Jose Altuve is getting a special start…
The 32-year-old Venezuelan professional baseball player and Houston Astros second baseman will be part of the American League starting lineup for the July 19 MLB All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.
Altuve earned his eighth MLB All-Star selection and fifth starting assignment at second baseman by beating out Toronto Blue Jays’ Santiago Espinal 57% to 43%.
After the first round of balloting, each position was narrowed to two finalists, with a new round of voting commencing.
But Altuve isn’t the only Latino starter…
Dominican professional baseball player Rafael Devers, who plays for the Boston Red Sox, beat Jose Ramirez at third base in a battle between two players having MVP-caliber seasons.
Part-Puerto Rican outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, who plays for the New York Yankees, has earned his 5th career selection.
Stanton, who has hit 21 home runs this season, will be joined in the AL outfield by Yankees Aaron Judge and Angels star Mike Trout.
Mexican professional baseball player Alejandro Kirk, a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays, is the only first-time starter for the American League.
Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. beat out Ty France for the starting position at first base. The 23-year-old Canadian-Dominican professional baseball player beat out France by a vote of 66% to 34%.
In the National League, the closest race was at third base, where the Padres’ Manny Machado edged out the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado with 51% of the vote to 49%.
Willson Contreras has earned his 3rd career selection. The Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs received 65% of the vote to Travis d’Arnaud’s 35%.
Ronald Acuna Jr. has earned his 3rd career selection. The Venezuelan professional baseball outfielder for the Atlanta Braves is an automatic starter as the leading vote-getter.
Here’s a look at the starters for each league:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: Alejandro Kirk, Blue Jays (1st selection): 74% to 26% over Jose Trevino
1B: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Blue Jays (2nd selection): 66% to 34% over Ty France
2B: Jose Altuve, Astros (8th selection): 57% to 43% over Santiago Espinal
SS: Tim Anderson, White Sox (2nd selection): 55% to 45% over Bo Bichette
3B: Rafael Devers, Red Sox (2nd selection): 60% to 40% over Jose Ramirez
OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees (4th selection): automatic selection as leading vote-getter
OF: Mike Trout, Angels (10th selection) and Giancarlo Stanton, Yankees (5th selection): over George Springer and Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (2nd selection): 52% over 48% over Yordan Alvarez
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: Willson Contreras, Cubs (3rd selection): 65% to 35% over Travis d’Arnaud
1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals (8th selection): 67% to 33% over Pete Alonso
2B: Jazz Chisholm Jr., Marlins (1st selection): 59% to 41% over Ozzie Albies
SS: Trea Turner, Dodgers (2nd selection): 52% to 48% over Dansby Swanson
3B: Manny Machado, Padres (6th selection): 51% to 49% over Nolan Arenado
OF: Ronald Acuna Jr., Braves (3rd selection): automatic starter as leading vote-getter
OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (6th selection) and Joc Pederson, Giants (2nd selection): over Starling Marte and Adam Duvall
DH: Bryce Harper, Phillies (7th selection): 59% to 41% over William Contreras