Athletics: Langeliers, Kurtz Starters at 2026 All-Star Game
UPDATE: Kurtz was originally a reserve. Shortly after press time, Sport Relay learned that original AL starting first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr withdrew. Consequently, Kurtz — who led AL first basemen in player voting — became the starter. The article has been updated to reflect that.
For the first time since Terry Steinbach in 1989, an Athletics catcher will start in the All-Star Game. Major League Baseball revealed Saturday that Shea Langeliers led all American League catchers in the fan voting, meaning Langeliers will start the 2026 All-Star Game. The game, which will be at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Tuesday, July 14, will have two Athletics All-Stars. First baseman Nick Kurtz — who hails from nearby Lancaster, Pennsylvania — was originally a reserve after being selected by American League players. However, after Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr withdrew from the game, Kurtz became the starter. This means that the Athletics will have multiple starters in the same All-Star Game since Rickey Henderson and Dave Henderson started the 1991 game in, of all places, Toronto.
All-Star First Halves for the Athletics Duo
According to the team press release, Langeliers is second among major league catchers in both homers (20) and hits (87). Additionally, he is third in slugging percentage (.494) and extra-base hits (36) plus tied for third in doubles (16). He is fourth in OPS (.822) and fifth in on-base percentage (.328) among major-league catchers as well. In the last 20 years, Langeliers and Khris Davis are the only Athletics players with 20 home runs in four consecutive seasons.
Kurtz, according to the same source, is the fourth Athletics first baseman selected to the All-Star Game since 2000. The others are Matt Olson (2021), Yonder Alonso (2017), and Jason Giambi (2000 & 2001 both). Kurtz leads the majors in RBI (66) and walks (76) and is second in on-base percentage (.424), tied for second in runs scored (61), and is third in OPS (.949). The decorated Kurtz was the unanimous 2025 American League Rookie of the Year and was this season’s American League Player of the Month for May.
Consecutive Seasons
The All-Star nods for Langeliers and Kurtz mean the Athletics have had multiple players elected to the All-Star Game, either by fans or players, for a second consecutive season. In 2025, when the game was in Atlanta, both Jacob Wilson and Brent Rooker went to the game. This marks the first time since 2018 & 2019 that the Athletics have had multiple elected All-Stars in consecutive seasons.
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