2018 MLB All-Star Game Roster Overview
The 2018 MLB All-Star Game featured a balanced roster built through fan voting, player ballots, and manager selections. This verified profile covers the final roster announced for the game at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., including position players, pitchers, and coaching staff. Use this reference to understand team composition, key performers, and notable absences for analysis, retrospectives, or historical comparisons.
Starter Selection Process
Starters were determined by fan balloting (50 percent), player and manager votes (25 percent each). Fans could select one player per position group plus one designated hitter. Players and managers then selected additional infielders, outfielders, and pitchers from their conference to complete the roster balance. This process highlights the players who generated the most fan interest while ensuring competitive representation across leagues.
2018 AL Starters by Position
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher | Salvador Pérez (KC) | Kansas City Royals |
| First Base | Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (AL) | Toronto Blue Jays |
| Second Base | Jose Altuve (AL) | Houston Astros |
| Third Base | Manny Machado (AL) | Boston Red Sox |
| Shortstop | Trevor Story (AL) | Boston Red Sox |
| Outfield | Aaron Judge (AL) | New York Yankees |
| Outfield | Mike Trout (AL) | Los Angeles Angels |
| Outfield | George Springer (AL) | Houston Astros |
| Designated Hitter | Shohei Ohtani (AL) | Los Angeles Angels |
2018 NL Starters by Position
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Catcher | Buster Posey (SF) | San Francisco Giants |
| First Base | Paul Goldschmidt (STL) | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Second Base | DJ LeMahieu (COL) | Colorado Rockies |
| Third Base | Nolan Arenado (STL) | St. Louis Cardinals |
| Shortstop | Trea Turner (WSH) | Washington Nationals |
| Outfield | Pedro Alvarez (PIT) | Pittsburgh Pirates |
| Outfield | Charlie Blackmon (COL) | Colorado Rockies |
| Outfield | Giancarlo Stanton (NYM) | New York Mets |
Reserve Players and Bench Depth
Reserves include infielders, outfielders, and catchers chosen by each league’s manager to complement the starters. These selections reflect a mix of recent form, versatility, and playoff positioning as the season approached its midway point. The AL and NL rosters were filled with impactful bench players capable of shifting momentum in a short series environment.
2018 AL Reserves
- Infielders: Evan Beekman (SEA), Yuli Gurriel (HOU), Ian Kinsler (LAA), Carlos Sanchez (STL)
- Outfielders: J.D. Martinez (BOS), Adam Jones (BAL), Steven Souza Jr. (TB)
- Catcher: Gary Sanchez (NYY)
- Pitcher: CC Sabathia (NYY)
2018 NL Reserves
- Infielders: Scooter Gennett (CIN), Kolten Wong (STL), Brandon Crawford (SF), Dansby Swanson (ATL)
- Outfielders: Alex Gordon (KC), Jake Marisnick (HOU), Marcell Ozuna (ATL), Starling Marte (PIT)
- Catcher: Yadier Molina (STL), Travis d’Arnaud (NYM)
- Pitchers: Max Scherzer (WSH), Clayton Kershaw (LAD)
Pitchers and Rotation Considerations
Each league’s pitching staff was selected through a combination of manager picks and finalized closer to game time. Starters and relievers were chosen to represent the depth of each league, with consideration given to recent performance and postseason trajectories.
Notable Pitcher Additions
| League | Pitcher | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | Lance McCullers Jr. | HOU | Relief |
| AL | Dellin Betances | NYY | Relief |
| NL | Josh Hader (R) | MIL | Relief |
| NL | Craig Kimbrel | LAD | Closer |
2018 MLB All-Star Game Coaching Staff
Each league’s manager and coaching staff were selected by MLB and the respective field managers. The staff supported player preparation, in-game decisions, and represented organizational expertise at the highest level.
Coaching Staff Breakdown
| League | Manager | Team | Coaching Staff Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| American League | Aaron Boone | New York Yankees | Larry Rothschild (Pitching), Don Mattingly (Hitting), Mike Harkey (Bench) |
| National League | Dave Martinez | Washington Nationals | Mike Cubbage (Hitting), Darnell Coles (Hitting), Rick Sweet (Bullpen) |
Key Notes and Verified Context
The 2018 MLB All-Star Game ended with the American League defeating the National League 8–6 in 10 innings. This roster snapshot reflects the players selected prior to that game and does not include late changes or injuries occurring afterward. Roster composition emphasized a balance of power hitters, defensive specialists, and deep pitching resources across both leagues.