Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker speaks to the media during Braves Spring Training in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on February 21, 2018. Snitker played American Legion baseball as a youth in Decatur, Illinois. (Jacob Langston for The American Legion)

Legion Baseball alumni at MLB All-Star Game

The National League’s fan-elected starter at designated hitter, the NL’s “legacy selection,” one of the American League’s starting pitchers, and managers for both teams for the July 19 Major League Baseball All-Star Game are alumni of American Legion Baseball.

Full rosters for MLB’s 92nd All-Star Game were completed July 10 with the announcement of pitchers and reserves for the game, which will take place at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Justin Verlander (Post 201/Powhatan, Va.) of the Houston Astros earned his ninth All-Star selection and first since 2019. After missing the entire 2021 season following Tommy John surgery, Verlander leads the American League with 11 wins (tied with the Dodgers’ Tony Gonsolin for the major league lead entering Sunday).

He’ll be joined in L.A. by Houston manager Dusty Baker (Post 412/Fair Oaks, Calif.), who is managing the American League All-Star team after leading the Astros to last season’s AL pennant.

Guiding the other dugout will be Atlanta manager Brian Snitker (Post 105/Decatur, Ill.), who led the Braves to last year’s World Series title.

Snitker may be able to call on Albert Pujols (Post 340/Independence, Mo.) for an at-bat or two on July 19. Pujols, of the St. Louis Cardinals, was selected to his 11th All-Star Game, his first since 2015, as a “legacy selection” along with Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera. Pujols is playing his final season before retirement. He is fifth all-time in home runs with 683, and is 10th all-time with 3,326 hits.

Not at Snitker’s disposal due to a broken thumb will be Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Bryce Harper (Las Vegas). Harper was still elected the starting DH for the National League by the fans, his seventh selection to the All-Star Game.