ESPN News Services
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout will miss the All-Star Game because of back spasms, joining Philadelphia‘s Bryce Harper on the sidelines and depriving the showcase of two of baseball’s best-known players.
Los Angeles Dodgers star first baseman Freddie Freeman was added Sunday as the 14th replacement player, giving the host Dodgers six All-Stars to match the New York Yankees for most.
Freeman takes the spot of New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte, who dropped out Sunday.
Trout, a three-time American League MVP, has not played since Tuesday and was scratched from the Angels’ lineup against the Dodgers on Saturday night.
Trout was replaced on the AL roster Sunday by Seattle Mariners infielder Ty France for Tuesday night’s game at Dodger Stadium, and Byron Buxton of the Minnesota Twins has been moved into the AL’s starting lineup.
The 30-year-old Trout is a 10-time All-Star and was elected to start for the ninth time. He finished second to Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in voting among AL outfielders, with 39%.
Trout is batting .270 with 24 homers and 51 RBIs in 79 games this season, although he has just one multihit game and six total RBIs in the past three weeks.
France leads the Mariners with a .308 batting average, 97 hits and a .376 on-base percentage.
About one-fifth of the rosters have changed since the original 33-man teams were announced on July 6 and 8.
Miami Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper, San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth, Toronto Blue Jays infielder Santiago Espinal, Boston Red Sox designated hitter J.D. Martinez, Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley and Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager were among previous additions.
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, Astros DH Yordan Alvarez, St. Louis Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, Miami second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., Harper and Toronto outfielder George Springer were among those position players who dropped out, most because of injuries.
Four of 18 starters have been replaced: Altuve by Cleveland‘s Andres Gimenez, Chisholm by the New York Mets‘ Jeff McNeil, Harper by Atlanta’s William Contreras and Trout by Buxton.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.