Verlander, Realmuto, Scherzer named to All-MLB Team

Three American Legion Baseball alumni were named to Major League Baseball’s 2022 All-MLB Team, announced Dec. 5.

Fan voting accounted for 50 percent of the vote totals for the team, with a panel of experts handling the other 50 percent. MLB introduced the All-MLB Team in 2019 as a way to complement the All-Star Game selections with a more comprehensive full-season honor.

Two Legion alums, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (Post 170/Midwest City, Okla.) and Astros pitcher Justin Verlander (Post 201/Powhatan, Va.) were selected to the first team, while Mets pitcher Max Scherzer (Post 397/Creve Coeur, Mo.) was selected to the second team.

Verlander capped off his comeback season with his third Cy Young Award, the American League Comeback Player of the Year Award, and his second selection to the All-MLB Team (2019).

Realmuto earned his third All-MLB Team selection — he was first team in 2019 and second team in 2020 — after becoming just the second catcher in history with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a single season. Realmuto hit 22 HRs and stole 21 bases to join Ivan Rodriguez in the 20-20 catcher club. Realmuto was also a Gold Glove Award and Silver Slugger Award winner this season.

Scherzer was a first team All-MLB Team selection in 2019 and 2021. He started just 23 games this season because of injury but was effective when he did pitch, with a 2.29 ERA and 173 strikeouts in 145 1/3 innings.

The complete All-MLB Teams:

FIRST TEAM

C: J.T. Realmuto, Phillies

1B: Paul Goldschmidt, Cardinals

2B: Jose Altuve, Astros

SS: Trea Turner, Dodgers

3B: Manny Machado, Padres

OF: Aaron Judge, Yankees

OF: Mookie Betts, Dodgers

OF: Mike Trout, Angels

DH: Yordan Alvarez, Astros

SP: Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

SP: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

SP: Justin Verlander, Astros

SP: Framber Valdez, Astros

SP: Alek Manoah, Blue Jays

RP: Edwin Díaz, Mets

RP: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians

SECOND TEAM

C: Will Smith, Dodgers

1B: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers

2B: Andrés Giménez, Guardians

SS: Francisco Lindor, Mets

3B: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals

OF: Julio Rodríguez, Mariners

OF: Kyle Schwarber, Phillies

OF: Kyle Tucker, Astros

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels

SP: Julio Urías, Dodgers

SP: Dylan Cease, White Sox

SP: Max Fried, Braves

SP: Aaron Nola, Phillies

SP: Max Scherzer, Mets

RP: Ryan Helsley, Cardinals

RP: Ryan Pressly, Astros