Arraez Leads Four Former Blue Wahoos Chosen For 2023 MLB All-Star Game
In a group which spans 10 years and three different affiliations, the Blue Wahoos will have a quartet of former players in this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game. Led by Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who was voted in by fans as a starter and leads the major leagues with
In a group which spans 10 years and three different affiliations, the Blue Wahoos will have a quartet of former players in this year’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Led by Miami Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who was voted in by fans as a starter and leads the major leagues with a .389 batting average, it is the largest representation in Pensacola’s franchise history. Arraez wowed in Pensacola as a Minnesota Twins rising prospect in 2019, before making his MLB debut later that season with the Twins.
Three other former Blue Wahoos players – pitchers Michael Lorenzen and Luis Castillo plus Marlins outfielder Jorge Soler -- were named Sunday in voting by players and the commissioner’s office. The 93rd MLB All-Star Game will be played on July 11 in Seattle at the Mariners T-Mobile Park. It will be televised at 7 p.m. (CDT) on Fox Sports.
Lorenzen, 31, who pitched for the Blue Wahoos as a Cincinnati Reds prospect in 2013 and 2014, then did an injury rehab assignment in Pensacola in 2018 as a former Reds player, was named to his first MLB All-Star game as the Detroit Tigers lone representative.
He was signed by the Tigers as a free agent before the season and his record (2-6, 4.28 earned run average) includes the most innings and second-lowest ERA of the Tigers top four pitchers.
Castillo, 30, who shined for the Blue Wahoos during the 2017 season, before making his MLB debut with the Reds later that season, will be the Mariners’ lone representative as host team. He will be making back-to-back appearances in the MLB All-Star Game and the third of his career.
He was the Reds lone representative in the 2022 All-Star Game, played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, and prior to Reds trading their former ace to the Mariners on July 30 before last year’s trade deadline.
Castillo started Sunday’s game for the Mariners and worked six innings in a no-decision. He is 5-6 for the Mariners with a 3.14 ERA.
Soler, who played two games for the Blue Wahoos last season on an injury rehab assignment with the Marlins, blasting two home runs in seven at-bats, was named to his first MLB All-Star Game. He joined the Marlins before the 2022 season following a star role as the 2021 World Series MVP with the Atlanta Braves.
Soler, 31, has hit 22 homers for the Marlins so far this season, tied for the fifth most in MLB to go along with 47 RBI.
“He’s amazing, he deserves it,” said Marlins teammate Luis Arraez, speaking to Marlins media representatives after Sunday’s game against the Braves. “He’s played a lot of years in the big leagues (in his 10th season) and I’m happy for him.
“I’m excited for him. We’ll go to Seattle together now, so we’ve got to enjoy that.”
Arraez, 26, was named Thursday a National League starter after edging out Braves’ star second baseman Ozzie Albies in the fan voting. He is making back-to-back appearances after going to the 2022 All-Star Game as a Twins player. His batting average is 50-plus points higher than the next player, the Braves Ronald Acuna Jr.
“It means a lot, because everybody knows I work hard every day, especially (since) this is my first start in the All-Star Game now,” said Arraez, speaking to Marlins media members. “I want to say thanks to the fans for supporting me and voting for me. I want to say than you God for this.”
“The type of player he is, he plays the game the right way,” said Marlins manager Skip Schumaker, addressing media members last Thursday after telling the team of Arraez’ selection. “It’s not just the production, but all the work he puts in. A winning tyepe of player… couldn’t be more happy for him and his family.”
Some of the work ethic Arraez is known for was on display in Pensacola in 2019. He came out of spring training that year as a player still not atop the radar among the game’s best known prospects. That changed after his 38 games for the Blue Wahoos, including 15 games in Pensacola at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
He had 50 hits and 14 RBI in 146 plate appearances for a .342 average. He was elevated in May to Triple-A and later made his MLB debut that summer with the Twins.
Arraez and the Marlins had a rough series over the weekend in Atlanta, getting swept by the MLB best-record Braves, who placed a franchise record eight players into the July 11 All-Star Game.
Of those players, four played in Blue Wahoos Stadium against the Blue Wahoos. The Braves group includes All-Star Game starters, outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. and shortstop Orlando Arcia, who played for the Biloxi Shuckers in Pensacola as a then-Milwaukee Brewers prospect.
Two of the Braves players named Sunday into the All-Star Game – Albies and third baseman Austin Riley – both played against the Blue Wahoos while with the Mississippi Braves.
And Braves first baseman Matt Olson played his first, full-minor league season in Beloit, Wisconsin (formerly Beloit Snappers) as an Oakland A’s prospect. The rebranded Beloit Sky Carp are the Marlins’ High-A affiliate, which is owned by Blue Wahoos owners Quint and Rishy Studer.
BLUE WAHOOS MLB ALL-STAR CONNECTIONS
MICHAEL LORENZEN, pitcher (Detroit Tigers) – Pitched in 31 games for Blue Wahoos, mostly as a starter, during the (2013-14) seasons, then three more on rehab assignment with Cincinnati Reds. Made MLB debut with Reds in 2015.
LUIS CASTILLO, pitcher (Seattle Mariners) – Pitched in 14 games for Blue Wahoos in 2017, all as a starter, as a Reds prospect. Was 4-4 with 2.58 ERA in Pensacola when elevated to the Reds. This will be his third MLB All-Star game and back-to-back years after representing Reds last season.
LUIS ARRAEZ, infielder (Miami Marlins) – Played 36 games in 2019 for the Blue Wahoos as a Minnesota Twins prospect. Quickly elevated after six weeks to Triple-A, then made his MLB debut. Acquired by Marlins in trade during offseason and now bidding to make history in being the American League and National League batting champ in consecutive years.
JORGE SOLER, outfielder (Miami Marlins) – Played in Pensacola last season in home series with Blue Wahoos on injury rehab assignment from the Marlins. This will be his first MLB All-Star game in 10-year major league career. Was World Series MVP for Atlanta Braves in 2021.