Starting nod for young talent

Final voting results make all-star game look more like the millennial classic

Cody Bellinger and Christian Yelich were elected starters for one of the youngest all-star game lineups ever, leading the millennial-heavy National League for the Midsummer Classic in Cleveland.

Major League Baseball revealed the results from fan balloting for its all-star starters Thursday. The game is July 9.

The Dodgers’ Bellinger, Brewers’ Yelich and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuna Jr. are set to play outfield for the NL, leading a lineup averaging just 25.8 years old. Depending on who is chosen as the club’s designated hitter, the starting position players could be younger than the 1967 NL and 2017 AL clubs, which averaged 26 years old.

“I’ve never seen this much young talent in the game,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, who will lead the NL.

Angels star Mike Trout was the leading vote getter in the final round. He’ll be joined on the AL squad by three Astros — Alex Bregman, George Springer and Michael Brantley — and two Yankees — Gary Sanchez and DJ LeMahieu.

The lineups are full of unlikely names. LeMahieu didn’t crack New York’s opening day lineup. Rangers designated hitter Hunter Pence could only find a minor-league contract as a free agent last off-season. Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Twins shortstop Jorge Polanco hardly garnered all-star attention in previous years. Now they’re starters.

“It was quite a wild journey from this year to last year,” Pence said. “And to even be speaking about this now is a miracle. It’s a blessing, and I’m very grateful.”

The elder statesmen in the NL lineup will be 29-year-old Freddie Freeman from Atlanta and 28-year-old Nolan Arenado of Colorado.

Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana was elected to start in his home park in the 33-yearold’s first all-star selection.

Trout is set to be the sixth AL player to start six times before turning 28. The others are Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Ivan Rodriguez, Rod Carew and Ken Griffey Jr.

It’s Trout’s eighth selection in a row overall.