Glew: Canadians in the MLB All-Star Game

Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) was the first Canadian-born player to win the MLB All-Star Game Home Run Derby. He did so in 2008.Photo: Minnesota Twins

July 13, 2026

By Kevin Glew

Canadian Baseball Network

Canada will be well-represented at the MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

Cleveland Guardians closer Cade Smith (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Chicago White Sox outfielder Tristan Peters (Winkler, Man.) will be on the American League roster, managed by Toronto Blue Jays skipper John Schneider.

Meanwhile, Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez, who spent part of his youth in Montreal and has played for Canada at the last two World Baseball Classics, will be on the National League team, along with Freddie Freeman, whose parents are Canadian, who was selected to the Midsummer Classic for a 10th time.

Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) was voted to start at first base for the AL, but he has declined his invitation to rest a lower back issue that has plagued him for much of the first half.

Here is some trivia about the Canucks that have been chosen for the All-Star Game over the years:

New York Yankees outfielder George Selkirk (Huntsville, Ont.). Photo: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame

– The first Canadian selected was Huntsville, Ont., native George Selkirk, an outfielder with the New York Yankees, who toiled in the 1936 contest. Selkirk walked in a pinch-hit appearance in that contest.

– Fort William, Ont., native Jeff Heath started in right field for the American League in the 1941 All-Star Game and hit fifth in their order behind Ted Williams and Joe DiMaggio. The Canuck slugger went 0-for-2 with a walk before being replaced by DiMaggio’s brother Dom.

– Three players born in Canada – Ryan Dempster (Gibsons, B.C.), Justin Morneau (New Westminster, B.C.) and Russell Martin (Montreal, Que.) – were selected for the 2008 classic. This represents the highest number of Canadian-born ever chosen. Although technically that number was equaled this year with Smith, Peters and Guerrero Jr. (who has declined his invitation). Lopez, who will also play in this year’s game, was not born in Canada but maintains dual Canadian/Dominican Republic citizenship.

– In 2008, Morneau became the first Canadian to win the All-Star Home Run Derby when he defeated Texas Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton in the final round. In 2023, Guerrero Jr. duplicated Morneau’s feat when he won the derby.

– The two hits Morneau recorded in the 2008 All-Star Game are the most by a Canadian in the Midsummer Classic.

– With his sixth this year, Guerrero Jr. has equaled Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (Etobicoke, Ont.) for the most All-Star Game selections for a player born in Canada. Larry Walker (Maple Ridge, B.C.) was selected to five.

– Fergie Jenkins (Chatham, Ont.) and Eric Gagne (Mascouche, Que.) were chosen to three All-Star games each – the most by a Canuck pitcher.

– Jenkins’ six strikeouts in the 1967 contest tied an All-Star game record. Among the players Jenkins fanned in that contest were Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle, Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew.

– Guerrero Jr. became the first Canadian-born player to hit a home run in the All-Star Game when he connected for a solo shot off Corbin Burnes in the third inning of the 2021 contest at Coors Field. The American League won 5-2 and Guerrero Jr. was named MVP.

– No Canadians were selected for an All-Star game between Terry Puhl (Melville, Sask.) in 1978 and Walker in 1992.

– Three Canadian pitchers – Jason Dickson (Miramichi, N.B.), Jeff Zimmerman (Kelowna, B.C) and Michael Soroka (Calgary, Alta.) – were selected for All-Star games in their rookie seasons in 1997, 1999 and 2019 respectively. Peters has become the first Canadian position player to be selected in his rookie season. Peters is also set to become the first player from Manitoba to compete in the MLB All-Star Game.

Montreal Expos Gary Carter, Andre Dawson, Steve Rogers, Tim Raines and Al Oliver were selected to play in the 1982 All-Star Game at Olympic Stadium.

– When the All-Star game was held at Olympic Stadium in Montreal on July 13, 1982 – 44 years ago today – it was the first time that the Midsummer Classic had been played outside of the United States. Almost 60,000 fans crammed into The Big O to watch the National League club – which featured five Montreal Expos (Al Oliver, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Gary Carter and Steve Rogers. Jim Fanning also served as a coach for the NL.) on its roster – defeat the American League 4-1. Rogers started the game and registered the win. Right-hander Jim Clancy was the sole Toronto Blue Jay on the American League squad. He pitched a scoreless fourth inning. It’s also interesting to note that Montreal native and Canadian Baseball Hall of Famer Jim McKean umpired third base.

– On July 9, 1991, the All-Star game was held at the Skydome in Toronto. Three Blue Jays – Roberto Alomar, Joe Carter and Jimmy Key – suited up for the American League squad, who downed a National League team, whose roster featured Expos Dennis Martinez and Ivan Calderon, 4-1. Fittingly, Key was the winning pitcher, while Martinez took the loss. Former Expo Andre Dawson homered in the fourth inning for the National League.

-The only player to have represented the Expos and Blue Jays in the All-Star Game in different seasons was Ron Fairly. He was selected as a member of the Expos in 1973 and while with the Blue Jays in 1977.

-The first Canadian member of the Blue Jays to be earn an All-Star Game selection was Paul Quantrill (Port Hope, Ont.) in 2001. Russell Martin (Montreal, Que., 2015), Michael Saunders (Victoria, B.C., 2016), Guerrero Jr. (2021 to 2025) and Jordan Romano (Markham, Ont., 2022-23) have since followed.

-In 2023, Philadelphia Phillies skipper Rob Thomson (Corunna, Ont.) became the first Canadian to manage an All-Star team. He guided the National League to a 3-2 win at T-Mobile Park in Seattle.