In baseball, players have five tools.
Hit and power for their prowess at the plate, arm and defense for their ability in the field, and speed for their quickness and base running.
At the MLB All-Star Game, though, a sixth tool takes centerstage: style.
The Orioles’ five All-Stars walked the red carpet ahead of Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic, and their fashion entering Globe Life Field was almost as impressive as their play on the field.
Shortstop Gunnar Henderson, catcher Adley Rutschman, pitcher Corbin Burnes, infielder Jordan Westburg and outfielder Anthony Santander showed off their fly fits alongside their families and significant others.
“That was beautiful,” Santander said about his red carpet experience. “You have to have a big smile and enjoy the moment with all those fans over there. That was something special for the rest of my life.”
Rutschman’s outfit was the one most talked about by his teammates. He was the last to walk, donning a flowy white shirt with tassels and black pants that many on social media compared with a pirate costume. Georgia Ellenwood, his girlfriend and an Olympian in track and field, was by his side in a bright pink dress. Rutschman will be only the third Orioles catcher to start the All-Star Game behind the plate, and in catching Burnes, forming the first Baltimore battery to do so.
“Oof, Adley’s was interesting,” Burnes said with a laugh. “I’m still not quite sure what was going on there. Everyone else looked great.”
“Rutsch’s was cool,” Henderson told reporters in the American League clubhouse before the game. “That was definitely interesting. He never told me what he was doing, so it was a surprise to me, but it looked good on him.”
Westburg was the first Oriole — and one of the first AL All-Stars — to walk the red carpet. The third baseman, who will begin the game on the bench but could enter as a substitute, wore a dark green suit with a white shirt. Of course, his wife, Anna Claire, matched him with a gold dress. The Oriole Bird found Westburg, and the first-time All-Star made sure to pause on the red carpet to pose for a photo with Baltimore’s mascot.
“It was cool. It was hot, but cool,” Westburg told reporters in the clubhouse. “Cool for my wife. Gets to get dressed up and experience it all. Definitely something that I was taking in as I was going.”
Burnes had one of the afternoon’s more casual fits with a light gray jacket to match his pants. He walked alone, but for good reason. The Orioles ace and his wife, Brooke, welcomed twin girls, Charlotte and Harper, in late June, giving the couple three kids under 3 years old. Burnes flew into nearby Dallas on Tuesday morning after spending time with his family this weekend, just in time to walk the red carpet and start on the mound for the American League. He is the fifth Orioles pitcher to start an All-Star Game and the first since Steve Stone in 1980.
“I’ve been doing it with my wife the last couple years. Unfortunately she couldn’t make it, but she was still the one to picked the outfit,” Burnes said. “If I dressed myself, it would probably be pretty bad. I’ll leave that to her.”
Henderson, who participated in Monday’s Home Run Derby, was next. Entering to “M-V-P” chants from the Orioles fans in attendance, the superstar shortstop donned a cream suit, while his fiancee, Katherine Lee, wore a floral dress. Henderson, who leads the Orioles with 28 homers, 63 RBIs and a .956 OPS, is the first Baltimore shortstop to start the contest since Manny Machado in 2018. He joins an illustrious list of Orioles shortstops to appear in the exhibition, including Cal Ripken Jr., Miguel Tejada and Mark Belanger.
“It was awesome,” he said. “Being able to go out there and experience that for the first time, it’s pretty cool.”
Santander had the largest contingent with him, joined by several family members. He showed off an aqua and teal suit jacket to match his white pants. The reserve outfielder’s journey to the All-Star Game is the windiest of any Oriole there, going from a Rule 5 draft pick to an injury-prone switch-hitter to now one of MLB’s best home run hitters. At the end of the red carpet, Santander signed several autographs for young fans.
“Santander’s was probably the flashiest with that material and those colors,” said Burnes, who put on his fashion critic hat to judge his teammates’ fits. “Westy looked like classic Westy. I don’t think I could’ve drawn it up any better with his outfit. And then Gunnar’s was a little bit more than I thought, he’s pretty quiet and down-to-Earth guy, so he had a little flash to it.
“Overall I think everyone looked pretty good.”
