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Written by: E. George
Published July 8, 2024 @ 5:30 PM ET
COBB COUNTY, Ga. – The 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game is scheduled for Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, and three Atlanta Braves players have been chosen to participate. On Sunday, July 7, 2024, Reynaldo Lopez, Chris Sale, and Marcell Ozuna were officially named to the National League All-Star team.
Braves manager Brian Snitker said, “It’s pretty cool. All three of them are awesome. We just had a (postgame) meeting. Other than Christmas, it’s kind of one of my favorite days of the year when I hand out All-Star invitations.
It’s special. Going to an All-Star Game is an honor and a really special thing for the guys and their families.”
Lopez and Sale, both starting pitchers and new to the team, and Ozuna, Braves designated hitter, will represent Atlanta in the upcoming game. Lopez played one season for the Cleveland Guardians before signing on to the Braves in free agency and becoming a solid starter.
Lopez maintains the highest ERA (Earned Run Average) on the Braves and in the league, and his strikeouts rank second on the Braves team. Initially believed by fans as a reliever, he quickly made his way into the starting lineup and now earned his first appearance in an All-Star game.
After the announcement, Sale, who was traded from the Boston Red Sox, stated, “It is definitely satisfying. I appreciate it for sure. They took a chance, and I’m happy to be able to do this for them.” This will be his eighth time selected for the All-Star team and his first since 2018.
Several injuries limited the left-handed pitcher to only 151 innings between 2020 and 2023; however, working through a healthy offseason helped him back up to the top. Sale ranks with the National League’s top three players in strikeouts (127) and ERA (2.71), while his 11 wins gained him a tie for the most victories in MLB.
Ozuna has been credited with nearly carrying the Braves offense this year, playing in all 88 games and leading the team in batting average, walks, and (23) home runs. He also leads in RBIs (runs batted in) with 72 and hits with 96. This will be his first All-Star appearance since 2017 and his third altogether.
Max Fried and Austin Riley did not make the team, but they could possibly join later on as injury replacements. Eight Braves players were selected last year.