For the first time in nearly 90 years, the Chicago Cubs will have two outfielders in the starting lineup at the All-Star Game.
Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and right fielder Kyle Tucker earned enough votes in the second phase of the process, which ran from Monday until 11 a.m. Wednesday, to be named National League starters for the Midsummer Classic on July 15 at Truist Park in Atlanta.
The last pair of Cubs outfielders to earn that honor was Frank Demaree and Augie Galan in 1936 — the fourth edition of the All-Star Game. This is the first time the Cubs have had two starters, regardless of position, since 2019 with catcher Willson Contreras and shortstop Javier Báez.
“They’ve performed in a way that they deserve that kind of recognition,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said Wednesday about Crow-Armstrong and Tucker. “Two guys that are mainstays in our lineup, and it’s just really cool to see them get the appreciation that they deserve.”
Crow-Armstrong, 23, entered Wednesday night’s game against the Cleveland Guardians with 21 home runs, 62 RBIs, 25 stolen bases and a 136 OPS+ in his second full major-league season. He finished second in outfield voting (20% in the second phase) to the Atlanta Braves’ Ronald Acuña Jr. (21%).
“I’d be silly to sugarcoat it, it’s obviously one of the cooler accomplishments thus far in my playing career, but I think if anything it’s given me just a better understanding of how small the world of baseball kind of feels,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Throwing myself into an outfield with Kyle Tucker and Ronald Acuña to start an All-Star Game is really cool. But I’m just so grateful that people have kind of been touched by how I like to play the game, and I think that’s the biggest compliment of out of everything is the fan vote.”
Swanson, a two-time All-Star with the Braves (2022) and Cubs (2023), and left fielder Ian Happ, who made the 2022 All-Star team, had the same main advice for Crow-Armstrong ahead of his first All-Star experience: Soak it all in.
“Take in every single second getting to be on that stage with those guys and representing the Cubs,” Happ said. “It goes fast, but it’s a really cool experience.”
Tucker, who was third in outfield voting (19%), had 17 homers, 52 RBIs, 20 steals and a 165 OPS+ entering Wednesday. It’s the fourth consecutive All-Star appearance — but his first in the NL and the first time voted in as a starter — for Tucker, 28, whom the Cubs acquired in an offseason trade with the Houston Astros.
“You never know you know if you’re going to have this opportunity to play in the All-Star Game again,” Tucker said. “I just really want to thank the fans for their support all year and their votes and everything to get me to this point. I’m really excited to get out there.”
Kosuke Fukudome in 2008 was the last Cubs outfielder to start in the All-Star Game. Dexter Fowler was voted as a starter in 2016, but an injury prevented him from playing.
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly also was a finalist to start, but finished second to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Will Smith, who got 65% of the second-phase votes to Kelly’s 35%.
The Cubs could have additional All-Stars when reserves and pitchers are announced Sunday.
“Very thankful for our fan base and the people that vote for us,” Swanson said of the support Cubs players received in both of MLB’s voting phases. “We wouldn’t be able to do some of these things without them and their support for us. And it’s just really cool and puts a lot of things in perspective that we have such a great platform to help other people.
“There’s more to the game than just the play itself, right? Like, you can inspire kids and families and things of that nature, so it’s just really cool and makes you be grateful.”
