Freeman starts for second straight year, Acuña Jr. earns first selection
ATLANTA – Major League Baseball announced today that outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and first baseman Freddie Freeman have been selected as starters for the National League at the 90th MLB All-Star Game, set to be played on Tuesday, July 9 at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. The two were selected via fan voting in the first-ever Google MLB All-Star Starters Election.
The 2019 selection marks the fourth All-Star Game for Freeman, who makes his second consecutive start, and the first such honor of Acuña Jr.’s career.
“It’s always an honor to play in the All-Star Game, and to be voted as a starter for the second straight year is really special,” Freeman said. “I want to thank all of the fans who voted for me and my teammates, and I’m looking forward to representing the Braves in Cleveland.”
Freeman is batting .312/.396/.598 over 81 games on the season, and his 22 home runs are the most by a Braves first baseman prior to the All-Star break since 1998. He leads all NL first baseman with 100 hits, and ranks second with 22 doubles and tied for third with 22 home runs. He is just the second player in franchise history to amass at least 20 doubles, 20 homers, 60 runs and 60 RBI before the break, joining Gary Sheffield in 2003.
Acuña Jr. is batting .287 (93-for-324) with a .372 on-base percentage and .503 slugging percentage in his first full major league season, with 19 home runs and 51 RBI. He became the eighth player in franchise history to be named National League Rookie of the Year when he earned the award last season.
“Primero que nada, gracias a Dios por darme la oportunidad de estar en mi primer juego de estrellas. Ojalá y sean muchos más,” Ac
uña Jr. said. “Gracias a todos los fanáticos por su apoyo, mi familia, y mi gente de Venezuela.”
(“First and foremost, I would like to thank God for giving me the opportunity to be in my first All-Star Game. Hopefully there will be many more to follow. Thanks to all the fans for their support, to my family and to all my people from Venezuela.”)
The remaining roster selections for the National League club will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office. The balance of the All-Star rosters will be announced on Sunday, June 30th at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN during the “Google MLB All-Star Selection Show.”
