Ryan O’Hearn will have to make new friends at the All-Star Game.
The reserves and pitchers were announced today and none of the other Orioles are joining O’Hearn at Truist Park in Atlanta.
Second baseman Jackson Holliday, who went 4-for-4 with a two-run homer today in a 2-1 win over the Braves, advanced to Phase 2 of voting but didn’t have his name called.
Holliday is batting .260 with 13 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs and a .724 OPS in 82 games and has emerged as the everyday leadoff hitter. He’s only the fourth Oriole with multiple four-hit games before turning 22, joining Manny Machado and Hall of Famers Brooks Robinson and Eddie Murray.
Closer Félix Bautista, outfielder Ramón Laureano and shortstop Gunnar Henderson also appeared to have a chance at an All-Star selection.
Of course, there’s always the possibility of a later inclusion as an injury replacement or if a chosen pitcher won't have proper rest. That’s how infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Anthony Santander made it to Texas last summer. Westburg replaced Rafael Devers and Santander filled in for Kyle Tucker, bringing the Orioles’ All-Star total to five.
The Orioles had one representative in 2017 (Jonathan Schoop), 2018 (Manny Machado), 2019 (John Means), 2021 (Cedric Mullins) and 2022 (Jorge López). The 2020 Midsummer Classic was canceled due to the pandemic.
Winning is an obvious factor in the selection totals, along with the rule that every team must be represented. The Orioles also sent multiple players from 2012-16. They had one All-Star from 2001-04 and 2006-11.
And speaking of winning ...
* Left-hander Trevor Rogers tossed 6 2/3 shutout innings today and the Orioles completed the sweep. His ERA is 1.57 in five starts, three of them scoreless.
Rogers entered today 0-7 with a 5.57 ERA in nine career starts against the Braves and 0-4 with a 5.28 ERA in six starts at Truist Park.
Only four pitchers began their careers with more consecutive losing decisions against the Braves than Rogers’ seven: Al Worthington (1953-57), Jim O’Toole (1958-60) and Pedro Astacio (1992-97) with eight and Armando Reynoso (1993-2001) with 10.
* No one could have predicted that Jacob Stallings and Alex Jackson would be the two Orioles catchers on this date, considering how they joined the organization within the past 12 days.
Jackson arrived this morning from the Yankees, who received $250,000 in international signing bonus pool money in the trade, according to baseball reporter Francys Romero.
Using six different catchers this season would tie the franchise record, and No. 1 prospect Samuel Basallo is expected to arrive later this summer.
Interim manager Tony Mansolino provided one of the season’s best quotes this morning when the assembled media in Atlanta asked about the process of getting new catchers acclimated so quickly to the organization.
"It's drinking out of a fire hose."
Gary Sánchez made his second trip to the injured list today, this time with a moderate PCL sprain in his right knee. Adley Rutschman, Maverick Handley and Chadwick Tromp also are on the IL.
“No timeline yet,” Mansolino said of Sánchez. “He will, this weekend, get with our doctors and we’ll kind of get a plan and have more information on a timeline.”
Jackson is the first Oriole to wear No. 70 since Travis Lakins Sr. in 2021. Josh Lucas wore it in 2019, Xavier Avery in 2012 and Jeff Fiorentino in 2009.
* The Orioles extended their streak of drawing walks to a franchise-record 167 consecutive games since July 2, 2024. The previous mark was 155 from June 23, 1955-June 24 , 1956.
* The Orioles are starting Brandon Young, Tomoyuki Sugano and Charlie Morton in the three-game series against the Mets that begins Tuesday night at Camden Yards. New York is listing right-hander Clay Holmes, left-hander David Peterson and TBA.