No Brewers appear in All-Star Game; National League wins for first time since 2012
The 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game came and went without any Milwaukee Brewers making an appearance, marking the ninth time since the franchise moved in 1970 that no Milwaukee players played in the Midsummer Classic.
The National League defeated the American League, 3-2, winning the showcase for the first time since 2012. Colorado's Elías Díaz, whose two-run home run in the eighth inning flipped his squad into the lead, was named the game's MVP.
Brewers closer Devin Williams, who pitched a scoreless inning in his all-star debut last year, had already bowed out of pitching in the game on account of a high recent workload and had been replaced on the roster. Starter Corbin Burnes, a roster replacement for Atlanta starter Spencer Strider, was available but did not get the call from National League manager Rob Thomson.
Burnes, making his third straight all-star team, didn't pitch last year either, also voluntarily bowing out before the game because of workload. He appeared in 2021 at Coors Field in Denver, allowed two runs in two innings (including an RBI triple from Marcus Semien and home run by Vladimir Guerrero Jr.) and took the loss in a 5-2 win for the American League. Undeterred, Burnes went on to win the NL Cy Young Award that year.
The National League's pitching staff featured several first-time all-stars, and it's likely Burnes was lower on the priority order, given that he does already have an appearance under his belt.
The NL has won the All-Star Game for the first time since 2012.
Corbin Burnes didn't pitch. He knew he probably wouldn't pitch. The NL prioritized its first-time All-Stars. Every NL pitcher but Hader and Kimbrel fit that description.— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) July 12, 2023
In the past, all-star teams have been asked to save pitchers in case of extra innings, but that became a non-issue starting last year, when the rules changed to a home-run derby format if the game is tied after nine innings.
More: The Brewers (and Milwaukee Braves) players in the MLB all-star game (and how they did)
More: The 11 most memorable All-Star Game moments involving the Brewers
When is the last time the Brewers did not have a player appear in the All-Star Game?
Though every MLB team gets at least one player on the roster, there are plenty of examples of a team's representation not playing. It happened for Milwaukee as recently as 2017, when lone selection Corey Knebel did not appear in the game at Marlins Stadium in Miami. Before that, it had happened seven times.
In 1996, Greg Vaughn did not play in Philadelphia, though he'd fallen ill during the showcase and wasn't available; Vaughn attempted to compete in the Home Run Derby the preceding day and failed to hit any homers.
In 1994, pitcher Ricky Bones did not appear at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
In 1990, first baseman/designated hitter Dave Parker did not appear at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
In 1977, neither infielder Don Money nor pitcher Jim Slaton appeared for the Brewers at Yankee Stadium in New York.
In 1974, Money and catcher Darrell Porter both made the team but did not appear at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh.
Catcher Ellie Rodriguez did not play in 1972 at Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta.
Pitcher Marty Pattin didn't appear in 1971 at Tiger Stadium.
Were the Brewers the only team to not have an all-star play?
The Chicago White Sox also didn't get a representative into the game, but there were extenuating circumstances. Luis Robert Jr. competed in Monday night's home-run derby but incurred a calf injury and was ruled out for the game Tuesday before first pitch.
One former Brewers player started at shortstop
Orlando Arcia, who arrived in the big leagues with the Brewers in 2016 and stayed for five full seasons, started the game as a member of the Atlanta Braves, having been voted in as a starter for his first All-Star Game appearance. He finished 0 for 2.
Arcia grounded out to his shortstop counterpart, Texas shortstop Corey Seager, in the third inning, and he struck out against Angels pitcher Carlos Estévez in the fifth. But he was on the receiving end of a laser throw by Braves catcher Sean Murphy, who threw out Randy Arozarena of Tampa Bay trying to steal second for the final out of the first.
Josh Hader pitched in first All-Star Game with a new team and looked strong
San Diego Padres closer Josh Hader, famously dealt by the Brewers at last year's trade deadline, entered the game in the eighth inning shortly after the NL had taken a 3-2 lead and got credit for the hold, facing the minimum.
Hader allowed a leadoff walk to Whit Merrifield but then induced a Salvador Pérez fly out. Brent Rooker rifled a line drive that Braves third baseman Austin Riley caught on one knee, and he fired a ball across the diamond picked by Mets first baseman Pete Alonso for a double play.
Hader has now been selected for five all-star teams but had only appeared once before, in 2018, a tumultuous outing both on the field and afterward, when old inflammatory tweets came to light.
Philadelphia's Craig Kimbrel worked the ninth for the save, with Burnes, Mets pitcher Kodai Senga and Pittsburgh reliever David Bednar still available to pitch. All four were replacements to the roster.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: No Milwaukee Brewers appear as National League wins All-Star Game
