Randy Arozarena Named to 2026 American League All-Star Team

Randy Arozarena of the Seattle Mariners

Randy Arozarena will likely be the Mariners lone representative at the All-Star game in 2026.

Major League Baseball announced on Saturday the initial rosters for the American and National League All-Star teams. This included each team’s starting lineup (chosen by fans) as well as their pitchers and reserves (chosen by players and the commissioner’s office).

Arozarena was the only Mariner named to the team for the AL. He was not selected by fan vote, nor did any Mariners players make it to the second phase of fan voting. But he’s a deserving All-Star nonetheless, ranking fifth among AL outfielders with 2.3 fWAR. He’s been the Mariners most valuable hitter with a 141 wRC+ (.280/.370/.436) and their most valuable base runner (19 stolen bases and 2.2 BsR). No matter what flavor of WAR you use, Arozarena is on track to have his most valuable season as a big-leaguer should current trends hold, something he credits to fully buying in to the Mariners’ approach of using the whole field.

“This year, I came with a different approach,” Arozarena said through team interpreter Freddy Llanos. “I’ve been listening a lot more to the hitting coaches, coming in with a plan and sticking to that plan, and you’ve seen teh results this season. Before, I think I would just go out there and every pitch, my mentality was, hit this ball out of the ballpark.

Now, I’ve been able to use the middle of the field, hit the ball around and make those adjustments. Now I’m going up there and thinking, where can I place this ball, and trying to use all my tools that I can to place that ball in that spot.”

Rosters were announced on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. At about 1:45 p.m., Arozarena capped his bid with a massive grand slam to push the Mariners past the Blue Jays. He also doubled earlier in the game.

It’s Arozarena’s third All-Star selection and second with the Mariners. Last year, he was named to the team after Julio Rodríguez declined to participate.

“I think this [selection] for me is the one that feels a little more special,” said Arozarena. “I see it as a mixture of all the discipline, all the hard work, everything I’ve done, but also all the teammates that have helped me, the fans, especially the fans – I use them as a motor to energize me when I’m out there, I’m able to identify with them, and they’re able to identify with me. So when you get a recognition like this, you kind of look at it in terms of all the hard work and all these little aspects that come together to make something like this happen.”

Speaking of Julio, he was not named to the team after making it in three of his first four years as a big leaguer. Neither was Cal Raleigh, who received the second most votes in the AL just last year. In fact, no other Mariners were selected, reflecting what’s been a frustrating, injury-plagued season in Seattle.

One could argue Bryan Woo deserved a nod. He leads the Mariners with 2.7 fWAR, good enough for sixth in the AL as of Saturday morning. But Woo’s 4.17 ERA (driven by severe home-road splits) likely hurt his chances. Logan Gilbert, Emerson Hancock, and George Kirby are each having better seasons by more traditional metrics, though none rank in the top 10 by ERA.

It’s possible more Mariners will eventually make the team as other players get hurt and opt out. How does that work? I defer to the MLB All-Star selection process FAQ:

Who picks the replacements for injured players or those who decline to participate?
If a fan-elected starter is unable to play, they are replaced in the starting lineup by the player on the roster who received the next most votes on the player ballot at their position. The roster replacement is then chosen by the league.

If a player-elected reserve position player must be replaced, the next in line on the player ballot becomes a reserve, unless the leaders of the player ballot have already been accounted for. If the top finishers on the player ballot are already All-Stars, then MLB can select another replacement.

Who picks the replacements for injured players or those who decline to participate?
If a fan-elected starter is unable to play, they are replaced in the starting lineup by the player on the roster who received the next most votes on the player ballot at their position. The roster replacement is then chosen by the league.

If a player-elected reserve position player must be replaced, the next in line on the player ballot becomes a reserve, unless the leaders of the player ballot have already been accounted for. If the top finishers on the player ballot are already All-Stars, then MLB can select another replacement.

Who picks the replacements for injured players or those who decline to participate?
If a fan-elected starter is unable to play, they are replaced in the starting lineup by the player on the roster who received the next most votes on the player ballot at their position. The roster replacement is then chosen by the league.

If a player-elected reserve position player must be replaced, the next in line on the player ballot becomes a reserve, unless the leaders of the player ballot have already been accounted for. If the top finishers on the player ballot are already All-Stars, then MLB can select another replacement.

If no other Mariners are selected, it will be the first time since 2021 Seattle has sent just one player (Yusei Kikuchi). Last year, they sent seven.

The All-Star Game will take place on July 14 at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia. The game will be broadcast on FOX at 5 p.m. PT.