Six players of Asian heritage earn spots in 2025 MLB All-Star Game

The 2025 MLB All-Star Game, scheduled for July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta, is set to feature one of the most diverse groups of Asian and part-Asian players in recent history. The official rosters, released on July 6, include six players of Asian descent whose backgrounds reflect the expanding international appeal of Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani, known for his ability as both a pitcher and designated hitter, is making his fifth All-Star appearance. He is joined by Yusei Kikuchi, a 34-year-old left-handed pitcher from Morioka, Japan, who is pitching for the Los Angeles Angels and was named as a reserve in the American League. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 26, was selected to the National League roster. Yamamoto, who also plays for the Los Angeles Dodgers, is joining the All-Star game in his debut MLB season.

Steven Kwan, age 27, is an outfielder for the Cleveland Guardians who is of mixed Japanese and Chinese heritage. Kwan’s high on-base percentage and consistent performance at the plate earned him a reserve spot in the American League lineup. Bryan Woo, the 24-year-old rookie pitcher for the Seattle Mariners, earned his first All-Star selection due to his solid showing in the first half of the season. Corbin Carroll, a 24-year-old outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks, is the son of a Taiwanese mother and is considered one of the league’s most promising young players.

This year’s lineup marks a significant milestone for Asian representation in MLB history. While MLB does not officially track player heritage by ethnicity, the 2025 All-Star Game roster likely represents the highest number of Asian or part-Asian players in the modern era. No previous All-Star rosters in recent memory, particularly from the early 2000s through 2020, featured six Asian or part-Asian players at once.