⭐️ All-Star jerseys revealed

Today we cover:

• ⭐️ All-Star jerseys revealed

• 🚔 Tampa Bay player charged with sexual abuse

• 🤯 Home Run derby participants finalized

• And More!

All-Star game jerseys revealed

For decades, baseball’s All-Star Game was the most colorful event of the sports calendar. The stars of the American and National Leagues wore their regular-season uniforms for the game, a visual delight that also gave viewers an instant clue to distinguish the players.

Yet this year’s game, to be held in Arlington, Texas, on July 16, will be the fourth in a row to feature All-Star jerseys instead. It’s part of MLB’s 10-year deal with Nike, which runs through 2029, and while there is said to be momentum toward a revival of the old tradition for 2025, for now, Nike gets what Nike wants.

Major League Baseball has released the uniforms for its upcoming 2024 MLB All-Star Game in Texas. Cream and coral for the AL, dark blue and light blue for the NL.

And what Nike wants is maximum exposure for the All-Star jerseys, which were worn for Workout Day and the Home Run Derby as far back as 1997 in Cleveland, but not for the game itself until 2021 in Denver.

Rays player charged with sexual abuse

Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco has been formally charged for sexual and commercial exploitation of a minor in the Dominican Republic, the country’s Public Ministry said in a statement Monday.

Franco – who has been on administrative leave from the major leagues since the allegations came to light August 2023 - was arrested in January in Puerto Plata, in the north of the Dominican Republic, on accusations of commercial sexual exploitation and money laundering.

The baseball player addressed the allegations in August in an Instagram video. He appeared to deflect the accusations, saying he was focused on improving himself.

Home Run Derby participants finalized

Major League Baseball has finalized the eight-person field for next Monday’s Home Run Derby. The full list is as follows:

• Mets 1B Pete Alonso

• Phillies 3B Alec Bohm

• Rangers OF Adolis García

• Orioles SS Gunnar Henderson

• Dodgers OF Teoscar Hernández

• Braves DH Marcell Ozuna

• Guardians 3B José Ramírez

• Royals SS Bobby Witt Jr.

There will be a few rule changes this year.

• The first round no longer features head-to-head matchups.

• The top four home run hitters will move to the second round, with the longest homer serving as a tiebreaker.

• MLB is also limiting hitters to 40 swings per round and is changing the bonus round from a clock to a limit of three outs (four if a player hit a 425-foot homer in the bonus round).

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