The National League (NL) overturned a decade-long deficit to defeat the American League (AL). Colorado Rockies catcher Elias Diaz, who hit a game-winning home run in his All-Star debut, was named Star of the Game.안전놀이터

The NL All-Stars defeated the AL All-Stars 3-2 in the 2023 Major League Baseball All-Star Game at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, USA, on 12 December. Diaz, who hit the game-winning two-run homer, was named Most Valuable Player (MVP).

The AL All-Stars struck first. The Tampa Bay Rays’ Yandy Diaz, batting fifth and playing first base, hit a thunderous solo shot to left field in the second inning. The NL tied the game with a fourth-inning single to right by Luis Arajuez (Miami), but the AL regained the lead in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Bo Bissett (Toronto).

It was Diaz who erased the deficit once and for all. In the eighth, with the bases loaded after a Nick Castellanos (Philadelphia) walk and a wild pitch, he lifted a 140 mph splitter off right-hander Felix Batista (Baltimore) over the left field fence. It was the game-winning two-run shot.

It was a day to remember for the nine-year big leaguer. The Venezuelan-born Diaz made his big league debut in a Pittsburgh Pirates uniform in 2015. After failing to make an impact, he was released after the 2019 season, but returned to the majors the following year with Colorado.

Diaz, who hit .277 with nine home runs and 45 RBIs in the first half of the season, made franchise history with the honour. He became the first All-Star Game MVP in the history of the Rockies, who were founded in 1993. He accomplished what franchise stars such as Hall of Famers Larry Walker and Todd Helton, the “Mountain Spirit,” have failed to do: make his All-Star debut at the ripe old age of 33.

Diaz’s performance was also a milestone for the NL. Prior to this year, the NL trailed the AL 43-47 in the all-time All-Star Game head-to-head, with the AL dominating the decade beginning in 2013. With the exception of 2020, which was cancelled due to COVID-19, the AL won all nine All-Star Games during that time. Prior to the game, Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. won the home run derby the day before.