The Midsummer Classic is around the corner. And as always, the buzz is heating up not just for who made the initial cut, but for who is stepping in as a replacement. Every year, the MLB All-Star rosters see a few last-minute shakeups with some stars sidelined by injury, and others ineligible to pitch due to their spot in the rotation. And when the door closes for some, it opens wide for others.

This year, those replacement announcements have done more than just fill gaps. They’ve opened the floodgates for fresh faces and long-overdue recognition. A few new names are getting their shot under the bright lights, proving that sometimes, the biggest All-Star stories come from those who weren’t on the original list. Let’s dive into which are the replacement names for traveling to Atlanta.

Starting with the biggest name that got replaced: Alex Bregman. Bregman has been sidelined with a quad strain since late May, and he is on his way to return after the All-Star break. Reportedly, stepping into his shoes is the Rays’ slugger Junior Caminero.

In his first 86 games this year, Caminero put up 21 home runs, 19 doubles, and 57 RBIs. And what’s more, he’s just one double away from making franchise history as the first player to notch 20 doubles and 20 homers before the MLB All-Star break. Now, after being named for the All-Star game, Caminero will represent the team at the Midsummer Classic in Atlanta. He will join teammates Jonathan Aranda and Brandon Lowe.

“Tremendous thing. I thank God for the opportunity,” Caminero said after his All-Star selection. “The hard work that I’ve been putting in is paying off.” Expected a reaction from a first-timer, and that too getting named as a replacement. While the Rays’ recent slump is a concern with eight losses in their last 11 games, Caminero’s selection will bring a breath of fresh air to the team.

The next in line is the Reds pitcher Andrew Abbott, who is replacing Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Andrew Abbott is stepping in for Yamamoto on the NL All-Star roster since the latter is set to pitch on Sunday for the Dodgers and won’t be eligible for Tuesday’s game. Now, Abbott will join his Reds teammate Elly De La Cruz in representing the NL. But is he eligible to replace Yamamoto?

Well, it’s Abbott’s first All-Star nod, and he’s earned it. Currently, Abbott is standing 7-1 with a 2.15 ERA over 15 starts. Moreover, the Reds are 11-4 when he takes the mound, compared to 35-40 when he doesn’t. That shows what Abbot means for the team and why he could be a valuable addition to the NL.

The All-Star selection of Abbott also brings some good news for the team. Incidentally, the Reds just faced their fourth straight loss and the latest 12-2 routing by the Marlins. Hence, Abbott’s selection brought something to cheer about.

The last replacement name until now is Robert Suarez, who is replacing Chris Sale.

Reportedly, Suarez is heading to the All-Star Game for the second straight year after earning a spot in 2024. And this year, he is one of the most dominant relievers in the league. For the unversed, through 40 outings, Suarez posted a 3.82 ERA with 40 strikeouts. And not to forget, a league-leading 25 saves for the Padres. Meanwhile, Chris Sale won’t be participating as he’s sidelined with a fractured ribcage and is uncertain about his return to the field.

Well, the list doesn’t end here.

As per the latest reports, Brewers veteran pitcher Trevor Megill is named for his first time All-Star that too, as a replacement. He is stepping in as a replacement for Freddy Peralta, who is inactive due to starting on Sunday.

Reportedly, Megill has achieved a 2.41 ERA and converted 21 of 24 save opportunities in 36 games this season. His impressive performance, marked by a 30.9% strikeout rate, reflects his evolution as a pitcher under the Brewers. Now, with this selection, Megill joins a distinguished list of Brewers closers who have been honored as All-Stars in recent years.

And what’s more, with Megill, the Brewers currently have two All-Stars represented in the game.

And the biggest announcement of recent times and something the fans were eagerly waiting for came by calling up the Astros’ 1B Isaac Paredes.

Well, Paredes is heading to the All-Star Game, this time representing the Astros in 2025. MLB announced he’ll be replacing Jose Ramirez on the AL roster and joining Josh Hader for the festivities in Atlanta.

Notably, Paredes has put together a solid season so far, racking up 84 hits, 49 runs, and 49 RBIs over 88 games. He’s also drawn 47 walks and struck out 65 times, all while hitting .255. And that’s a better figure compared to his .245 average last year with the Rays, when he was also an All-Star. Hence, his strong performance this season adds to the Astros’ strong contingent in this year’s Midsummer Classic.

And here are some more additions to the list…

For the first time in his career, the Tigers’ Zach McKinstry is heading to the All-Star Game. He will make the trip to Atlanta on July 15, stepping in for Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena, who’s sidelined with a fractured rib.

Well, for McKinstry, it’s been a winding path. He has spent much of his career bouncing between Triple-A and the majors. But this year, he’s become a quietly crucial part of the best team in baseball. Currently, he’s hitting .283 with a .357 on-base percentage and an .817 OPS, and that’s all career-best numbers. Moreover, McKinstry is projected to finish with 24 doubles, 12 home runs, and 48 RBIs. Not bad for a guy who’s flown under the radar for so long.

Now, with the All-Star recognition, 2025 is going to be a memorable year for McKinstry.

It seems like the Astros are most losing side this year. After Pena, Hunter Brown is also sidelined because he will reportedly start for the Astros against the Rangers on Sunday. And in place of him comes the first-timer Joe Ryan.

Ryan is heading to the All-Star Game in his fifth season with the Twins. He’s put together an impressive year so far, going 8-4 over 17 starts with a 2.76 ERA across 104.1 innings. Moreover, he’s also racked up 116 strikeouts while issuing just 21 walks. But beyond the numbers, Ryan’s been a rock in the Twins’ rotation, especially after Pablo Lopez went down with a shoulder strain.

Now, he’ll join teammate Byron Buxton at this year’s Midsummer Classic.

The replacements announced are all in hot form this year, and hopefully, they will fill the shoes perfectly of the first choices they are replacing. However, it is expected that a few more replacements might be announced. Keep an eye on this space as we bring regular updates for the 2025 MLB All-Star game.