep 10 times in 20 swings to survive the first round, unlike Harper, who hit only eight after making a climb-the-ropes, WWE-style entrance upon being introduced by famed 81-year-old ring announcer (and Philadelphian) Michael Buffer. But we’ll come back to that.
In the semifinals, Schwarber edged Willson Contreras, 9-8, with help from a partisan crowd that booed the Red Sox slugger each time he hit a ball over the fence and roared for every non-homer.
Phillies Bryce Harper climbs up the ropes of the boxing ring during his introduction at the MLB Home Run Derby on Monday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
It set up a showdown with Walker, a 24-year-old former top prospect who has 22 homers for the Cardinals, five fewer than in his first three major league seasons combined.
Schwarber went first and hit 11 balls out on 15 swings, all to the familiar right-field bleachers that he reaches so often during the season with his short left-handed stroke. With Phillies assistant hitting coach Rafael Peña throwing to him, he hit six homers on his first nine swings.
And when he needed a breather, Schwarber stepped out and urged on the 43,863 paying customers.
After 19 swings, Walker trailed 11-8. But the righty-swinging outfielder began peppering the left-field bleachers in bonus time — a 407-footer off the top of the wall here, a 413-foot laser there, a 450-foot missile to tie it up.
“The big one was that one where the ball hits the top of the wall there and snuck over,” Schwarber said. “I was like, oh, that one’s not good for us.”
Walker clinched it with one more mighty swing, shades of Harper in ‘18 and Schwarber in Atlanta last year, when he banged three homers on three swings in the first-ever swing off to decide an All-Star Game that was tied after nine innings.
The Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber reacts as he finishes his turn in the finals of the Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“That’s a pretty special thing that he was able to do,” Schwarber said, “to lock it in there for those swings and to get them over.”
Indeed, it was one swing from being one of the more memorable nights for the Phillies in their 22-year-old ballpark, which is hosting its first All-Star Game.
Buffer started the show by bellowing his catchphrase — “Let’s get ready to rumble!” — and introducing the Derby contestants, who met in a wrestling ring behind second base.
Harper took it from there.
The last player announced, “The Showman,” as he’s called by teammates, raised both arms to salute the crowd. Upon reaching the ring, he climbed up, shook the ropes, and shouted, “Let’s go!”
“I mean, Buff’s incredible,” Harper said. “He’s so Vegas, right? Being from Vegas, born and raised, they do a lot of fights out there. That’s a guy that I’ve seen a lot on TV. It was insane to see him announcing our names and to announce my name, as well.”
And climbing the ropes?
“I’ve always wanted to do that, too,” Harper said. “Watching wrestling growing up, Sting was one of my favorites. I liked Goldberg, too. I felt like Kevin Nash in that situation, a little bit of nWo. But that was pretty cool.”
Harper was the last player to hit, roughly one hour after the Derby began. He enlisted Dodgers third base coach Dino Ebel to throw to him and appeared to get into a groove late in the first round, with six homers in the span of 11 swings.
On his fourth homer, Harper crushed a ball that seemed to disappear beyond the second deck before touching down on Ashburn Alley, estimated at 482 feet. He hit another homer over the batter’s eye in center field.
“I’ve done that in a game, though,” Harper said. “I hit one, what, 480 or something like that to right-center? So, that one felt pretty good. I just wanted to go out there and have some fun and enjoy the best I can.”
Down 3 homers in the @TMobile#HRDerby Finals Down to his final swing
Beyond that, Harper was a spectator. And he plans to only watch the Derby from now on. After being nudged into his third career Derby, the 33-year-old said he won’t compete in another.
“Yeah, I’m done,” he said. “I mean, it took a lot for me to do it this time. Once you get out there, obviously your adrenaline’s going and stuff. You want to have a chance to win it. But, yeah, I’m done. I’m going to hang it up from the Home Run Derby.”
Schwarber was reminded that next year’s All-Star Game will be held at Wrigley Field, where he began his career with the Cubs. He couldn’t possibly be a three-time runner-up, could he?
“Oh man, you’ve got to give me another year to think about that,” Schwarber said. “I’m just thinking about trying to make it home tonight and having a beer. But we’ll see what happens moving forward.”
For 38 minutes, Mike Trout talked about everything from coming home for his 12th All-Star Game to the best way to order a cheesesteak. But it took all of 70 seconds to get to the good stuff.
Yo, Mike, would you ever want to play for the Phillies?
“I didn’t think I was going to hear this question,” Trout said Monday.
“You know, I hear this a lot,” said Trout, who famously grew up 40 minutes south of Citizens Bank Park in Millville, N.J. “I enjoy coming to Philly. I’m an Angel, obviously. I’ve got a no-trade clause, so it’s ultimately my decision. But like I said, I love Philly.”
OK, let’s get this out of the way: Trout has played all 16 seasons of his Hall of Fame career for the Angels, a franchise in the throes of its 11th consecutive losing season. The best player of the 2010s hasn’t sniffed the playoffs since 2014, a streak that won’t end any time soon if he stays in Anaheim.
And yet, as far as anyone knows, he has never asked to be traded. Not even to his hometown team, which plays across a South Philly parking lot from his beloved Eagles and Sixers.
People who know Trout doubt he ever will. Joe Maddon, his manager for 2½ seasons, said on The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast that Trout might agree to a trade if he’s approached by owner Arte Moreno.
But Moreno is famously opposed to trading stars (see: Shohei Ohtani) — and especially the greatest player in Angels history. It seems doubtful that will change under newly appointed interim general manager John Mozeliak.
So, another trade deadline will come and go Aug. 3 with Trout staying right where he is.
Right?
“Like I said, I’ve got the no-trade clause,“ he said. ”It’s obviously my decision. I’m with the Angels, so that’s where it’s at.”
But Trout also said this: With the All-Star Game in Philly for the first time in 30 years, “this was circled on the list to try to get here.” He built a home for his family near his parents’ house and Trout National golf resort, with a course designed by Tiger Woods, in Millville, and has end-zone seats for Eagles games.
He also said he was happy to see first-time Phillies All-Star Brandon Marsh, his former Angels teammate. “I’ve been texting him all year,” Trout said, “just telling him how proud I am of him.”
Oh, he said this about fans who ask (beg?) him all the time if he’d approve a trade to the Phillies: “I grew up a Phillies fan, Eagles fan, Sixers fan, and I know how passionate they are about the sports teams. I go to Eagles games. I know how I cheer for the Eagles, so it means a lot. Being a fan and just seeing friends and family, I see a lot of Phillies fans when I’m at the Eagles games. I hear about it all the time when I’m there. I appreciate them.”
And Trout, who returned last week from a strained right hamstring, is exactly what the Phillies need: a right-handed hitter with power and on-base ability to hit in the middle of the order and protect Bryce Harper.
Mike Trout has played 16 seasons as an Angel and has a no-trade clause in his contract. Julio Cortez
“I love Mike, man,” Harper said. “We played [Arizona] Fall League together [in 2011]. We became friends. It’s great to see him back and healthy. Obviously it’s been a tough couple years health-wise for him. We all pull for him in the league, just because we know how talented he is and how good he is, any time he’s able to get on a national stage.”
Harper got a slap on the wrist from MLB in 2019 when he lobbied for Trout to join him with the Phillies. He wasn’t making that mistake again.
But Harper did have one prediction: “He’ll probably go deep [in the All-Star Game], I’d imagine, just because that’s who he is. It’s a lot of fun to be able to see a guy like that be able to do it in his hometown of Philly.”
Indeed, Trout will be the first batter of the 96th All-Star Game when he leads off for the American League. He has played only eight games in Citizens Bank Park, probably never in front of a crowd that will be this loud.
Trout said he will have about 20 friends and family members in attendance, including his wife, Jessica, and their two sons. He plans to stick around Wednesday, too, and play Trout National before flying back to Southern California to open the second half.
So, maybe there’s a chance — teeny and tiny, though it may be — that 18 holes in Millville and a six-hour flight back to baseball irrelevance with the sounds of a sold-out Philly crowd ringing in his ears might make Trout rethink that no-trade clause?
“I mean, it’s how I was raised,” Trout said of his loyalty to the Angels. “I was a big [Derek] Jeter fan growing up, you know? Obviously he was with one team his whole career.”
Twenty years ago, Ryan Howard launched baseballs into the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh and won MLB’s annual Home Run Derby.
In some ways, it launched his career.
Howard was the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 2005. But his star turn at the 2006 Derby came in the midst of a season in which he won NL MVP and became the foremost power hitter in the sport for a six-year stretch.
As the All-Star Game returns to Philadelphia for the first time in 30 years, Howard sat down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss the Phillies’ first half, his expectations for a Home Run Derby in Citizens Bank Park, and more.
Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Phillies Extra podcaston Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Q: You played in three All-Star Games in your career. You were the Home Run Derby champ in 2006. When I say All-Star Game, what sticks out to you from your career?
A: When you say All-Star Game, it’s one of those things that when you’re younger, you always strive to want to be a part of. It’s kind of where, it’s the elite of the elite, if you will, and you’re always striving to try to make an All-Star team, and you’re always striving to try to win a championship. So to be able to participate on the All-Star teams and be recognized by the fans and your peers as one of the top players, in the middle of the season, is something that’s always such a great honor to have. And it means you’re doing something right. So you always want to continue to try to do something like that.
Ryan Howard won the 2006 Home Run Derby in Pittsburgh.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Q: How much are you looking forward to seeing what a Home Run Derby in Citizens Bank Park will look like?
A: I’m so excited to see what it’ll look like. This group of guys are just different. It’s a whole different level of strength, and these guys are bigger, stronger, faster. The ball just travels further, so I’m excited to see where the ball lands. Charlie [Manuel] always told Jimmy [Thome] and I that he saw Julio Franco hit a ball in batting practice that hit the bell. Now we’ve said that’s a little suspect, Charlie. There’s got to be like a 35 mph tailwind. He’s got to catch it and do the whole nine, but like it’ll be very interesting. I think somebody could potentially get close to trying to hit that bell, so I would love to see somebody hit a ball that goes up and hits that bell on the fly.
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber leads baseball with 32 home runs at the break.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
A: Kyle Schwarber is one of the preeminent sluggers of this generation, him and Aaron Judge, and certainly Shohei Ohtani. Is this the year that maybe Schwarber matches or tops your Phillies record 58 home runs in a season?
A: He’s must-watch TV. You don’t want to miss his at-bat because of what he’s able to do with the swing of the bat — the ball comes off his bat different. It’s just so violent, and the swing is so … quick and it’s so violent off the bat that it’s so fun to watch. The ball he hit a few years ago in San Diego, people don’t do that. People don’t hit the ball like that, but Schwarber does. As far as the 58, it’s just a matter of him staying healthy and just continuing to stay consistent and do what he does. He got close last year [with 56]. Right now he’s at [32]. You just want him to stay healthy and be good for the stretch run, and he’s going to get those hot streaks where he’s dropping off like five, six, seven homers in a week, and again it’s like video game-type stuff.
But it’s fun to watch. I like to call it kind of like some blackout moments where you’re like, I don’t even know what’s going on, but I’m not going to fight it. And he gets in those zones where it’s just like it feels like every time the bat comes off your shoulder, damage will be done, and usually it winds up on the other side of the fence.
Q: Did you see this Phillies turnaround coming after the 9-19 start? How do you look at the first half they’ve had?
A: … There’s no level of panic because with the level of quality players on this team and what they’ve done in the years past … I feel like the Phillie franchise, even when I was playing, we’d always get out to slow starts in April. April is not a good month for the Phillies. And the thing is, you can’t win the division in April, but you could lose the division in April. And I think with the talent that this team possessed … you still had [Zack] Wheeler that was out. [Cristopher] Sánchez was doing his thing. It was just a matter of time because they had too much talent, too much veteran presence on this team to do what they were doing, and that’s what happens over the course of the season.
You’re going to have bad stretches, and you’re going to have good stretches. So, hopefully, for them, they got that bad stretch out of the way early, to where you have plenty of time to be able to make up for it, which is what they’ve been able to do and put themselves in a position to make the postseason.
And you just want to continue to try to say, OK, stay above .500 each month. With the caliber of guys that they have, the chemistry that they have, it’s not a surprise that they put themselves back in it. It’s what they do, and you would expect them to be able to go and be in the postseason and try to make a long run in the postseason.
The All-Star Game is back in Philly for the first time in 30 years, and The Inquirer has your bases covered. Join Phillies reporter Scott Lauber and Phillies beat writer Lochlahn March for a special All-Star episode of Gameday Central, sponsored by Xfinity, at 2 p.m. Tuesday. They’ll be on site at Citizens Bank Park to discuss All-Star week, recap the Phillies’ first half, and look ahead to the trade deadline and beyond.
MLB All-Star Week concludes Tuesday night with the 96th midsummer classic at Citizen’s Bank Park (Fox, 8 p.m.). The Phillies have six players representing the National League, including starting pitcher Cristopher Sànchez.
Kyle Schwarber loses Home Run Derby to Jordan Walker
Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran embraces teammate Kyle Schwarber during Monday’s derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber needed to take a breath.
Schwarber went deep seven times in a nine-swing span in the semifinals of Monday night’s Home Run Derby. With three swings left, he needed to regroup.
And so, Schwarber did what any slugger in a hometown Derby would. He took a beat and waved to the Phillies fans in sold-out Citizens Bank Park to make more noise.
Schwarber won the round and nearly the Derby. But the Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, who drew cheers from the 43,863 paying customers after each swing that didn’t result in a homer, smashed four homers in a row in bonus time to eke out a 12-11 victory in the finals.
St. Louis Cardinals Jordan Walker won the Home Run Derby in Philadelphia Monday. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
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Second-round results
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First-round results
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Playoff atmosphere at The Bank thanks to Schwarber
Phillies fans cheer as Phillies Kyle Schwarber advances to the finals of the Home Run Derby.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Willson Contreras last ball at the second round of the Home Run Derby might as well have been the last out of the ninth inning of game seven of the World Series.
The crowd at Citizen Bank were locked in during the Red Sox first baseman head to head competition against Kyle Schwarber for a place in the final round.
Every shallow or foul ball was as met with mocking applauds, and every skipped pitch with roaring boos.
Contreras lost to South Philly’s Schwarbomb machine by one homer, and it was Bedlam at the Bank.
Kyle Schwarber swings his way into the Home Run Derby finals. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber will face Jordan Walker in the final round of the Home Run Derby.
Willson Contreras, booed often by the Philly crowd, was only able to hit 8 home runs, one shy of Schwarber’s nine.
Two Phillies players have won the Derby — Bobby Abreu in 2005 and Ryan Howard in 2006.
This is Schwarber’s third appearance in the event. He didn’t make it out of the first round in 2022, and finished second place to then-Washington Nationals slugger Bryce Harper in 2018.
Philly fans bring something new to the Home Run Derby – boos
A fan reacts after catching a home run during Monday night’s Derby. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Fans who traveled to Philadelphia for the Home Run Derby were introduced early to the city’s love language.
Phillies fans responded with deafening boos to the name of every player that isn’t called Bryce Harper or Kyle Schwarber during the pregame show.
And fans of other teams seem to like the passion.
“I think it’s awesome,” Pete Gibson said. “It’s sports. Support your team. Let’s go.”
The 35-year-old tattoo artist traveled from Nashville for the home run derby with his friend, Dave Putman, 33.
For the past five years, the duo has been attending the pre-All-Star game event, and they came up with a tradition. They each spin a wheel to determine what jersey they will wear. And the wheel chose the San Fransisco Giants for Gibson this year. But that didn’t stop him from also rocking a Kansas City Royals cap.
“We support on the head the teams we love, and on the body the teams we randomly draw,” Gibson said.
Carlos Luna, 34, also didn’t mind the boos. The New York Yankees fan came to Philly from the Big Apple, and said he enjoys the sense of rivalry Phillies fans brought to this derby.
“I see how you guys feel,” he said. “I don’t expect anything else.”
Had the derby took place in Yankee stadium, his fellow New Yorkers’ boos would be more targeted — “if it’s a Red Sox player, we probably boo him” — but Luna was okay with the Philadelphia’s blanket boo approach.
Phillies fans’ reputation, it turns out, precedes them. The city was welcoming, and the boos add to fun.
“I love me some overt negativity,” Orioles fan Connor Way, 31 from Maryland, said. “I feel like everyone knows Philly is like that.”
Schwarber hits 10 homers, setting up a showdown with Harper
Kyle Schwarber swings during his Home Run Derby at-bat. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kyle Schwarber missed on his first five swings and only managed to hit 10 home runs during his first-round Home Run Derby appearance.
That leave Schwarber in fourth place with teammate Bryce Harper coming up to bat. Harper will either advance and knock out Schwarber, or come up short and be eliminated from the competition.
Either way, one Phillies player will make it to the second round.
Jac Calianone hits just 8 homers, but one goes into upper deck
Jac Caglianone watches one of his homers leave Citizens Bank Park.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Royals’ Jac Caglianone got off to a very slow start, but caught a groove with four straight homers — capped by a 477-foot shot to the third deck — that got the crowd back into it.
Caglione also sent one over the shrubbery in the batters’ eye that got a big cheer. He finished with eight, well behind Contreras and Walker.
Jordan Walker takes a swing during his Derby at-bat.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker got off to a hot start, but appeared to tire as his round went on.
He managed to tie Willson Contreras with his 13th homer with the “magenta ball,” which is used for the final swing of the round, sending it 382 feet into the left field seats.
Kyle Schwarber stands in a boxing ring during player introductions. Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
This year’s Home Run Derby jumped to Netflix from ESPN, which had broadcast the event for more than 30 years.
While Barry Bonds and Anthony Rizzo were terrific on Netflix’s pregame show, a few technical glitches and unnecessary cross promotion rubbed some sports media pundits and fans the wrong way.
The most noticeable issue was Netflix turning to Will Ferrell and his costars from The Hawk (coming soon to the streamer) to help introduce the players. Maybe it was funny, but everything they said was drowned out by the crowd during the broadcast.
Will Ferrell introducing Bryce Harper at the #HRDerby:
Maybe I'm way off, but I don't think the Will Ferrell-Luke Wilson thing is working at all. (Honestly, I get the sense that *they* also know it isn't working.)
With Pa. budget approved, Lt. Gov. Davis takes in a ballgame
Pennsylvania Lt. Gov Austin Davis meets with Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin ahead of the Home Run Derby. Abraham Gutman / staff
The negotiations are over and the state budget is done — so Lt. Gov. Austin Davis is enjoying a change of pace at Citizen Bank Park.
The Democrat is in Philadelphia for the MLB Home Run Derby, the latest major sporting event Pennsylvania has hosted this year, following the NFL draft in Pittsburg and FIFA World Cup games in Philly. And the state’s second top executive has been proud.
“Pennsylvania this year really showed how diverse and how great our commonwealth is,” Davis said. “I think we absolutely rolled out the red carpet to welcome the country and the world.”
Wearing a Pittsburg Pirate’s polo, Davis stood behind home plate before the game to watch batting practice.
He roots for the Phillies — when they don’t play the Pirates, of course — but at the end of the day he’s a “Pittsburg boy through and through” and has to “fly the black and gold.”
Josh Shapiro’s second-in-command took in the carnival-like ambiance on the field, surrounded by baseball and sports royalty. He stopped Michael Irvin, former-Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, for a photo.
The prolonged budget season was so all consuming, Davis said, he didn’t have the mental space to think too much about who he thinks will win tonight’s Derby.
“It’s just going be a great time, to see so many folks come out tonight and enjoy this great ballpark,” he said
Phillies Bryce Harper (left) walks with his National League All Stars during batting practice Monday. Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerFans reach for a ball hit during batting practice at Citizens Bank Park. Yong Kim / Staff PhotographerKyle Schwarber speaks to reporters Monday afernoonMonica Herndon / Staff PhotographerPhillies interim manager Don Mattingly sports an All-Star cap.Monica Herndon / Staff PhotographerEagles general manager Howie Roseman takes in the festivities. Alex Coffey /
You can cross at least one name off the Phillies list of potential acquisitions at the trade deadline.
Before Monday’s Home Run Derby, Twins center fielder Byron Buxton made it clear that he would not consider waiving his no-trade clause even for a trade to a contender.
The 32-year-old center fielder has long been mentioned as an ideal trade target for a Phillies team that is in desperate need of right-handed pop. He certainly brings that in abundance, and at a premium position, with 25 home runs in 335 plate appearances thus far this season. But Buxton has been steadfast in his loyalty both to the state of Minnesota and to the organization that drafted him No. 2 overall in 2012.
“I’ve got family,” Buxton explained on Monday. “My family loves Minnesota. I’ve got two kids that grew up there, one of them was born there. It’s a special place not only for me but for my family. You’re not just moving me, you’re moving my whole family and what we have built in Minnesota.”
Buxton also sounded an optimistic note about the Twins, who have outperformed expectations with a 48=49 record despite last season’s firesale that included the trade of closer Jhoan Duran to the Phillies.
“What we have there and what we can accomplish, we’ve got something special going and it’s something I want to be a part of,” Buxton said.
Tigers rookie All Star Kevin McGonigle grew up in Delco and still has a Cole Hamels poster on his wall
Tigers’ Kevin McGonigle speak to reporters Monday.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Kevin McGonigle idolized Chase Utley, went to Phillies games with his buddies, and had posters on the wall of his Delaware County bedroom.
“I still have a Cole Hamels poster on my wall,” McGonigle said on the eve of playing in Tuesday’s All Star Game at Citizens Bank Park.
The Phillies could have drafted McGonigle in 2023. They scouted him at Bonner-Prendergast, worked him out at the ballpark, and were well aware of the infielder from Ridley who grew up a diehard. But the Phillies passed on McGonigle and drafted Aidan Miller with the 27th overall pick while McGonigle went No. 37 to Detroit.
Kevin McGonigle is taking batting practice right now at CBP.
McGonigle, 21, is an All Star as a rookie with a .812 OPS while playing shortstop and third base. Miller, 22, has not played this season and underwent a procedure last month to address a recurring back issue. He’s expected to be sidelined until late July or early August.
“I knew the Phillies were coming up to pick but I didn’t get a phone call so I knew that wasn’t going to work out,” McGonigle said. “But it all worked out perfectly, I’d say. I’m in the spot I want to be in: Detroit. The city, the fans, it’s unbelievable with how they’ve treated me so far. Eight more years and hopefully more with that city. I can’t thank that fan base enough.”
McGonigle went to a Phillies playoff game with his family in 2023, a month after he finished his first minor-league season with Detroit. A year earlier, he wore Phillies gear to Red October. But now the fan was employed by another team. He wore neutral colors that night but admitted it took some time to shed his fandom. But he’s not shedding his accent.
“Sometimes, I’ll say ‘Wooder’ and they’ll be like ‘What did you say?,’” McGonigle said. “And I’ll go, ‘I’m sorry. Wah-ter.’ It’s just how I grew up saying it. I’ll say some things differently being from Delaware County and they’ll give me crap about the way I say things. It’s just funny to me. I don’t even realize I say it in a different way. ‘What did you say?’ ‘What do you mean?”
McGonigle hung out Sunday night with his Delco buddies and slept Sunday night in his childhood bedroom, the one with the Hamels poster on the wall. For one day, the trip from Ridley to South Philly was his route to work. Perhaps it could have become his usual trip.
“It took a lot of work to get where I am today,” McGonigle said. “And the main reason is where I’m from. That’s Delco.”
In front of home crowd, Bryce Harper is ready to ‘launch’
Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryce Harper speaks during the National League Media Availability at Citizens Bank Park on Monday, July 13, 2026 in Philadelphia.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Bryce Harper does not take batting practice outside often, as he prefers to finetune his swing before games in the ballpark’s indoor batting cages. But when he does swing outside, he acts like he’s in a Home Run Derby.
“When I go out for BP, I want to launch,” Harper said Monday, a few hours before he’ll take part in the derby at Citizens Bank Park. “That’s the only time I go out there, is to launch and feel that.”
Harper said he has hit batting practice homers at Citizens Bank Park into the third deck in right field and onto Ashburn Alley. So the Alley is in play on Tuesday?
“For sure,” Harper said.
Harper said Monday night’s event will be his last Home Run Derby, which he won in 2018 in Washington while playing for the Nationals. His opponent that night in the final? Kyle Schwarber, who was then playing for the Cubs.
“I just remember the cinematic movie thing,” Schwarber said. “… That last 45 seconds, he just catches fire and starts peeling them off left and right. You sit back and it’s like you’re watching a movie. It was made to be and it was really cool to see.”
Harper said he stopped regularly taking batting practice outside in 2015 at the suggestion of Matt Williams, who was then Washington’s hitting coach. He can still tell in the indoor cage if he hit a ball hard. But sometimes he does wander outside to put on a show. On Monday, the fans will get a glimpse of it.
“I hope everyone enjoys it,” Harper said. “I hope everyone sees what Philly is all about. Every year we get into the postseason, they see our fans. I think that’s a big look for free agents and possible trade targets and things like that. They see our fan base, the style our fan base has, and how loud it is. It’s just a lot of fun to be a part of.”
Giant blue baseball gloves take over Home Run Derby outfield seats
Don’t adjust your television sets — those are not tiny fans trying to catch home runs in the outfield seats. It’s the giant gloves, courtesy ofd Geico.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
There are going to be some massive gloves fielding home runs in the outfield seats at the Home Run Derby. Geico provided gigantic blue gloves for fans seated across 16 outfield sections at Citizens Bank Park.
But if you’re headed down to the park, don’t go discarding your regular-sized glove just yet. The gloves’ giant size makes them exceedingly hard to close. If you catch a home run inside it, it’ll probably just fall right out — if you can even hold it up.
Chase Utley: If I lived here, I’d work for the Phillies
Chase Utley poses for a selfie with a fan inside Sarcone’s Bakery on Monday.
Patrons of Sarcone’s Bakery — the 108-year-old South Philadelphia staple — are accustomed to seeing familiar faces behind the counter. On Monday, guests were served by a new member of the Sarcone’s family: Chase Utley.
The Phillies legend helped serve tomato pie to fans lined up around the corner as a part of the bakery’s partnership with sports apparel company ’47. The two companies teamed up to host a pop-up inside the bakery. Guests who purchased food received an exclusive Sarcone’s T-shirt and hat, produced by ’47.
After Utley finished up behind Sarcone’s counter, The Inquirer caught up with the former second baseman, who will be inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame next month …
Q: We’re at Sarcones today. You just got done serving and meeting some fans. Could you tell me a little about that experience?
It’s good to be back in Philadelphia in a historic place like Sarcone’s. It just brings back so many different memories. Interacting with all the fans, talking about some old times, some stories we had over the years was fantastic. I’m happy that Sarcone’s had me out here.
Once or twice a month I’d roll through this area, stop at Sarcone’s [Deli], and grab a pie or a cheesesteak. There was a certain point we would order a bunch for the clubhouse. They’ve done such a good job. The store has been here over 100 years, which is so unbelievable. They run a good ship.
Chase Utley works behind the counter at Sarcone’s Bakery in South Philly.Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer
Q: You recently were hired by the Dodgers as the team’s special assistant to the president of baseball operations. Can you talk about how that’s going so far?
I finished my career in Los Angeles. I live in Los Angeles, and I wanted to still be around baseball, but still be around my family and not travel too much. So it made sense just to get under their hood a little bit and understand what they’re doing. I get to sleep in my bed every single night, it’s a fantastic organization. I love Philadelphia and the Phillies organization. If I lived in Philadelphia, I would do the same thing.
Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper answers questions during All-Star media day at Citizens Bank Park.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
Bryce Harper is flanked by Phillies media-relations director Kevin Gregg (left) and agent Scott Boras, who stand poised to pounce in case anyone utters the words “fan” and “duel.”
Bryce Harper joins the chorus of stars pitching LeBron James
Phillies outfield Bryce Harper was the latest Philly star to pitch NBA free agent and future Hall of Famer LeBron James on the idea of bringing his talents to South Philly, joining Saquon Barkley, Jaylen Brown, and others.
So what is Harper’s elevator pitch?
“Jaylen Brown, their whole team,” he told the media Monday. “They’ve got an opportunity. They’ve got four guys that are really good, got a great fan base.”
Bryce Harper Makes LeBron James free-agent pitch to come to Philly & Join Sixers
Mike Trout on Phillies: I’m an Angel, but ‘I love this city’
Angels outfielder and Vineland native Mike Trout, who will lead off for the American League at Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game, was asked Monday afternoon whether he’d ever like to play for the Phillies.
“I didn’t think I was going to hear this question,” he said sarcastically before continuing. “You know, I hear this a lot. Like I said before, I enjoy coming to Philly. I’m an Angel, obviously. I’ve got a no-trade clause, so it’s all my decision. But, like I said, I love this city.”
Chris Sale calls Zack Wheeler snub a ‘head-scratcher’
Phillies fans — and former players — aren’t alone in wondering why starting pitcher Zack Wheeler, who delivered another gem on Sunday against the Tigers, wasn’t among the players initially selected to represent the National League at this year’s MLB All-Star Game in home ballpark.
Braves starter Chris Sale, a 10-time All-Star and former Cy Young winner, said Monday during media day at Citizens Bank Park that the decision not to pick Wheeler, who ultimately turned down a last-minute invite from MLB, was a “head-scratcher, to say the least.”
Chris Sale says Zack Wheeler not making the All-Star team is a "head-scratcher, to say the least."
"His numbers are better than mine, and I'm sitting here. I'll leave it at that." pic.twitter.com/oKIJ63YoAx
While the 37-year-old Sale is having a All-Star season — 9-6 with a 2.20 ERA, 1.112 WHIP, and 4.68 strikeout/walk ratio — Wheeler has indeed been better, posting a 2.13 ERA, 0.892 WHIP, and a 4.91 SO/BB ratio.
Wheeler’s WAR for pitchers (4.8) is second in the national league to just Cristopher Sànchez.
Kyle Schwarber vs. Bryce Harper: Who wins in a Home Run Derby?
// Timestamp 07/13/26 2:22pm
Kyle Schwarber will lead off for National League; Marsh will bat seventh
Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber will hit leadoff for the National League at Tuesday’s MLB All-Star Game.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The starting lineups for Tuesday night’s MLB All-Star Game were revealed by the teams’ respective managers Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
The lineup behind Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez, who gets the start on the mound for the National League, will begin with his Phillies teammate, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber. Outfielder Brandon Marsh will bat seventh for Dave Roberts’ NL squad. Here’s a look at the full order:
Kyle Schwarber, DH, Phillies
Juan Soto, LF, Mets
Freddie Freeman, 1B, Dodgers
CJ Abrams, SS, Nationals
Max Muncy, 3B, Dodgers
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Brandon Marsh, RF, Phillies
Andy Pages, CF, Dodgers
Drake Baldwin, C, Braves
Meanwhile, here’s a look at the starting lineup for John Schneider’s American League side, behind starting pitcher Dylan Cease of the Blue Jays:
Bryce Harper, Juan Soto, and Bobby Witt Jr. meet fans in Center City
Bryce Harper’s night may be booked with the Home Run Derby, but the Phillies first baseman spent some time earlier on Monday meeting and taking pictures with fans at an Under Armour pop-up event in Center City.
The company announced on Instagram that Harper, Bobby Witt Jr., and Juan Soto would be making an appearance at the Under Armour Dugout at 1190 Market Street to meet fans. By the time the event got underway around 11:30 a.m., the line extended down the city block.
Bryce Harper, Bobby Witt Jr., and Juan Soto are appearing at the Under Armour Dugout on 12th & Market for a fan meet and greet starting at 11:30. With five minutes until the start, the line currently extends all the way down to 11th & Market. pic.twitter.com/YtU1Zob4AQ
Witt Jr. signed baseballs and took photos before showing off his skills — or rather lack of skill — with a few rounds of Backyard Baseball.
Bobby Witt Jr. is a lot better at Major League Baseball than he is at Backyard Baseball. He put on a show for fans at the Under Armour meet and greet, but his skills were lacking. pic.twitter.com/HKug2HUN6D
And despite being a member of the rival New York Mets, there was love for Soto in Philly too, with fans lining up to take photos with him in front of the Under Armour logo.
Fans in Philly were also showing love to Juan Soto, taking pictures with him at the Under Armour store as well. pic.twitter.com/Z7i241dbxj
Harper and Soto will team up again tomorrow night when they represent the National League and go head-to-head with Witt and the American League in the All-Star Game.
— Mia Messina
// Timestamp 07/13/26 1:33pm
Exclusive All-Star Game merch is big business
Foocoos mini bobble head mystery boxes showcasing the few bobble heads you can open at the All Star Games Media Preview to showcase All-Star Week Events, New Food, and Commemorative Bell at the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
Take me out to the gift shop.
The MLB All-Star Game has become a temporary retail city built around exclusivity, collectibility, and host-city pride. Fanatics’ 16,000-square-foot flagship at the ticketed All-Star Village at the Convention Center carries more than 400 product styles, while Aramark’s 7,500-square-foot ballpark store (open to the public without a ticket) offers about 400 All-Star items, roughly 75% exclusive.
Across the ballpark, All-Star Village, and MLB’s online stores, fans can choose from about 600 products, from the wild (there’s a sports jacket covered in the logos of all 30 teams) to the Philly-themed (‘47 Sports “Hit That Jawn” T-shirt) to the routine (Foocoos mini bobblehead figures sold in blind boxes) to genuine objets d’art (original 3D pop-art posters by artist Charles Fazzino. And T-shirts and hats and jerseys, of course.
Why buy? The retail analysts we spoke to say it all boils down to one thing: You want to prove you were there.
Bryce Harper responds to Inquirer gambling video investigation
First baseman Bryce Harper is one of the Phillies’ six All-Stars.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Bryce Harper, the Phillies All-Star first basemen, claimed on Monday that he was unknowingly working on behalf of FanDuel when he recorded a personalized video for a man with a gambling addiction who had placed millions of dollars in bets on the site.
Harper said on his verified Instagram account that he had joined the messaging site Cameo to engage with fans with paid videos but that “what happened here went beyond anything I knew about or approved.”
“I did not know this video would be used for commercial purposes,” Harper wrote. “The request included a short script. I read it in good faith. FanDuel then put its own logo on the video and used it as a gambling promotion. I did not know FanDuel would do this, I did not consent to it, and FanDuel had no right to do it.”
The Inquirer obtained a copy of the 21-second video from November 2024, which is marked with a blue FanDuel logo and shows Harper offering a greeting to the bettor, Terry Thompson, and Thompson’s son, by name.
Harper’s statement also said he has no affiliation with FanDuel and that “Contrary to the Inquirer’s suggestion, I did not know that the Cameo video would be used for a FanDuel VIP promotion.”
However, in the video Harper states that he’s reaching out at the request of Thompson’s VIP manager — “your host Bryttanni at FanDuel.” Harper also posted the Cameo script, which included the language about FanDuel.
The Inquirer reported on the video on Thursday. Harper had declined to comment until today. His statement came ahead of Monday night’s 2026 MLB Home Run Derby at Citizens Bank Park. A media availability is planned for this afternoon.
The Inquirer will continue to report on issues related to the growth of gambling addiction — among teens and adults — across Pennsylvania. If you, or someone you know, wants to speak with a reporter, please contact David Gambacorta or William Bender at dgambacorta@inquirer.com and wbender@inquirer.com
Ryan Howard talks Home Run Derby: I hope someone ‘hits that bell on the fly’
Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard (center) watches as his home run sails out of PNC Park in Pittsburgh during the 2006 Home Run Derby.ASSOCIATED PRESS
Twenty years ago, Ryan Howard launched baseballs into the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh and won MLB’s annual Home Run Derby.
In some ways, it launched his career.
Howard was the National League’s Rookie of the Year in 2005. But his star turn at the 2006 Derby came in the midst of a season in which he won NL MVP and became the foremost power hitter in the sport for a six-year stretch.
As the All-Star Game returns to Philadelphia for the first time in 30 years, Howard sat down with Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss the Phillies’ first half, his expectations for a Home Run Derby in Citizens Bank Park, and more.
Q: You played in three All-Star games in your career. You were the Home Run Derby champ in 2006. When I say All-Star Game, what sticks out to to you from your career?
A: When you say All-Star Game, it’s one of those things that when you’re younger, you always strive to want to be a part of. It’s kind of where, it’s the elite of the elite, if you will, and you’re always striving to try to make an All-Star team, and you’re always striving to try to win a championship. So to be able to participate on the All-Star teams and be recognized by the fans and your peers as one of the top players, in the middle of the season, is something that’s always such a great honor to have. And it means you’re doing something right. So you always want to continue to try to do something like that.
Q: How much are you looking forward to seeing what a Home Run Derby in Citizens Bank Park will look like?
A: I’m so excited to see what it’ll look like. This group of guys are just different. It’s a whole different level of strength, and these guys are bigger, stronger, faster. The ball just travels further, so I’m excited to see where the ball lands. Charlie [Manuel] always told Jimmy [Thome] and I that he saw Julio Franco hit a ball in batting practice that hit the bell. Now we’ve said that’s a little suspect, Charlie. There’s got to be like a 35 mph tail wind. He’s got to catch it and do the whole nine, but like it’ll be very interesting. I think somebody could potentially get close to trying to hit that bell, so I would love to see somebody hit a ball that goes up and hits that bell on the fly.
A: Kyle Schwarber is one of the preeminent sluggers of this generation, him and Aaron Judge, and certainly Shohei Ohtani. Is this the year that maybe Schwarber matches or tops your Phillies record 58 home runs in a season?
A: He’s must watch TV. You don’t want to miss his at-bat because of what he’s able to do with the swing of the bat — the ball comes off his bat different. It’s just so violent, and the swing is so … quick and it’s so violent off the bat that it’s so fun to watch. The ball he hit a few years ago in San Diego, people don’t do that. People don’t hit the ball like that, but Schwarber does. As far as the 58, it’s just a matter of him staying healthy and just continuing to stay consistent and do what he does. He got close last year [with 56]. Right now he’s at [32]. You just want him to stay healthy and be good for the stretch run, and he’s going to get those hot streaks where he’s dropping off like five, six, seven homers in a week, and again it’s like video game type stuff.
But it’s fun to watch. I like to call it kind of like some blackout moments where you’re like, I don’t even know what’s going on, but I’m not going to fight it. And he gets in those zones where it’s just like it feels like every time the bat comes off your shoulder, damage will be done, and usually it winds up on the other side of the fence.
The Schmitter returns to Citizens Bank Park tonight
The Schmitter sandwich displayed at the All Star Games Media Preview to showcase All-Star Week Events, New Food, and Commemorative Bell at the Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pa., on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
One of Philadelphia’s signature sandwiches is heading back to Citizens Bank Park after a decade away.
The Schmitter, the classic cheesesteak-salami creation from McNally’s Tavern in Chestnut Hill, will return during the forthcoming Major League Baseball All-Star festivities, Aramark announced as it unveiled a lineup of foods and merchandise at the ballpark Wednesday.
The Schmitter, which has a spot on The Inquirer’s list of 76 essential foods, will be served at Pass & Stow, the sports bar accessible to ticketed fans, throughout All-Star Week. Aramark, the Phillies’ concessionaire, plans to keep it on the ballpark menu through at least the end of the season.
It joins a lineup of fan-voted creations and Philadelphia chef collaborations at Citizens Bank Park, which hosts four days of events starting with the HBCU Swingman Classic on Friday.
Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper will be first Phillies teammates to compete in Home Run Derby
Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber will compete in Monday’s Home Run Derby.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
The Phillies haven’t had a Home Run Derby champion since 2006, when Ryan Howard blasted 23 total to take the crown.
This year, at Monday’s competition at Citizens Bank Park, they will have double the chance. Because for the first time in the 41-year history of the Derby, the Phillies have a pair of teammates competing against each other. Kyle Schwarber announced Friday that he would officially be joining Bryce Harper in the event.
“I just wanted to make sure pretty much getting through that series in Cincinnati, make sure everything was good healthwise, and everything’s been trending the right way. So that’s when we pretty much made a decision to do it,” Schwarber said.
Schwarber and Harper have competed in the same Derby before in 2018, although they were representing different teams. With Harper in his final year with the Nationals and Schwarber playing with the Cubs, the future teammates found themselves in the final round together in Washington D.C. Harper bashed 19 homers to narrowly best Schwarber’s 18.
Schwarber hopes that this year ends with another rematch.
“I think it would be awesome, especially in Philadelphia, where our fans obviously are going to get the opportunity to really show out what they’re capable of and what we’ve seen for years and years of just pure electricity,” he said. “So I think it would be a pretty cool ending there if that could happen. But we’ll see what happens.”
One-time Phillies outfield Hunter Pence will be part of Netflix’s broadcast of the Derby
For the first time in more than 30 years, the Home Run Derby has a new broadcast home, and it won’t appear on either broadcast or cable TV.
Instead, it will stream exclusively on Netflix beginning at 8 p.m. Philly time as part of a three-year deal that also included MLB’s opening night back in March and next month’s Field of Dreams game in Dyersville, Iowa between the Phillies and Minnesota Twins.
Calling all the action will be Matt Vasgersian, with Elle Duncan and Lauren Shehadi also leading the coverage. Barry Bonds, Albert Pujols, Anthony Rizzo, CC Sabathia, and former Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence will also provide analysis.
“The Home Run Derby’s always been one of my favorite things as a kid,” Pence said. “I’m going to be in the stands a little bit. I’m going to be in the booth as well… Netflix definitely has some excitement up their sleeve.”
Netflix hasn’t offered many details about its plans for the Derby, but if its opening night telecast is anything to go by, expect a lot of stars. Among them will be former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin, who hosts The White House video podcast for Netflix.
Breakout White Sox rookie Munetaka Murakami was the final player to join the Home Run Derby.Nam Y. Huh
Kyle Schwarber, Phillies
Bryce Harper, Phillies
Jordan Walker, Cardinals
Wilson Contreras, Red Sox
Munetaka Murakami, White Sox
Jac Caglianone, Royals
Ben Rice, Yankees
Junior Caminero, Rays
Not participating for the second straight season is Baltimore Orioles first baseman Pete Alonso, one of only four players to win multiple Derby championships. Despite a strong first-half, Alonso wasn’t selected to this year’s All-Star Game.
Also not competing is last year’s winner, Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh, who has struggled this year after being last year’s American League MVP runner-up.
Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh wears a large necklace after winning the Derby last year.Lindsey Wasson
This year’s Derby has a different format that previous years.
For starters, there won’t be a timer. Instead, each slugger will get a set number of swings each round — 20 in the first round and 15 in both the second and final rounds.
The last Derby without a clock was 2014.
There’s also a “keep going” rule. If the batter hits a homer on his final attempt, he’ll keeping swinging until he fails to blast out a home run.
“I love it,” said former Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence, who is calling the event on Netflix. “It’s really awesome for TV and healthier for the players. They’re not just having this endurance contest. We get to really feel each swing and each player.”
There also won’t be a bracket for the first round. Instead, the four sluggers will the most homers during the first round will move on to the second. There the competition shifts to head-to-head until a champion is crowned.
Philly road closures due to tonight’s Home Run Derby
Banners for The All Star Game hang at the Citizens Bank Park.Tyger Williams / Staff Photographer
On Monday, Independence Mall will see road closures starting at 5 a.m. to accommodate building out the MLB Red Carpet Show. Set to be in place through midnight, those closures will impact:
Fifth Street between Market and Chestnut Streets
Ludlow Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets
Randstead Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets
Independence Mall will remain tied up Tuesday for the MLB Red Carpet show itself, with closures again in place from 5 a.m. to midnight. Those closures will affect:
Fifth and Sixth Streets from Arch to Walnut Streets
Market and Chestnut Streets from Fourth to Seventh Streets
Ranstead and Sansom Streets from Sixth to Seventh Streets
Philadelphia police, the city said, may institute additional closures in the interest of public safety.
All roads affected by closures will also be temporary no-parking zones, the city said. If vehicles are parked in those locations during the times they are closed, the vehicles will be moved.
Drivers who may have had their cars moved should contact the police district of the area where their vehicle was parked, the city said.
To accommodate fans heading to Citizens Bank Park, SEPTA will run six additional express trains on the Broad Street Line, also known as the B Line, to NRG Station before and after the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game Monday and Tuesday.
Free rides on the line from NRG Station will also be available at select times during those events. Free rides begin after the second round of the Home Run Derby on Monday, and after the sixth inning of the All-Star Game Tuesday, the city said.
In six drafts since Brian Barber was hired to head up the amateur scouting department, the Phillies’ best pick so far came in the fifth round: Orion Kerkering in 2022.
They were shopping for another steal Sunday.
One day after using their first pick — No. 36 overall — to take a big swing for Tyler Spangler, a high school shortstop who didn’t play this season because of a back injury, the Phillies completed the draft with one pick in each of the final 16 rounds.
If there was a theme, 18 of their 21 picks were college players. Barber said the college-heavy emphasis was due in large part to having the fifth-lowest bonus pool ($7.773 million) from which to sign players. And they will spend a chunk of that money to lure Spangler away from Stanford.
“Once you do the Tyler Spanglers of the world, and then trying to work off of your budget pool that you have, you’re just not going to be able to sign too many high school players,” Barber said. “Those two don’t match up very well, to be honest with you.”
A roundup of the Phillies’ Day 2 selections:
Round 5
Will Gasparino, OF, UCLA
A teammate of No. 1 overall pick Roch Cholowsky, the 21-year-old broke out this season with 20 homers and a 1.071 OPS. At 6-foot-6, Gasparino figures to bring right-handed power into a system that needs it.
“It’s a tremendous body,” Barber said. “It’s large, it’s athletic. He’s always had the huge tools. He can really play center field. He can run, he can throw, and he can hit the ball a long way. And his game has come a long way in the last, I’ll say, 12 to 18 months.
“As far as trying to translate some of those raw tools into skills now, it’s just a guy that we’re excited to try to see that progress continue because we know he has the pure ability to be an impact player in the big leagues.”
Gasparino is also from a baseball family. His dad, Billy, ran the Dodgers’ draft room for five years as amateur scouting director before moving to the major league side as vice president of baseball operations.
The Phillies drafted catching depth in North Carolina’s Macon Winslow.Ben McKeown
Round 6
Macon Winslow, C, North Carolina
Because of the time it takes to develop in the minors, teams hardly ever draft for need at the major league level. Still, the Phillies passed on multiple chances on Day 1 to add organizational catching depth behind 36-year-old J.T. Realmuto.
Winslow, 21, transferred from Duke and had a strong start to his junior year before fracturing a hand and shifting into a DH role. He’s expected to remain behind the plate in pro ball.
Led by analyst David Slusser, the Phillies identified qualities in Rhudy’s fastball that they believe will make it a major league pitch. Barber cited Rhudy’s low arm slot and “vertical rise” in spin and movement that creates swings-and-misses.
Rhudy, like Sheerin, was a reliever in college, closing out games for Tennessee with a fastball-slider combination.
“I happened to see him at the SEC Tournament when he was more in the 94- to 96-mph range and hitters have no chance against it,” Barber said, noting that Rhudy was 91-92 mph earlier in the year. “We’re hoping to see that velocity continue to rise along with the innate qualities that he has with it and for that pitch to continue to work.”
Louisville pitcher Wyatt DanilowiczMichael Wyke
Round 8
Wyatt Danilowicz, LHP, Louisville
In continuing their run on college pitchers, the Phillies snatched a lefty. Danilowicz, 22, was a reliever for two years at Louisville before moving to the rotation and posting a 6.00 ERA in 14 starts.
Round 9
Cooper Consiglio, LHP, North Carolina State
After a tough sophomore year in the bullpen, the 20-year-old’s stock rose last summer in the Cape Cod League. He went back to college and struggled again, with a 6.90 ERA in 16 games (11 starts).
Consiglio played for longtime NC State coach Elliott Avent, who had Trea Turner in his program for three seasons.
Rhode Island infielder Reece MoroneyMatthew Hinton
Round 10
Reece Moroney, SS, Univ. of Rhode Island
Undersized players from Northeast colleges are often overlooked. But Moroney, 5-11 and 185 pounds, caught the attention of scouts because of his contact skills and ability to reach base.
As a sophomore, he batted .356 with a .464 on-base percentage before hitting .370 and reaching base at a .426 clip as a junior.
Round 11
Drew Titsworth, RHP, Clemson
Like many of the other college pitchers in the Phillies’ draft class, the 21-year-old tries to create deception by throwing from a low arm slot. He gained experience as a starter and reliever in college.
Saint Joseph’s pitcher Christian CoppolaJason E. Miczek
Round 12
Christian Coppola, RHP, St. Joseph’s
The Phillies stayed local to find another college pitcher.
Coppola went to Cedar Creek High School in Egg Harbor City, N.J., then pitched as a starter at Rutgers for two seasons. He transferred to Arizona for one year before coming home to St. Joseph’s. He’s a reliever now, with a sweeping slider and fastball.
“He’s got swing-and-miss stuff, to be honest with you,” Barber said. “This is a guy that we identified a couple of months ago. Left-handed guy with good stuff who gets swing-and-miss with his repertoire.”
Round 13
Brayden Bakes, OF, Illinois State
After dislocating his left shoulder twice and medically redshirting as a freshman at Indiana, he transferred, got healthy, and batted .360 with 24 homers and a 1.091 OPS over the last two seasons.
Bakes, 21, is a left-handed hitter with a stocky build (5-10, 195). He had almost as many walks (64) as strikeouts (65) at Illinois State.
Patrick Clemmey, LHP, Avon Old Farms School (Conn.)
One of only three high schoolers selected by the Phillies and the first since Spangler at No. 36 overall, Clemmey had a private workout at Citizens Bank Park last month and impressed with a 6-5 frame and mid-90s heater.
Now, the Phillies have to sign him.
Clemmey graduated from a Rhode Island high school, then did a postgraduate year at Avon Old Farms after decommitting to Vanderbilt. Now, he’s committed to Georgia … unless the Phillies show him the money.
“I feel pretty confident that we’re going to bring him into the mix here, but nothing’s ever done until it’s done,” Barber said. “When were found out this was a possibility to hopefully sign him, we were all over it and took him at the earliest opportunity.”
George Mason infielder Owen Clyne Mike Buscher
Round 15
Owen Clyne, SS, George Mason
A versatile infielder, the 22-year-old played shortstop, second base, and third base in college. He also walked 72 times and struck out only 64 in two seasons, while batting .338 with 13 homers and 41 stolen bases.
Round 16
Matt Quintanar, C, Texas Tech
After transferring from Blinn College in Texas, he made 53 starts behind the plate as a junior and batted .323 with six homers and an .870 OPS. But his strength may be his defense. He threw out 44.9% of basestealers to lead the Power 4 conferences (SEC, ACC, Big 12, Big Ten).
Despite featuring three offspeed pitches (gyro slider, changeup, curveball), the 22-year-old settled into a relief role as a freshman at Pepperdine and kept pitching out of the bullpen after transferring to USC.
As a junior, he had a 4.28 ERA in 31 appearances this season. Command is an issue, with 19 walks in 33⅔ innings.
Round 18
Lane Haworth, OF, Texas-San Antonio
A left-handed hitter, he spent two seasons at Wichita State before transferring within the American Athletic Conference and having his best season yet. In 57 games, the 21-year-old batted .315, nine homers, more walks (44) than strikeouts (38), and a .927 OPS.
Round 19
Braeden Lipoff, C, Gloucester Catholic High (N.J.)
The Phillies didn’t have to look far for Lipoff, whom they worked out along with Clemmey. But will the South Jersey native stay home and sign with the Phillies? He’s committed to East Carolina University.
“This is one that we’re probably going to have to work a little bit on,” Barber said. “I do think there’s a chance. We’ve gotten to know him quite well. This one’s not a done deal, but I don’t think we’re super far apart, either. I’m very hopeful, but I don’t know quite yet.”
Round 20
Justin Lee, RHP, Notre Dame HS (Calif.)
Lee went to the same high school as Jack McDowell, Giancarlo Stanton, and Hunter Greene, and was highly touted as a hard-throwing reliever when he arrived at UCLA. But he had a 7.55 ERA and a 6.75 mark in his first two seasons. The 21-year-old was better as a junior, with a 3.26 ERA, albeit in only 19⅓ innings.
Cristopher Sánchez‘s meteoric rise to the ranks of elite major league pitchers will now come with the stamp of an All-Star Game start.
Sánchez, the Phillies‘ ace lefty, was informed Sunday by Dodgers manager Dave Roberts that he’s the choice to start for the National League on Tuesday night in Citizens Bank Park, a league source confirmed before Roberts made it official.
“I smiled a lot,” Sánchez told reporters, through a team interpreter, after the Phillies wrapped up the first half in Detroit. “It’s reflection of all the hard work that I’ve been doing throughout the year, and I’m just extremely proud of myself right now.”
Sánchez, who will be opposed by Blue Jays starter Dylan Cease for the American League, is the first Phillies pitcher to start an All-Star Game since Roy Halladay in 2011. Curt Schilling, Steve Carlton, Curt Simmons, and Robin Roberts also started at least one All-Star Game as a Phillie.
“He deserves it,” Roberts told reporters in Los Angeles. “He’s a hometown ballplayer, and I think the city of Philly will enjoy watching and supporting him. He was very grateful. In a time where guys are not wanting to participate in the midsummer classic for the fans, this is a good thing that he’s that excited about pitching.”
Sánchez ranks second in the majors in innings (127⅓), third in strikeouts (144), and ninth in ERA (2.62). The 29-year-old is also second among pitchers in wins above replacement (4.0, according to Fangraphs).
But Sánchez’s chances of starting for the NL improved because neither ERA leader Jacob Misiorowski of the Brewers nor Dodgers two-way unicorn Shohei Ohtani will pitch in the All-Star Game. Misiorowski was scheduled to start Sunday for Milwaukee and later scratched with arm fatigue, while Ohtani bowed out with an irritated left knee.
Cristopher Sanchez will join teammates Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber as starters for the National League.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
Sánchez will join the Phillies’ Brandon Marsh and Kyle Schwarber in the NL’s lineup. Marsh was elected by fans to start in the outfield; Schwarber, chosen as a reserve on the players’ ballot, will replace Ohtani as the NL’s designated hitter.
A year ago, Sánchez was overlooked for the All-Star team, which rankled many of his teammates. There wasn’t any chance of that happening this year.
Not after Sánchez went 50⅔ innings without allowing a run, the longest streak ever by a lefty and fifth-longest all-time. He had a 1.80 ERA through 16 starts before stumbling in a five-run start at Washington and a career-worst nine-run start last Sunday in Kansas City.
This season, the Phillies’ frustration stems from the omission of Zack Wheeler, who lowered his ERA to 2.13 with six scoreless innings Sunday in Detroit but also missed the season’s first month while coming back from thoracic outlet syndrome.
Wheeler said it was “B.S.” that MLB didn’t name him as an All-Star and later replaced him on the NL roster. (Pitchers who start their team’s last game before the break don’t usually pitch in the All-Star Game on one day’s rest.) The league approached Wheeler on Friday about adding him as a replacement, but he said he declined “because they disrespected me.”
But Wheeler also declined to pitch — or even attend — the All-Star Game in 2024 in Texas and last year in Atlanta, his hometown.
“There’s certain circumstances where guys can’t play, they are injured. But this is an honor,” Roberts said. “It’s not only just an honor to be named it, but it’s an honor to participate and want to participate. Cristopher wants to, and I’m excited about naming him the starter in the All-Star Game.”
Sánchez is at his best at home. In his last 56 starts in Citizens Bank Park dating to 2024, he is 23-8 with a 2.21 ERA and 377 strikeouts in 354 innings. This year, he’s 7-1 with an 0.86 ERA in 11 home starts.
“I think it’s just fan support overall,” Sánchez said recently through a team interpreter, “and also knowing every inch of this stadium.”
After giving up two runs on 10 hits Saturday in Detroit, Sánchez said, “It would be awesome to start the All-Star Game at home. With the fans, it just would be an awesome thing. It’s another accomplishment and another goal, for sure, but it would be an awesome thing to do.”
It’s now a reality.
“Yeah, it’s just going to be crazy,” Sánchez said. “You guys know that Philly is the best environment in baseball that there is, so it’s just going to be really joyful and really crazy.”
Staff writer Lochlahn March contributed to this report.
In 2023, the Phillies used their first-round pick on an infielder who graded highly among high school hitters but slipped in the draft because of an injury.
With the 36th overall selection — a 10-pick penalty for exceeding the second luxury-tax threshold last year — the Phillies took Tyler Spangler, an 18-year-old shortstop from De La Salle High School in Northern California who didn’t play at all this year because of a back injury.
“We have an extensive medical review on the player and just felt comfortable taking him,” scouting director Brian Barber said Saturday from the Phillies’ draft room in Citizens Bank Park. “We’ve looked at everything that there is to look at there and felt completely comfortable taking the player.”
Barber declined to discuss the nature of the back injury.
Spangler, a 6-foot-3 left-handed hitter, was projected in early mock drafts as a first-round pick, in which case he would’ve been off the board long before the Phillies picked. But he injured his back after a mid-January tournament that the Phillies attended, Barber said, and missed his senior season.
Teams were finally able to see Spangler hit last month at the MLB draft combine in Phoenix. The Phillies watched him again in a workout on June 30. Barber said he has been given “a clear return to action,” and the Phillies are “hoping to see him on the field in [minor-league] games at some point this season.”
Tyler Spangler is back 👀
After missing his high school senior spring with a back injury, Spangler is on the field participating in drills at the MLB Draft Combine. He ranks No. 32 on BA's latest draft rankings and at one point ranked among the top high schoolers in the class… pic.twitter.com/0GvM39v2Dr
That would suggest the Phillies are confident that they can sign Spangler, who committed to attend Stanford. It may require a bonus larger than the $2.76 million slot value assigned to the 36th pick. But without a pick in the first round, the Phillies are likely to meet Spangler’s price.
Clubs have until July 27 to sign their 2026 draft picks.
If Spangler’s injury saga sounds familiar, Miller slid to the Phillies at No. 27 overall three years ago because of a broken hamate bone in his left hand. He recovered from that injury and became the organization’s top prospect, but hasn’t played this season because of a lower back condition that necessitated a spinal procedure in June.
In Spangler’s case, there’s also the matter of De La Salle suspending its varsity baseball team for the first five games this season for what the school described as “violations of school policy, team rules, and code of conduct.”
Barber said the Phillies interviewed Spangler at the combine and were confident that whatever happened (De La Salle officials didn’t specify the violations) “had nothing to do with Tyler.”
The Phillies drafted Spangler one pick before catcher Daniel Jackson went to the Rockies. Jackson won the Golden Spikes Award this year as the top collegiate player in the country.
Spangler is tall for a shortstop, prompting comparisons to lefty-hitting Corey Seager. Barber said the Phillies believe Spangler “probably moves a little bit better than, let’s say, Corey did at 18″ and that he won’t need to switch positions.
Ty Spangler goes to the Phillies at pick No. 36.
55-grade hit and power tools with not one tool projecting below 50.
But it’s his bat that most impressed the Phillies.
Barber said Spangler showed “a little bit of rust and stiffness” at the combine. But when the Phillies saw him hit a week later, he appeared “more loose and free,” as they remembered when they scouted him as a junior.
“We think it’s just a really advanced 18-year-old swing,” Barber said. “The path is just perfect to be able to add to his power game, as well. It’s a hit-first with a really good feel for the power in the future.
“The opportunity to be at pick 36 and get this player that we identified going back two years, saw him play all throughout the summer and fall last year, we just think he’s a very good player.”
Here’s how the Phillies rounded out the first day of the draft:
Caden Bogenpohl broke Ryan Howard’s Missouri State school record with 20 homers as a freshman in 2024 and finished with 39 homers in three seasons.Colin E Braley
Round 2
Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State
A few weeks ago, after the college season, the Phillies took the unusual step of inviting the 6-6 left-handed hitter to their facility in Clearwater for a one-on-one workout with farm director Luke Murton.
“Unfortunately, we did that before the Combine, where he was able to [go to] the Combine and put on an absolute show out there,” Barber said, laughing. “But it did help us answer some of the questions about why the exit velocity was at the elite level, but the home runs didn’t go with it.”
Indeed, Bogenpohl broke Ryan Howard’s school record with 20 homers as a freshman, then hit only 19 over the last two years. But after their private workout, the Phillies believe they can unlock the power that has gone missing.
A farm system that lacks home-run hitters can use it.
After pitching as a reliever for two years at Texas-San Antonio, he transferred and became a starter. That’s how the Phillies plan to use him in the minors because of a five-pitch repertoire from multiple arm slots.
The 23-year-old righty is on the older side, but Barber believes he’s also more advanced than most draftees.
“It’s now stuff,” Barber said. “It’s now strikes. It’s now pitchability.”
Deven Sheerin (RS-SO @LSUbaseball) funky crossfire with lively heater 96-97 T98. Sweeper has an extra gear to miss barrels. Backend mentality on the hill. ‘26 elig. pic.twitter.com/ajUxgnKjQD
— PG College Baseball (@PGCollegeBall) May 20, 2026
Round 4
Deven Sheerin, RHP, LSU
Most relief pitchers get drafted as starters and move to the bullpen as they go through the minors. But Barber left no doubt about the 20-year-old righty’s future role.
“We see him as a high-upside leverage reliever,” he said.
Sheerin throws a slider and upper-90s fastball from a low-slot delivery, a combination that Barber described as “just completely loud stuff.”
Oh, and he grew up in Reading, home to the Phillies’ longstanding double-A club.
Kentucky pitcher Jaxon Jelkin had a 4.08 ERA in 17 games last season.Mike Buscher
Jaxon Jelkin, RHP, Kentucky
A collegiate nomad, he left Nebraska as a freshman for junior college in Arizona, then transferred to Houston, where he had Tommy John elbow surgery before going to Kentucky. But he’s 6-5 with four pitches from a low three-quarters arm slot. At age 23, he could start at a more advanced level of the system than younger draftees.
“It’s older, but we’re just not using a lot of projection there,” Barber said. “What we try to do with these [older college] guys is acclimate them to pro ball, get them on a professional routine, and then just try to optimize their pitch package a little bit more.”
In 16 starts between two levels of the minors, Wood has a 3.44 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 55 innings, including a 3.45 mark in eight double-A starts. The Phillies skipped Wood two levels in May when they promoted him from low-A Clearwater.
The Phillies drafted Wood in the first round (26th overall) last July and invited him to a game after he signed for $3 million.
“I got to go around the clubhouse, all the facilities, meet everyone,” Wood said in April as a guest on The Inquirer’s Phillies Extra podcast. “Got to talk to Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, the whole pitching staff, pretty much. Got to talk to Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, all those guys. You get there and you’re like, ‘Wow, this is pretty cool.’
“And I’ll always remember that for the rest of my life. I went home and I told pretty much everyone that I’m friends with, [or] I’m even close to, people that just asked me, ‘Did you get to talk to Bryce Harper?’ And I’m like, ‘Actually, yeah, I did. It was freaking sweet.’ But no, they were great.”
Wood, the No. 69 prospect in the sport according to Baseball America’s midseason top-100 rankings, will represent the Phillies with fellow right-hander Wen-Hui Pan.
Victorino will manage the National League team in the Futures Game; Larry Bowa will manage the American Leaguers. The seven-inning game will begin at noon Sunday.
