It will be up to O’Hearn to create an Orioles memorable moment in the 2025 All-Star Game

For the sixth time in the last eight All-Star Games, the Orioles will have only one representative, Ryan O’Hearn, who was voted in as the American League’s starting designated hitter.

O’Hearn got a great boost when the Boston Red Sox surprisingly traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, taking the DH favorite out of league.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that the Orioles, who are nine games under .500, don’t have multiple All-Stars.

Interim manager Tony Mansolino has been championing outfielder Ramón Laureano, who’s never been an All-Star in his eight seasons, but his numbers are solid (.274, .851 OPS, 10 home runs, 28 RBIs) and not spectacular.

Jackson Holliday should have many All-Star invites in his career, but he’ll have to wait. Tampa Bay’s Brandon Lowe’s numbers are better and he was second in the balloting by players.

Félix Bautista, who was a sure-thing All-Star in 2023, could have been the Orioles’ representative had O’Hearn not been voted in. In his last 14 appearances, Bautista has allowed one run on three hits. He’s struck out 25 batters and walked nine.

It’s possible Bautista could be an injury replacement if a reliever pulls out.

If there’s an injury to a shortstop, Gunnar Henderson could get a call. He’d be thrilled since Atlanta’s Truist Park, where the Orioles swept the Braves this weekend, is the closest major league stadium to Henderson’s Selma, Alabama home.

Last season, the Orioles were disappointed when they had only starting pitcher Corbin Burnes named to the team after Adley Rutschman and Henderson were voted in. Jordan Westburg and Anthony Santander were injury replacements.

They had hoped for O’Hearn’s addition, and Craig Kimbrel’s 10^th All-Star nod. At the time the teams were named, Kimbrel had a 2.10 ERA and 23 saves, numbers even better than Bautista’s this year. Of course, Kimbrel imploded in the second half and didn’t save another game.

Even though the game is meaningless and less glamorous than it was, it’s still important, though apparently not to ESPN, which delayed Sunday’s selection show until its cornhole contest was completed.

The All-Star Game had more mystique before interleague play, but it’s still fun to watch the teams introduced and see those players from different teams trot out during introductions.

It’s important to the players, the ones who get bonuses if they’re named to the team, and it’s important to people like me, who consider All-Star appearances when voting for the Hall of Fame.

There are some players for whom it’s clearly not important. Nick Markakis is seventh on the Orioles’ all-time hits list, but he never was an All-Star during his nine seasons in Baltimore. Markakis would say he’d be glad to spend the All-Star break with his family, and was being honest.

He was finally named a National League All-Star with the Atlanta Braves in 2018, and his sons were old enough to enjoy it.

Markakis was inexplicably shunned in 2010 when the Orioles representative was Ty Wigginton, a forgotten infielder, who was hitting .252 at the All-Star break.

O’Hearn would like to participate in the Home Run Derby, an event that’s seemingly grown more popular than the game itself. Two years ago, Rutschman was in the contest, and last year, it was Henderson’s turn.

At the All-Star break last year, Henderson had 28 home runs. He hit only nine in the second half, and fans complained that the Derby was the reason why.

Teoscar Hernández, of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr., who finished first and second, actually had better offensive numbers in the season’s second half after they participated.

The game itself is generally devoid of drama with pitchers dominating. Only once, in the last 20 years, has there been a game with more than 10 total runs scored.

There have been few memorable moments in recent years. It seems that the Home Run Derby has more drama.

I’d be in favor of trying something different, whether it’s having the final four of the World Baseball Classic or the U.S. play the World instead of the National against the American.

This year, the draft has been condensed from three days to two, which is welcome since it will be complete by the time the Home Run Derby starts.

Eight days from now, I’ll still be watching, seeing if O’Hearn will provide an Orioles moment.

Call for questions: I answer Orioles questions most weekdays. Please send yours to: Rich@BaltimoreBaseball.com.