LOS ANGELES—Several Orioles are being mentioned as candidates for next month’s All-Star Game. Until he went on the 7-day concussion injured list, catcher Adley Rutschman looked to be the best bet, but his return is uncertain.
First baseman Pete Alonso was a five-time National League All-Star with the New York Mets, and he’s been showing off his power recently, hitting his 18th home run on Sunday.
For a time, reliever Rico Garcia seemed like a possibility, but he’s been hittable lately.
One player who isn’t mentioned but should be is utilityman Blaze Alexander.
The 27-year-old infielder/outfielder has authentic qualifications. He’s hitting .312 with an .809 OPS and after a three-hit game and his third home run in the Orioles’ 12-1 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday, he’s 29-for-65 (.446) since May 25th and .389 since May 1st.
However, there are two drawbacks. He’s not on the All-Star ballot, and there’s no official utility position.
That shouldn’t stop Alexander from being considered. Last year, Detroit Tigers utility player Zach McKinstry was a late addition to the American League All-Star team.
McKinstry plays third base more often than anywhere else but, in 2025, started games at shortstop, second base, left field and right field. He also played two innings at first base and even pitched in a game.
Alexander started his 21st game at third base on Sunday. He’s also started at shortstop, second base and each of the three outfield spots.
It seems more likely that Rutschman, if healthy, or Alonso will be the Orioles’ All-Star representative. It seems unlikely they’ll have multiple players at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on July 14th, but Alexander deserves consideration.
“Obviously, I’d want that to be me,” Alexander said. “Do I think I’ve been playing well enough to be one? I don’t know. That’s for people to decide. I’m just out there playing as hard as I can for this team, trying to get the win, but I think I’d be a cool add as a utility guy. I do think it would be cool.”
The Orioles traded for Alexander, who’d never been a full-time player in his first two seasons with Arizona, just before spring training. They didn’t know how valuable Alexander would be.
Two starting infielders didn’t start the season with the team. Jackson Holliday didn’t play until mid-May because of surgery on the hamate bone in his right hand, and Jordan Westburg won’t play at all this season after Tommy John surgery. Alexander has been a more than capable fill-in, especially at third, where he played on Sunday.
“He’s showing he’s a baseball player,” manager Craig Albernaz said. “That’s the biggest thing that stands out. He’s extremely athletic. He’s so talented and gifted defensively. And he made a great adjustment at the plate, and he’s seeing that right now.
“He’s doing a great job of managing the at-bat, fouling off tough pitches, hitting the ball the other way like he did on the double, and also being able to, when something’s out over the plate, being able to get it pull side in the air to drive it. It’s been awesome. He’s been a great value add for us.”
Alexander has worked hard on playing the three infield spots and the outfield as well, switching between infield coaches Miguel Cairo and Buck Britton, and outfield coach Jason Bourgeois.
“You think about the work that’s got to go into being able to master shortstop, third base, second base and then go to the outfield,” Britton said. “There’s a lot of work that goes into it, and you have to have the mentality that you can’t be scared. When you go to left field and then you come back to third base, you’ve got to stay locked in. He’s done a tremendous job, man.”
Alexander is relentlessly positive and bounces around the Orioles’ clubhouse just as he bounces from position to position.
“Wherever he’s at in his routine, he’s got it dialed,” Alonso said. “Where he’s at, comfortability, he’s just locked. It’s just one of those things where you don’t talk about it, you don’t do anything, you just enjoy it. You just enjoy the show when he goes out there and plays, because it seems every day he’s just getting two hits.
“He’s ready to go. Love his attitude. He plays with this childlike joy that shows, and it’s really infectious for the rest of the squad. It’s really special what he’s been able to do, how he’s been able to kind of round us out. He’s been on fire and just the stability to have that, it’s awesome. It’s awesome to have, and I hope it keeps it up for us. He’s been electric.”
Alexander has played 66 of the Orioles’ 78 games and has wondered what kind of numbers he could amass if he played 130 or 140 games.
“I’m on a heater at the plate, but I feel like I’ve hit like this my whole life,” Alexander said. “When you’re given consistent at-bats and getting run out ther, I can do some special things. Not necessarily go out there and hit 40 homers, [but] make it hard on pitchers, find the gap.
“I’m trying to get on base, I’m trying to steal, I’m trying to cause havoc, flip the lineup and get those guys up and score some runs and win the game.”
Alexander knows his chances of being selected as an All-Star are slim but eagerly talked about it when asked.
“I don’t know how likely that is but it obviously would mean everything,” Alexander said. “Everyone wants to be an All-Star. That’s a personal goal for everyone every year and it would be unbelievable to share a locker room with some of those guys and meet those guys and really just be in the moment and just enjoy it.”
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