In a matter of days, the MLB’s most talented players will face off in Philadelphia during the 2026 MLB All-Star Game. From established names such as Mike Trout, Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Juan Soto, to the 26 first-time All-Stars, there will be plenty for baseball fans to enjoy.
In the latest episode of his podcast, MLB According to CC, CC Sabathia reacted to the starting position players and pitchers for both the American League and National League. A six-time All-Star himself, Sabathia knows a thing or two about the Midsummer Classic. Here are some of his takeaways:
2nd base is deep for National League
Every year, there are players who may have been “snubbed” from the All-Star Game. While Sabathia believes that Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies was the right pick to start, he acknowledged the depth at the position in the NL.
San Francisco Giants second baseman Luis Arraez was selected as a reserve. Arraez is hitting .327, second-best in the majors this season. Two of the NL second basemen who didn’t make the cut for the All-Star Game are JJ Wetherholt of the St. Louis Cardinals and Brice Turang of the Milwaukee Brewers. Wetherholt has 13 home runs and 36 RBIs while playing elite defense, while Turang has 54 RBIs and a .815 OPS for a Brewers team that is one of the best in baseball.
It’s a deep position that leaves some key contributors home during the break.
Junior Caminero will be a superstar
Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Junior Caminero was selected to the All-Star Game for the second time and will be starting at the hot corner. At just 23 years old, Caminero isn’t just one of the best young players in the sport, but one of the best, period.
Caminero has been on fire as of late, with 11 home runs in his last 14 games. He’ll take his power surge with him to compete in the Home Run Derby on Monday night. Sabathia said Caminero, who has 26 home runs and a .918 OPS, is the “catalyst” for a Rays team which leads the American League by four games.
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The All-Star break should be longer
Sabathia believes that the All-Star break should be longer. This year’s break doesn’t start until Sunday afternoon’s games wind down, and action picks back up just a few days later on Thursday and Friday. If the break was a full week, Sabathia thinks MLB players who aren’t in the All-Star Game would show up to watch, NBA-style.
The short break also means that star pitchers can’t take the mound at the All-Star Game. Brewers’ pitcher Jacob Misiorowski, who is having a “season for the ages,” is facing off against Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes on Sunday. Both will only be in the dugout on Tuesday because of it.
New episodes with CC and Ahmed Fareed drop every Wednesday on NBC Sports NOW, NBCSN, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcasts.
