Seth Lugo faced Bobby Witt Jr. and the Kansas City Royals last year during their struggle to avoid last place in the AL Central.
The right-handed pitcher chose to join the Royals in free agency and now finds himself named an All-Star for the first time, alongside Witt and veteran Salvador Perez, with their team aiming for the playoffs.
“I know they had a tough year, but they had a strong lineup,” Lugo commented, recalling his time with San Diego when he faced the Royals in May 2023, giving up five runs in two innings in a close 5-4 loss.
“They weren’t easy to get out. Some of their players showed good discipline, which you might not expect from a young team.”
Lugo and Witt, who plays shortstop, are part of the group of 39 first-time All-Stars set to play in Tuesday night’s All-Star Game at the home stadium of the reigning World Series champions, the Texas Rangers.
“It shows how many young players are making an impact in the game right now,” said NL starting third baseman Alec Bohm of Philadelphia, another first-time All-Star at 27 years old, as the Phillies celebrate a franchise-record eight All-Star selections.
“The game is evolving, with advancements in technology and training methods. Young players are starting their careers well-prepared and succeeding early.” Despite his All-Star status, Lugo is older than most first-timers.
At 34 years old, he’s in his second season as a full-time starting pitcher, having spent the majority of his career with the New York Mets, primarily as a reliever in 237 of his 275 appearances. He moved to San Diego as a free agent and started 26 games last year, finishing with an 8-7 record and a 3.57 ERA.
Lugo and Baltimore’s Grayson Rodriguez are tied for the most wins in the AL at the All-Star break. Lugo holds an 11-4 record with a 2.48 ERA, sending a message to his former team, the Mets.
“There’s no hard feelings, no need for apologies,” Lugo said. “I understand how this game works and how teams are put together. It’s all good.”
Witt, son of former MLB pitcher Bobby Witt, grew up in Dallas as a Rangers fan. His father played for seven teams in 16 seasons, spending a significant part of his career with Texas.
Witt was only 12 when Jurickson Profar hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat as a top prospect for the Rangers in 2012. Now, both are first-time All-Stars. San Diego’s Profar started in left field for the NL.
Profar didn’t play at Globe Life Field, where the retractable roof made hosting the All-Star Game feasible, shielding players from Texas’ scorching heat. Witt watched games as a child at nearby Globe Life Park.
“Being an All-Star is a huge honor,” Witt said. “To have my first one in my hometown is incredible. There are millions of kids who would love to be in my shoes.”
Cole Ragans became an All-Star just over a year after the Rangers traded him to Kansas City for veteran reliever Aroldis Chapman, a seven-time All-Star.
The 26-year-old Ragans made nine starts in 26 appearances over two seasons with the Rangers. Unlike Lugo’s situation with the Mets, Texas saw Ragans as a starter from the beginning, and that’s the role he’s excelled in with the Royals. Ragans holds a 6-6 record with a 3.16 ERA in 20 starts, similar to Lugo’s numbers.
“Like I’ve been saying, there have been a lot of first-time experiences for me on this field,” Ragans remarked. “It feels fitting that my first All-Star Game is also happening here. It’s really special.”
Ragans wasn’t certain if changing teams was the reason for his surge in performance, but he speaks highly of Texas GM Chris Young and manager Bruce Bochy.
“I think everything turned out well,” Ragans added. “Texas won the World Series, and I watched every playoff game. I’ve made lifelong friends here. I think it’s been good for both sides.”
Profar left the Rangers six years ago, but he downplayed his emotions about becoming an All-Star again at age 31 in Texas. He found out officially a week and a half ago while in the visitors’ clubhouse with the Padres.
Although he now calls Curacao home, Profar described Texas as a second home. When asked when Texas stopped feeling like home, he mentioned that his six-year-old son was born in the Dallas area while he played for the Rangers.
Recently, he and his wife chose the same hospital for the birth of their four-month-old daughter.
“Texas will always be home for me,” Profar said, even though he no longer resides in the state where he began his career in Major League Baseball.
