Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox was named to replace Toronto Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on the American League All-Star Game roster.
Also, three National League pitching changes include replacements for Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Milwaukee Brewers star Jacob Misiorowski.
Contreras, 34, earned his fourth All-Star Game selection while batting .284 with 20 home runs and 59 RBIs in 86 games this season, his first with the Red Sox.
In 11 major league seasons, Contreras is a career .260 hitter with 192 home runs and 607 RBIs in 1,164 games for the Chicago Cubs (2016-22), St. Louis Cardinals (2023-25) and Red Sox.
Guerrero, 27, was selected to his sixth consecutive All-Star team while fighting ongoing back issues and was ruled out of the game to be played July 14 in Philadelphia. Guerrero is batting .263 with four homers and 35 RBIs in 86 games. He has hit 23 or more homers in five consecutive seasons, including an MLB-leading 48 in 2021.
Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz already has been named the American League’s starter at first base in place of Guerrero. Kurtz, 23, is hitting .275 with 20 home runs and 66 RBIs in 89 games.
St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Riley O’Brien, Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jesus Luzardo and Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft are replacing Skenes, Misiorowski and Miami Marlins right-hander Max Meyer.
Skenes, Misiorowski and Meyer all had Tuesday and Sunday starting assignments. The Sunday outings leave them ineligible to appear in the All-Star Game.
Skenes, 24, is 6-8 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 starts, Misiorowski, 24, is 10-4 and leads the majors with a 1.62 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 18 starts while the 27-year-old Meyer is 9-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 18 starts.
O’Brien, 31, is tied for the National League lead of 22 saves with San Diego Padres star Mason Miller and is 3-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 36 appearances. The 28-year-old Luzardo is 7-4 with a 3.75 ERA in 18 starts and Ashcraft, 26, is 9-3 with a 3.24 ERA in 18 starts.
Also, AL starting outfielder Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins will need to be replaced after being placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday due to a hip injury. He is hitting .271 with 25 homers and 45 RBIs in 75 games this season.
