Former Oregon State stars Steven Kwan, Matthew Boyd headed to MLB All-Star Game

NEW YORK (AP) — Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw also joins former Oregon Statestars Steven Kwan and Matthew Boy in the July 15 showcase at Atlanta’s Truist Park after being selected for his 11th All-Star Game.

Along with already confirmed starters Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jacob Wilson, a 23-and-under group that includes Paul Skenes, James Wood, and Elly De La Cruz as reserves also makes it into the annual classic.

Of the 65 All-Stars, Wood is the youngest at age 22, followed by Skenes, De La Cruz, and fan-selected starters Jacob Wilson and Pete Crow-Armstrong, all of whom are 23.

“Being around some of the best players in the game will be cool,” Wood added.

Boyd is one of 19 first-time All-Stars, along with Wood, Wilson, and Crow-Armstrong. The Toronto Blue Jays selected the former Oregon State standout in the 2013 MLB Draft, and he made his Major League debut in 2015. Before joining the Cubs, he played for the Cleveland Guardians, Detroit Tigers, and Seattle Mariners. The left-handed pitcher has been a reliable member of the Cubs rotation in 2025, with an outstanding 8-3 record with a 2.65 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 98 2/3 innings across 17 starts.

Kwan, a fellow Oregon State alum, will be selected to the MLB All-Star team for the second time in a row. Kwan was selected by Cleveland in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB draft after helping the Beavers win the national championship. He has won three Gold Glove Awards (2022–2024) for his left field fielding since making his Major League Baseball debut in 2022. Through 84 games in the 2025 season, Kwan has a batting average of.293 with 6 home runs, 26 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases.

In accordance with a clause in the then-new collective bargaining agreement, Commissioner Rob Manfred selected Kershaw as the 65th All-Star as a so-called Legend Pick, his first since he selected Miguel Cabrera and Albert Pujols in 2022. Kershaw also became the 20th pitcher to surpass 3,000 strikeouts last week.

For the sixth consecutive season, Kershaw provides the Dodgers with at least five All-Stars. Along with Yamamoto and fan-selected starts Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith, Kershaw is the oldest NL All-Star at 37 and the most senior All-Star with 11 picks.

At the game, Detroit and Seattle will each have four players.

Along with relievers Aroldis Chapman of Boston, Josh Hader of Houston, and Andr’s Mu oz of Seattle, players, managers, and coaches voted for starting pitchers Hunter Brown of Houston, Garrett Crochet of Boston, Jacob deGrom of Texas, Max Fried of the New York Yankees, and Tarik Skubal of Detroit to be on the AL staff.

Chapman, who was born 19 days ahead of Kershaw, is the oldest All-Star.

Along with Kwan, other players selected AL reserves, including Athletics designated hitter Brent Rooker, Toronto catcher Alejandro Kirk, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda and second baseman Brandon Lowe, Houston shortstop Jeremy Pea, Boston third baseman Alex Bregman, and outfielders Byron Buxton of Minnesota and Julio Rodriguez of Seattle respectively.

In addition to Kansas City shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. and Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., MLB used its six picks on pitchers Bryan Woo of Seattle, Yusei Kikuchi of the Los Angeles Angels, Shane Smith of the Chicago White Sox, and Kris Bubic of Kansas City.

“I like the red carpet,” Chisholm remarked. Yes, I am having a fit.

Following Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla in 2006, Smith was chosen in the Rule 5 draft, making him the second player since 2000 to be named an All-Star for the season, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Smith joined Wilson (Athletics) as the lone rookie on the All-Star squads after Milwaukee failed to provide him with any protection.

Along with relievers Jason Adam of San Diego, Edwin D. Az of the New York Mets, and Randy Rodriguez of San Francisco, players chose Pittsburgh’s Skenes, Washington’s MacKenzie Gore, Atlanta’s Chris Sale, San Francisco’s Logan Webb, and Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler to start in the rotation.

Skenes pitched a hitless inning in the NL’s 5-3 loss at Arlington, Texas, to start last year’s All-Star Game, just 66 days after making his major league debut.

Colorado’s Hunter Goodman, the Mets’ Pete Alonso, the St. Louis’ Brendan Donovan, Cincinnati’s De La Cruz at shortstop, Arizona’s Eugenio Surez at third base, Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber and Wood, Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, and the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. in the outfield were all player-selected NL reserves.

Boyd, Yamamoto, Freddy Peralta of Milwaukee, Robbie Ray of the Giants, Atlanta first baseman Matt Olson, and Miami outfielder Kyle Stowers were MLB’s NL selections for the pitching staff.

Outfielders Juan Soto of the Mets, Mookie Betts of the Dodgers, George Springer of the Blue Jays, Trea Turner of the Phillies, and Sonny Gray of the Cardinals were not selected. In between the announcements and the game, there are typically ten or more roster changes.