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Displaying off the #AllMLB {hardware}. 😤 pic.twitter.com/eNf67tRY1g
— MLB (@MLB) December 17, 2023
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6:22 AM UTC
LAS VEGAS — It takes quite a bit to shock somebody as full of life as Ronald Acuña Jr. However after his first journey to Las Vegas, take into account it accomplished. Was it the large pyramid that wowed the star outfielder? The 106-foot concrete sphynx? Or the neon lights of the seemingly countless strip of resorts and casinos?
“It’s really simply been all stunning for me,” Acuña mentioned. “Every little thing round it and the way in which that town is, I’m simply bowled over by it.”
Acuña was in Las Vegas for the All-MLB Staff offered by MGM Rewards. Whereas this marked the fifth version of the All-MLB Staff, it was the primary time there was an accompanying present. Wearing black and gold, the HyperX area on the Luxor Lodge and On line casino hosted numerous present and former gamers at Saturday’s inaugural occasion.
“It’s been nice,” mentioned newly inducted Corridor of Famer Fred McGriff. “You’ve acquired some younger studs right here. So it’s cool simply mingling, planning to select their brains. It’s a special period than after I performed, so simply having the possibility to speak is nice.”
Comic Roy Wooden Jr. hosted the occasion, opening with a couple of lighthearted jabs — one on the expense of McGriff. As Wooden listed the brand new guidelines MLB carried out this previous season, he requested McGriff what number of bases the 19-year veteran might have stolen with the bigger bases. McGriff, whose season excessive for stolen bases was eight (1992), confidently held up 9 fingers.
In between the jokes, the winners had been unveiled and gamers in attendance had been offered with their award, or within the case of Acuña, awards. Atlanta’s star was named to the outfield First Staff and was the NL recipient of the 2023 Hank Aaron Award.
Flame-throwing righty Emmanuel Clase took house second-team reduction pitcher honors, earlier than displaying off his abilities at catcher through the second half of the present. Seated at his desk, Clase caught a marshmallow in his mouth that was tossed by a member of the Blue Man Group.
Apart from the shenanigans, an in-person present afforded the chance for gamers from completely different generations and eras of baseball to attach. Andre Ethier famous how uncommon it was for youthful gamers to have the expertise of spending time with former gamers outdoors of a extra baseball oriented setting resembling Spring Coaching, the place a participant may simply “bump elbows” with a former participant.
“To have the ability to have one thing like this that we’re attending to expertise at this time … there was none of this happening within the 90’s period of baseball, not to mention the 80s and not to mention the 70s,” Ethier mentioned. “That’s one thing I simply hope the youthful MLB participant acknowledges.”
It’s one thing that Braves and 2023 first-team third baseman Austin Riley not solely acknowledged however appreciated, calling the chance to talk and play golf alongside McGriff one of many highlights of his week.
Friday’s second on the driving vary additionally resonated with Ethier.
“Attending to have a dialog with two nice Braves, Riley and Fred McGriff. Having an opportunity to speak to 2 guys and simply form of hear them speak,” Ethier mentioned, “It’s good to see all of the completely different eras of baseball come collectively.”
Although the golf event offered a component of competitors to the week’s occasions, it was after all a dialed again model of the aggressive nature these gamers discover themselves in with one another through the season.
“It’s good to truly have an actual dialog with a few of these guys, get to know them, not simply in a aggressive means,” mentioned Kyle Bradish, who was named to the beginning pitching Second Staff. “You really get to know their persona, not simply the baseball participant. So it’s good to truly meet them.”
So whereas gamers will return to their aggressive edge come spring with the return of the common season on the horizon, they could accomplish that with a brand new appreciation for his or her opponents, and probably some trash speak materials after the pleasant golf event.
“I really feel honored to be right here,” mentioned Orioles nearer Félix Bautista, who was named to the reduction pitcher First Staff. “To be right here with a bunch of present guys, however particularly the previous legends as effectively, it’s a extremely humbling expertise. It’s one thing that I’m actually enthusiastic about, the truth that I’m really capable of be right here in Las Vegas to witness all this.”