BALTIMORE—Two days after the Orioles expressed disappointment that they had only three players in the All-Star Game, they learned they’d have a fourth. On Tuesday, third baseman Jordan Westburg was named as a replacement for Boston’s Rafael Devers, who won’t participate because of a shoulder injury.
Westburg joins shortstop Gunnar Henderson and catcher Adley Rutschman, who were both voted in, and starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, who was named on Sunday.
Westburg, who’s hitting 281 with an .834 OPS,1 4 home runs and 49 RBIs was one of four players who finished second in the voting. First baseman Ryan Mountcastle, outfielder Anthony Santander and designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn were the others.
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“Understood it. There’s a lot of good players in this league,” Westburg said Tuesday afternoon before he was named to the team.
“Just to be in those conversations, I was very honored and felt blessed. I’m disappointed,” he said. “I don’t know how many times I’m going to get that opportunity in my career, but at the end of the day I’m not going to live and die by that decision. I’m going to enjoy the time I get off with my wife. It’s going to be fun.”
This is the second straight year the Orioles will have four All-Stars. Rutschman, outfielder Austin Hays and relievers Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano, went to Seattle for the 2023 All-Star Game.
Manager Brandon Hyde was vocal in his disappointment after Sunday’s game in Oakland and reiterated that on Tuesday.
“There’s a lot of guys in that clubhouse deserved to go, and Jordan was one of them,” Hyde said.