(Photo credit: William Navarro-Imagn Images)

The defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers will have four hitters in the National League's starting lineup when the world's best players gather July 14 in Philadelphia for the 96th All-Star Game.

Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, who received the most votes among National League players to guarantee his sixth consecutive All-Star spot last week, learned Saturday that he will be joined in the lineup by first baseman Freddie Freeman, third baseman Max Muncy and center fielder Andy Pages.

'I wanted to participate, but that wasn't in my control. I didn't want to put it out there until I knew it was for sure,' Pages said in Spanish, as reported by the Los Angeles Times. 'It's exciting to be able to participate in my first one. I'm really proud of the work that I've been doing and to have the opportunity.'

Fans and players also elected Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin, Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh and New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto as starters. Baldwin, Marsh and Pages are first-time all-stars.

Baldwin said he got called into the office by Braves general manager and president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos and manager Walt Weiss, who asked him if he had plans for the All-Star break.

'I was like, 'I don't have anything.' And they're like, 'well, you're going to Philly,'' Baldwin said. 'It's pretty cool. It's something you always watch growing up. And then being able to do this for the first time is, I'm super excited for it. And it's pretty special to see some of the hard work, it's paying off.'

The American League starting lineup features a mix of perpetual All-Stars and new faces. The New York Yankees' Aaron Judge, Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout and Minnesota Twins' Byron Buxton comprise the AL's outfield, though Judge (rib stress fracture) likely won't be available and Trout (strained right hamstring) might not be activated from the injured list in time to play.

Trout was voted in for a 12th time and 11th as a starter to lead all active players, but injuries have marred his career including a torn meniscus in the 2024 and 2025 campaigns. The three-time AL MVP and All-Star Game MVP in 2014 and 2015 hasn't been able to play in the game since 2019. Playing this year in Philadelphia, not far from his hometown of Millville, N.J., adding another layer to the selection.

'It was definitely on my list when it came out, so it's pretty cool,' Trout said. 'Just the kids, friends, family. It just means a lot.'

Angels manager Kurt Suzuki, who was elected to the 2014 All-Star Game with Trout, noted Trout has been a fan of Philadelphia sports teams since his youth.

'He's been to it a lot of times, but I know this one meant a lot to him, obviously being in Philly,' Suzuki said. 'Just how hard he's worked to get to this spot. I played with Mike for two years. I appreciated the way he went about it. But now being a manager and seeing how he goes about it and what he means to the team, it couldn't have happened to a better guy.'

Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers and Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Ernie Clement make their All-Star Game debuts alongside Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero and Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.

Guerrero, a six-time All-Star, announced Saturday that he will miss the game to rest his injured lower back. The Athletics' Nick Kurtz, who had the most votes for AL first basemen on the players' ballots, now will start instead of being a reserve. That makes this All-Star Game the first to have two Athletics players start -- Langeliers and Kurtz -- since Rickey Henderson and Dave Henderson in 1991.

The unanimous AL Rookie of the Year in 2025, Kurtz is from Lancaster, Pa., making the game in Philadelphia even more special. He led the Athletics with a .282 batting average, 66 RBIs, 76 walks, 89 hits, a .424 on-base percentage and a .525 slugging percentage, and was tied with Langeliers with 20 home runs entering Saturday night's home game against the Miami Marlins.

Alvarez cracked his league-high 28th and 29th home runs on Saturday night against Tampa Bay while Caminero delivered his 11th blast in the Rays' last 11 games to move his home run total to 26 for the year.

Clement, who owns a .293 batting average and .746 OPS for the 42-47 Blue Jays, received the most fan votes to become the first AL player to secure his spot in the lineup. Langeliers is the first A's catcher selected to start since Terry Steinbach made consecutive starts in 1988 and 1989.

The American League pitching staff features 11 hurlers making either their first or second All-Star Game appearance. Only Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman (ninth selection) knows the ropes extensively.

Toronto's Dylan Cease, Cleveland's Parker Messick, Tampa Bay's Drew Rasmussen, Minnesota's Joe Ryan, New York's Cam Schlittler, Boston's Ranger Suarez and Kansas City's Michael Wacha are the starters selected while Chapman is joined in the bullpen by Tampa Bay's Bryan Baker, Texas' Jacob Latz, Cleveland's Cade Smith and Toronto's Louis Varland.

The NL staff features slightly more experience as Atlanta ace Chris Sale (10th selection) is the only pitcher with more than three All-Star Games on his resume. Cincinnati's Chase Burns, Miami's Max Meyer, Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski, Arizona's Eduardo Rodriguez, Philadelphia's Cristopher Sanchez, Pittsburgh's Paul Skenes, San Francisco's Logan Webb and Los Angeles' Yoshinobu Yamamoto join Sale on the starting staff.

San Diego closer Mason Miller leads a bullpen that includes Philadelphia's Jhoan Duran and Atlanta's Raisel Iglesias.

In addition to Marsh, Sanchez and Duran, Phillies fans will get to cheer for first baseman Bryce Harper and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber as reserves. Harper (ninth All-Star appearance) was deemed a 'legend pick' while Schwarber leads the majors with 30 homers.

The National League bench consists of catchers William Contreras (Milwaukee) and Hunter Goodman (Colorado), first baseman Matt Olson (Atlanta), shortstop Otto Lopez (Miami), utility infielders Luis Arraez (San Francisco) and Sal Stewart (Cincinnati) and outfielders Corbin Carroll (Arizona), Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Jordan Walker (St. Louis) and James Wood (Washington).

The American League reserves are catchers Dillon Dingler (Detroit) and Adley Rutschman (Baltimore), designated hitter Yandy Diaz (Tampa Bay), first basemen Ben Rice (Yankees) and Kurtz, rookie second baseman Travis Bazzana (Cleveland), rookie shortstop/third baseman Kevin McGonigle (Detroit), third baseman Miguel Vargas (White Sox) and outfielders Randy Arozarena (Seattle), Cody Bellinger (Yankees) and Riley Greene (Detroit).

The Phillies, Dodgers and Braves boast the most All-Stars with five apiece. Twenty-six players -- including 15 of the 32 players on the American League roster -- are making their first All-Star appearance.

--Field Level Media