Marcus Semien, playing for the Texas Rangers at home, will step in for Houston’s Jose Altuve as the starting second baseman for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game on Tuesday night.
According to Major League Baseball, Altuve opted to rest his left hand, which has been bothering him since he was hit by a 94.3 mph slider from Minnesota’s Josh Winder on July 5.
Infielder/outfielder Willi Castro from the Minnesota Twins will replace Altuve on the AL roster, marking his first All-Star appearance.
This will be Semien’s third consecutive start in the All-Star Game. He narrowly missed out on starting this year, finishing second to Altuve in the final round of fan voting. Semien initially made the AL All-Star team as a reserve, securing his spot by finishing second in voting among players, managers, and coaches.
Additionally, Texas Rangers’ right-hander Kirby Yates has been selected for the AL pitching staff, marking the fifth consecutive season that the Rangers have had multiple All-Star representatives.
