Mookie, Freeman, J.D. earn All-Star beginning spots, then hold raking

DENVER — The Dodgers shall be well-represented within the 2023 All-Star Game introduced by Mastercard, set for July 11 in Seattle.

On Thursday, it was introduced that outfielder Mookie Betts, first baseman Freddie Freeman and designated hitter J.D. Martinez have been all named starters for the National League within the Midsummer Classic at T-Mobile Park.

This is the primary time the Dodgers have three or extra non-pitcher starters in an All-Star Game since 1980, once they had 4 with Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Russell and Reggie Smith.

The trio went on to indicate precisely why they earned that honor, combining for eight hits and eight RBIs within the Dodgers’ 14-3 blowout win over the Rockies on Thursday night time at Coors Field. The begin of the rubber recreation was delayed by practically two hours attributable to hail and rain.

“We do appreciate it,” Freeman stated of the fan votes. “I just want to say thank you to all the Dodger fans who voted for us and baseball fans who are fans of us. Thank you very much.”

Betts, who introduced he’ll take part within the T-Mobile Home Run Derby for the primary time in his profession, is making his second consecutive All-Star Game begin as a member of the Dodgers, whereas Freeman and Martinez shall be making their first since signing with Los Angeles.

“I think tonight started with Mookie,” supervisor Dave Roberts stated. “I don’t know if it’s him being on the dirt. He felt good, but he was really dynamic tonight. I thought the way his body was moving. He set the tone.”

Betts shall be making his seventh All-Star look this season. He entered Thursday main the membership with 20 house runs this season, and he has as soon as once more been probably the greatest defenders within the Majors regardless of taking part in extra infield than beforehand in his profession. He shall be joined within the outfield by Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr., who led all gamers in fan voting.

“It’s always special to be an All-Star Game,” Betts stated. It means you’re doing one thing fairly good, regardless of how I really feel or what I say, I’m doing one thing. We acquired an excellent group of men right here that, you understand, there’s a variety of guys gonna be there.

“It’s a testomony to our crew, our group and the coaches.”

As for Freeman, it is going to be the fourth time he begins a Midsummer Classic after beating the Braves’ Matt Olson within the fan voting. Freeman, as soon as once more, has been probably the greatest hitters within the Majors, main Los Angeles in nearly each offensive class. He would be the first Dodgers first baseman to begin an All-Star Game since Garvey (1974-80).

Of the three starters, Martinez had the largest recreation on Thursday, going 4-for-6 and hitting his nineteenth homer of the season — a two-run blast to cap a six-run fourth inning.

Martinez, now a six-time All-Star, shall be beginning for the primary time since 2018 as a member of the Red Sox. 

After signing a one-year, $10 million deal this offseason, Martinez has been one of the vital impactful free-agent signings round MLB. He was reunited with hitting coach Robert Van Scoyoc and it has confirmed to be a lift to Martinez’s manufacturing, which suffered through the second-half of the season in ‘22.

“There’s just not a better hitter at Coors and the numbers speak to that,” Roberts stated. “And just using the whole field doing what he does. [Those three] have carried us.” 

Though the All-Star trio led the way in which on Thursday, they did get loads of assist from the remainder of the lineup as eight of the 9 starters recorded at the very least one hit. Jason Heyward logged three hits and Max Muncy chipped in with three RBIs.

That was loads of assist for rookie Emmet Sheehan, who had one other spectacular start thinking about the circumstances. In his first begin at Coors Field, Sheehan allowed simply three runs over 5 innings of labor. 

“It was just a good overall performance by everyone, not just us three,” Freeman stated. “Max got a couple hits. [Miguel Vargas] got an RBI triple. It was a good game today for a lot of Dodgers.”