Mexican record in the All-Star Game

When Fernando Valenzuela struck out five consecutive batters in the 1986 All-Star Game at the Houston Astrodome—where he also pitched opposite fellow Mexican Teodoro Higuera—the milestone marked one of the brightest moments for Mexican major leaguers in Major League history.

Now, in the 95th edition of the All-Star Game to be held today at Truist Park in Atlanta, Mexico has continued its strong momentum in baseball following its electrifying performance as a semifinalist in the World Baseball Classic, with a record four native-born players selected to the Midseason Classic, in addition to a naturalized citizen.

With Alejandro Kirk, Jonathan Aranda, Andrés Muñoz, and Isaac Paredes called up, plus naturalized Cuban Randy Arozarena, one of the biggest stars of the 2023 World Baseball Classic wearing the tricolor uniform, Mexico has reached new heights in the best baseball in the world.

“It's something very special,” said Aranda, who is participating in the first Midseason Classic of his career and is now one of 16 Mexicans to participate in the All-Star Game since Roberto Ávila's first appearance in 1952 with the Cleveland Indians. “It's a very beautiful thing, a source of pride. More and more Mexicans are coming to the Major Leagues, and that makes it even more special.”

Although Paredes decided to attend to a family matter instead of going to Atlanta and participating in his second consecutive All-Star Game, Mexico is well represented with Aranda, Kirk (second selection), Muñoz (second selection) and Arozarena (second selection).

“I'm very happy to be able to be with the Mexicans at this event,” said Kirk, a childhood friend of Aranda's from Tijuana. “It's a very exciting event, isn't it? For me, it's a very beautiful thing, and I'm proud to be here.”

The numbers back up the group's selection. Muñoz (1.50 ERA, 26 saves), Arozarena (17 home runs, .820 OPS), Aranda (.892 OPS, 151 OPS+), Kirk (3.0 WAR, 100th percentile on blocked pitches, 94th on baserunners caught stealing, and 98th on strike framing), and Paredes (19 home runs, .826 OPS) are all well-deserving of this recognition.

“I'm happy to be part of this achievement that Mexico has achieved in baseball,” said Arozarena, who obtained Mexican citizenship after leaving Cuba in 2015. “That speaks volumes about the level that Mexico has set in world baseball.”

Indeed, Mexican baseball has come a long way since the days of Ávila and then Valenzuela in the 1950s and 1980s. And as Benjamín Gil, the manager of the Mexican national team in the 2023 Classic, commented, Mexico's successes in that tournament seem to have marked a "before and after" for the sport in the country.

“The most important thing is that baseball is growing a lot,” Arozarena concluded.

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