Following the cancellation of last year’s event due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Major League Baseball once again will hold its annual All-Star Game on July 13.
The 2021 Midsummer Classic initially was set to be played at Truist Park in Atlanta, but the league elected to move the game to Coors Field in response to new voting restrictions passed by Georgia legislation.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers returning to and winning the World Series last year, manager Dave Roberts is set to guide the NL team for the third time since 2018.
His coaching staff remains a work in progress, but it is expected to include Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black. “I do know that I expect Buddy Black, who obviously is going to be the home manager in Denver, to be with me on my staff,” Roberts recently said.
“There’s another one that’s going to be an honorary manager that I’m going to kind of hold off for now.”
Roberts also extended an invitation to former Dodgers first base coach George Lombard, who is now with the Detroit Tigers and won’t be part of the NL staff. “Respectfully he declined because he’s on a different team in a different league,” Roberts said.
“Clayton McCullough is our first base coach and he was with the organization, so I feel great about him being over there in the same role.”
Along with being manager of the Rockies — the host team — Black and Roberts have ties dating back to their days with the San Diego Padres, so his inclusion on the NL All-Star coaching staff makes sense.
As for the honorary manager, it’s anyone’s guess what Roberts may have in mind. The six-year manager’s coaching staff will be rounded out in the coming weeks as the calendar inches closer to July.
Dodgers’ All-Star Game finalists
The Dodgers had Max Muncy, Gavin Lux, Justin Turner, Mookie Betts and Chris Taylor advance to Phase 2 of All-Star Game voting. However, none of the team’s finalists were on track to be a starter in the latest update, but that could change with voting closing Thursday at 11 a.m. PT.
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