The 2023 San Diego Padres are a star-studded team, but will have just two players in this season's All-Star game.
Outfielder Juan Soto and relief pitcher Josh Hader have been selected as reserves for the MLB All-Star game in Seattle on Tuesday, July 11.
For Hader, this is his fifth All-Star selection. For Soto, it's his third.
"It feels great," Soto said. "Going there, seeing so many All-Stars and people, everybody, is a great feeling. Just to see all those All-Stars and everything. There are a lot of guys and teams that are in a good position. I try to pick whatever they can give me so I can bring it over. That's the main thing. I just try to get to know those guys a little more."
Get top local stories in San Diego delivered to you every morning. Sign up for NBC San Diego's News Headlines newsletter.
After struggling in his initial half-season in San Diego, Soto has returned to form this season with impressive offensive stat lines of .277/.424/.502 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs.
(2) MLB HR Videos on Twitter: "Juan Soto - San Diego Padres (15) https://t.co/u48uEIG7v7" / Twitter
Soto won the Home Run Derby at last season's All-Star game, but decided not to ty and defend his title this year.
SportsWrap
The top sports headlines of the day
When asked about not defending his title, Soto said, "For me, I've done it, I might do it again in the future, but for now I'm good."
Hader has been dominant at the back end of the Padres bullpen with 20 saves, a 1.11 ERA and just one loss this season.
The current Padres roster has seven other players who have previously been All-Stars, including Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Xander Bogaerts, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth and Manny Machado.
