Rosters Set for All-Star Game; Mets and Brewers Well Represented

Jul 01, 08:15 PM

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers each have four representatives on the National League All-Star team, as the rosters for the 78th Midsummer Classic were announced Sunday.

Three of those Mets -- center fielder Carlos Beltran, shortstop Jose Reyes and third baseman David Wright -- will be in the starting lineup, while closer Billy Wagner was also named to the team.

Prince Fielder, meanwhile, beat out some serious competition in Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard to snare the starting spot at first base. Three of his Brewers teammates -- shortstop J.J. Hardy, closer Francisco Cordero and starting pitcher Ben Sheets -- will also be in San Francisco for the July 10 contest.

The starting NL infield is rounded out by Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley and catcher Russell Martin of the Dodgers. Beltran, San Francisco's Barry Bonds and the Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. make up the starting outfield.

There are eight National League players who will be making their first All- Star appearances including second baseman Orlando Hudson and closer Jose Valverde of Arizona; Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand and Cole Hamels; Fielder and Hardy of Milwaukee; and Martin and closer Takashi Saito of the Dodgers.

The American League roster is full of experienced on the other hand, with 18 of the 20 position-player spots being filled with All-Star veterans.

Starting second baseman Placido Polanco of Detroit and first baseman Justin Morneau of the Twins are the only two AL players making their first trip to the Classic.

Polanco's teammate Magglio Ordonez will start in the outfield along with Ichiro Suzuki of Seattle and the Angels' Vladimir Guerrero. The left side of the infield consists of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter, while first baseman David Ortiz is the lone starter for first-place Boston. Catcher Ivan Rodriguez of Detroit rounds out the infield.

Boston's Josh Beckett and Jon Papelbon; Oakland's Dan Haren; Bobby Jenks of the White Sox; the Angels' John Lackey and Francisco Rod Rodriguez; Gil Meche of the Royals; Seattle's J.J. Putz; C.C. Sabathia of Cleveland; Minnesota's Johan Santana; and Justin Verlander of Detroit comprise the AL pitching staff.

Colorado's Brian Fuentes; Cordero; Hamels; San Diego's Trevor Hoffman and Jake Peavy; LA's Brad Penny; Sheets; Valverde; Wagner; Saito; and Atlanta's John Smoltz are the NL's pitchers.

07/01 19:26:55 ET