The complete rosters for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game were revealed on Sunday and the Boston Red Sox, somewhat surprisingly, have three members of the American League squad.
Even more surprising are two of the picks, not because they weren't deserving, but because of relatively low expectations for them and the team entering the spring.
Boston third baseman Rafael Devers has been an All-Star in recent years, making his first Midsummer Classic in 2021, then again in 2022 and for the third time this season.
The more stunning names from the Red Sox to be selected are outfielder Jarren Duran and starting pitcher Tanner Houck (both making their first All-Star teams).
The trio helped Boston accomplish something for the first time since 1992.
The Red Sox have been one of the most dominant teams with hosts of perennial All-Stars since Roger Clemens and Wade Boggs made the squad in 1992, but it's been a mix of homegrown talent and players who were acquired via free agency or trade.
Standouts like shortstop Nomar Garciaparra (five-time All-Star with Boston), second baseman Dustin Pedroia (four-time All-Star), outfielder Mookie Betts (four All-Star appearances with Red Sox) and infielder Xander Bogaerts (four-time All-Star with Boston) have been some of the notable drafted or originally-signed players to join Devers in that category. Superstars such as starting pitcher Pedro Martinez (four-time All-Star with Red Sox), outfielder Manny Ramirez (eight-time All-Star in Boston), designated hitter David Ortiz (10 All-Star nods with Red Sox) and designated hitter J.D. Martinez (four-time All-Star with Boston) are some of the biggest names to make the Midsummer Classic with the franchise after not being homegrown.
Houck is arguably the most shocking Red Sox All-Star this year.
The 2017 first-round pick made his big-league debut during the 2020 pandemic-shortened season and showed promise in 2021 and 2022, splitting time as a starter and a reliever. Houck then regressed in 2023, finishing the campaign 6-10 with a 5.01 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 99 strikeouts over 106 innings pitched covering 21 outings (all starts).
The Missouri product missed over two months last season after being hit by a line drive and suffering a facial fracture during a June start. With his past inconsistency, Houck wasn't even assured a spot in the rotation coming into the spring but has responded to become the ace of the staff this year, holding a 7-6 mark with a 2.68 ERA and 1.05 WHIP through 18 starts.
Duran has been a force atop the Red Sox lineup all season, leading MLB in triples (10), while ranking second in the AL in doubles (24), tied for third in hits (103), tied for fourth in Wins Above Replacement (4.6) and tied for fifth in total bases (177) and stolen bases (21). The 2018 seventh-round pick played in 33 games as a rookie in 2021 and 58 in 2022. Duran recorded eight home runs, 40 RBI, 24 steals and a .295/.346/.482 slash line over 332 at-bats covering 102 games in 2023.
