The 2019 All-Star rosters for Major League Baseball (MLB) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) featured a generational shift, highlighting the emergence of superstars like Mike Trout and Christian Yelich in baseball, and LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo in basketball. These rosters represented the pinnacle of professional talent during a transformative year in sports history.
The term "2019 All-Star roster" most frequently refers to the MLB All-Star Game, held on July 9, 2019, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. However, it also significantly pertains to the NBA All-Star Game, which took place on February 17, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. While both leagues saw their rosters shaped by fan voting and player performance, the 2019 MLB rosters were particularly notable for a new "Starters Election" voting format, while the NBA continued its popular "Captain’s Draft" system.
The 2019 MLB All-Star Roster: The Midsummer Classic
The 89th MLB All-Star Game was a showcase of power and pitching dominance. The American League (AL) eventually defeated the National League (NL) 4-3, marking their seventh consecutive victory. The rosters were packed with talent that, looking back from 2026, includes several certain future Hall of Famers.
American League Starters and Reserves
The American League roster was managed by Alex Cora of the Boston Red Sox. The starting lineup was heavily influenced by the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees, reflecting the divisional dominance of those franchises at the time.
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Gary Sánchez | New York Yankees |
| 1B | Carlos Santana | Cleveland Indians |
| 2B | DJ LeMahieu | New York Yankees |
| SS | Jorge Polanco | Minnesota Twins |
| 3B | Alex Bregman | Houston Astros |
| OF | Mike Trout | Los Angeles Angels |
| OF | George Springer | Houston Astros |
| OF | Michael Brantley | Houston Astros |
| DH | J.D. Martinez | Boston Red Sox |
Key AL Reserves and Pitchers: The AL pitching staff was led by Justin Verlander, who earned the start. However, the story of the night was Cleveland’s own Shane Bieber, who struck out the side in his lone inning of work to win the All-Star Game MVP award. Other notable AL pitchers included Gerrit Cole, Lucas Giolito, and Aroldis Chapman, who earned the save.
Reserve players included stars like Mookie Betts (Red Sox), Francisco Lindor (Indians), and Matt Chapman (Athletics). This roster was unique because it featured several injury replacements; for instance, Gleyber Torres replaced Tommy La Stella, and Brandon Lowe was added to the squad following injuries to other infielders.
National League Starters and Reserves
The National League, managed by Dave Roberts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, featured a lineup of prolific sluggers. The NL was led by the 2019 MVP race rivals Christian Yelich and Cody Bellinger, both of whom started in the outfield.
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| C | Willson Contreras | Chicago Cubs |
| 1B | Freddie Freeman | Atlanta Braves |
| 2B | Ketel Marte | Arizona Diamondbacks |
| SS | Javier Báez | Chicago Cubs |
| 3B | Nolan Arenado | Colorado Rockies |
| OF | Christian Yelich | Milwaukee Brewers |
| OF | Cody Bellinger | Los Angeles Dodgers |
| OF | Ronald Acuña Jr. | Atlanta Braves |
| P | Hyun-Jin Ryu | Los Angeles Dodgers |
Key NL Reserves and Pitchers: The NL pitching staff was incredibly deep, featuring perennial greats like Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer, and Clayton Kershaw. Ryu’s start was historic as he became the first South Korean pitcher to start an MLB All-Star Game.
Off the bench, the NL utilized high-impact players such as Pete Alonso, who was in the midst of his historic rookie home run season, and Jeff McNeil. Kris Bryant and Trevor Story also provided significant depth for the National League squad.
The 2019 NBA All-Star Roster: Team LeBron vs. Team Giannis
Earlier in 2019, the NBA gathered its elite talent in Charlotte. This was the second year of the "Captain’s Draft" format, where the leading vote-getters from each conference—LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo—selected their teams regardless of conference affiliation.
Team LeBron Roster
LeBron James used his first pick to select Kevin Durant, a move that proved decisive as Durant went on to win the All-Star Game MVP. Team LeBron overcame a 20-point deficit to win 178-164.
- Starters: LeBron James (Lakers), Kevin Durant (Warriors), James Harden (Rockets), Kyrie Irving (Celtics), Kawhi Leonard (Raptors).
- Reserves: Anthony Davis (Pelicans), Klay Thompson (Warriors), Damian Lillard (Blazers), Ben Simmons (76ers), LaMarcus Aldridge (Spurs), Karl-Anthony Towns (Timberwolves), Bradley Beal (Wizards).
- Special Addition: Dwyane Wade (Heat).
Team Giannis Roster
Giannis Antetokounmpo built a team focused on length and athleticism, selecting his fellow "bigs" early in the process.
- Starters: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), Stephen Curry (Warriors), Joel Embiid (76ers), Paul George (Thunder), Kemba Walker (Hornets).
- Reserves: Khris Middleton (Bucks), Nikola Jokić (Nuggets), Russell Westbrook (Thunder), Blake Griffin (Pistons), D’Angelo Russell (Nets), Nikola Vučević (Magic), Kyle Lowry (Raptors).
- Special Addition: Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks).
The inclusion of Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki as "Special Roster Additions" by Commissioner Adam Silver was a highlight of the 2019 game, honoring two legends in their final seasons.
Understanding the 2019 MLB Selection Process
The 2019 season introduced a significant change in how fans voted for the MLB All-Star roster. This change, known as the "Starters Election," was designed to increase engagement and create a "secondary" event after the initial voting period.
The Primary Round
In previous years, fans voted for several weeks, and the top vote-getter at each position was named the starter. In 2019, the "Primary Round" lasted about three weeks. Fans voted for players at every position, but this phase did not determine the starters. Instead, it determined the top three finalists (and top nine for the outfield) at each position.
The Starters Election
The top finalists advanced to a separate 28-hour voting window known as the Starters Election. During this brief, high-intensity period, all previous vote totals were wiped clean. This meant that a player who led the league in the primary round still had to win the Starters Election to secure a place in the starting lineup.
This format led to intense social media campaigns by MLB teams. For example, the "Small Market" Minnesota Twins successfully campaigned to get Jorge Polanco into the starting shortstop spot, beating out more famous players in larger markets.
Pitcher and Reserve Selection
The starters were chosen by fans, but the remaining roster spots—pitchers and reserves—were determined through a combination of "Player Ballot" results and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office. In 2019, each league had a 32-man roster. Every MLB team was required to have at least one representative, a rule that often leads to controversial "snubs" when a deserving player from a deep team is left off in favor of a lone representative from a struggling franchise.
Notable Snubs and Injury Replacements
No All-Star roster is complete without a discussion of the players who didn't make it or the ones who were added late. In 2019, several notable names missed the initial cut.
- Max Muncy (Dodgers): Despite a massive first half, Muncy was initially left off the NL roster, though he was eventually added as an injury replacement for Christian Yelich (who participated in the game but had a minor nagging issue earlier).
- Rafael Devers (Red Sox): Devers was statistically one of the best hitters in the AL in 2019, but the depth at third base (Alex Bregman, Matt Chapman) made it difficult for him to find a spot initially.
- Hunter Pence (Rangers): Pence had a career resurgence in 2019 and was voted as the AL's starting Designated Hitter. Unfortunately, an injury prevented him from playing, and he was replaced by Xander Bogaerts on the roster.
Historical Significance: Where are they now?
From the perspective of 2026, the 2019 All-Star rosters serve as a marker for several pivotal career transitions.
- The Rise of the "New Guard": Players like Ronald Acuña Jr., Cody Bellinger, and Shohei Ohtani (who was not an All-Star in 2019 but was rising in prominence) were just beginning to take over the league.
- The Houston Astros Influence: The 2019 AL roster featured a heavy Astros presence (Bregman, Springer, Brantley, Verlander, Cole). This was the peak of their roster depth before several stars departed via free agency in the following years.
- NBA Shifts: The 2019 NBA All-Star Game was the last time we saw Kevin Durant and Stephen Curry as teammates on an All-Star roster representing the Golden State Warriors before Durant's departure to Brooklyn.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the 2019 MLB All-Star Game MVP?
Shane Bieber of the Cleveland Indians won the 2019 MLB All-Star Game MVP. He was a late addition to the roster and pitched a perfect fifth inning in front of his home crowd, striking out Alejandro De Aza, Willson Contreras, and Ketel Marte.
How were the 2019 NBA All-Star captains chosen?
The captains were LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. In 2019, the NBA designated the players who received the most fan votes in the Western and Eastern Conferences as the team captains. They then participated in a televised draft to pick their teams from the pool of starters and reserves.
Where can I find the full 2019 MLB All-Star box score?
The official box score and play-by-play data are archived on MLB.com and Baseball-Reference. These sources provide detailed statistics for every player on the 2019 roster, including pitch counts and exit velocities.
Which team had the most All-Stars in 2019?
In MLB, the Houston Astros led the way with six selections (Bregman, Springer, Brantley, Verlander, Cole, and Pressly). In the NBA, the Golden State Warriors had three representatives (Curry, Durant, and Thompson).
Why was 2019 the last "traditional" season for All-Star Game scheduling?
While 2019 followed standard procedures, it was the final All-Star year before the COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the 2020 MLB All-Star Game. This makes the 2019 roster the last "complete" set of mid-summer accolades before the shortened 2020 season disrupted the league's calendar.
Practical Recommendation for Researchers
If you are analyzing the 2019 All-Star roster for statistical trends or historical research, it is vital to distinguish between "voted starters" and "injury replacements." Many historical databases list all 32+ players equally, but the distinction is important for understanding player "prestige" at the time. For MLB enthusiasts, the Baseball Almanac provides an excellent breakdown of every roster spot, including those who were selected but did not play due to injury. For NBA data, the NBA Stats official portal remains the most reliable source for historical All-Star game splits and player impact ratings.
