ARLINGTON, Texas – Corbin Burnes jogged from the American League dugout to the mound tonight to begin his warmup tosses, paused and conducted a television interview. He smiled, gave the network what it wanted and got down to business.

The 94^th All-Star Game remained a glamorized exhibition, but Burnes tried to find his competitive fire, tossing a scoreless first inning on 19 pitches and retreating to the clubhouse.

A one-out walk to Shohei Ohtani and Bryce Harper’s two-out double down the left field line extended Burnes’ stay. He fielded William Contreras’ grounder, threw to first and wrapped his arms around his former Brewers catcher as they converged along the line.

It truly is an exhibition.

“It was fun,” Burnes said before the AL's 5-3 win. “I wish I wouldn’t have walked Shohei, but it was fun. I mean, there’s really no words to express just the atmosphere playing around the best players in the game. I told them to be ready, I’m going to let them put it in play, so they were ready out there, and fortunately, we got out of it with a scoreless inning.”

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Orioles haven’t hosted baseball’s All-Star Game since 1993, the second year of Camden Yards' existence. Back when they wanted to show it off to the world.

They’re on the radar again, which promises nothing but keeps them in the conversation.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said this morning that the club has “definitely” expressed an interest in the Midsummer Classic. The next available date is 2027, after Atlanta next year and Philadelphia in 2026.

A new ownership group headed by David Rubenstein has made securing the event a priority.

“We hope by that time the stadium will be rehabilitated a bit, and therefore, we’d like to show it off,” Rubenstein said on March 28. “Once we have the rehabilitated Camden Yards, I think it would be a great time to then show it off. We’ll make sure we have it completed, though, but we are interested in it and I am familiar with the situation.”

ARLINGTON, Texas – The All-Stars will walk the red carpet this afternoon in their fanciest attire and try to make it inside Globe Life Field in under 20 sweat stains.

Players will change into their uniforms and take batting practice before tonight’s game. The roof is closed. Not a single complaint beneath it.

The media gets a little clubhouse time rather than pulling quotes on the field. And finally, the Midsummer Classic will commence.

Here are some leftovers from yesterday:

* The All-Star break didn’t force Jordan Westburg into doing much traveling.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Gunnar Henderson had to wait his turn tonight, the last of eight hitters to walk to the plate in the All-Star Home Run Derby. He was wielding a custom-made Scooby Doo bat with the cartoon dog and the word “zoinks” painted on it, and was coaxed into doing his spot-on impression for the ESPN audience.

The mystery that couldn’t be solved was how he finished in last place.

Henderson, the starting shortstop for the American League, was eliminated after hitting 11 homers. He was shut out in the bonus round.

Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. won the Derby in 1991 in Toronto and Miguel Tejada was victorious in 2004 in Houston. They remain the only two Orioles champions.

Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton pitched to Henderson and offered his perspective from the mound.

ARLINGTON, Texas - The decision was made. Corbin Burnes would accept his fourth consecutive invitation to the All-Star Game. Hug his wife Brooke, hold his newborn twin daughters one more time and board a flight. A piece of him left behind.

With that honor, however, came his first start.

American League manager Bruce Bochy is handing the ball to Burnes Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.

Bochy considered what Burnes has done in his career, including the previous selections and a Cy Young Award with the Brewers in 2021, and the veteran's impact on the 2024 Orioles.

"I think you have to look at his résumé, what he's done in baseball," Bochy said. "He's had an incredible career. This is his fourth consecutive All-Star Game. What he's done this year in Baltimore, you know, they're leading their division. He's a big reason for that.

The break begins today for most players in the majors.

The exceptions already are gathering in Arlington, Texas.

Gunnar Henderson is prepping for tonight’s Home Run Derby, attempting to become the third Orioles representative to win it after Cal Ripken Jr. in 1991 and Miguel Tejada in 2004. Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton will pitch to Henderson following their practice session at Camden Yards.

Britton passed through the clubhouse yesterday morning and joked how the Tides won their past two games and might not want him back. Fundamentals coach Ramón Sambo and hitting coach Mike Montville have managed the club in Britton’s absence.

Not at the same time, though.

Gunnar Henderson is following a tough act in the Home Run Derby.

Adley Rutschman didn’t advance past the first round last summer, but he hit 20 homers left-handed and seven more right-handed in the 30-second bonus round. Henderson will stick with the left side. Seems almost boring by comparison, but this is no time to experiment.

Rutschman brought the added storyline of playing at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, the ballpark he attended as a kid growing up in Sherwood, Oregon. And his father, Randy, pitched to him, providing a sentimental angle.

ESPN and the rest of the media ate it up. Had to loosen their belts.

Chicago’s Luis Robert Jr. moved on to the second round by hitting 28 home runs. However, a format change this year doesn’t pit two players against each other. The strict tournament style is gone.

The Orioles traded a National League Central opponent tonight for one in the American League East. They had won 73 percent of their division games this year. But even that wasn’t enough to get their offense going again.

After scoring two runs in being swept by the Cubs, the Orioles ended their scoreless innings streak tonight but extended a losing streak to four.

Gerrit Cole allowed one run on 106 pitches over six frames as the New York Yankees beat the Orioles 4-1 in front of 39,566 at Camden Yards in the opener of a three-game series.

But what happened in the last of the ninth will be the lasting memory of this night. Yankees closer Clay Holmes hit Heston Kjerstad with a pitch in the batting helmet and a few minutes later both dugouts emptied as O's manager Brandon Hyde had words with someone in the visiting dugout.

"I was walking back and I hear stuff from their dugout," Hyde said. "So I just reacted the way I did. Saw what they were pointing at me and the whole thing, so just reacted the way I did.

Cade Povich brings a certain level of curiosity into tonight’s start against the Yankees.

Specifically, how will the rookie respond to his worst outing in the majors, when he failed to retire a batter in the second inning in Oakland and was charged with eight runs.

Povich has surrendered six runs in the first inning and six more in the second over his six starts. Three runs scored in the first in his last outing and the Athletics tacked on seven more in the second, with Dillon Tate unable to stop the bleeding.

So yes, manager Brandon Hyde is curious about tonight.

“I think we’re going to find out in the first inning,” Hyde said. “His first innings have been a little rocky, where he has a tough time kind of finding his command. So hopefully tonight he finds that command early.

The Orioles hold a two-game advantage over the Yankees in the American League East and they begin a weekend series tonight that leads into the break. They haven’t lost a division series in the last 22.

They haven't scored in the last 24 innings.

Heston Kjerstad is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center. Colton Cowser is on the bench again.

Jordan Westburg is at second base. Ryan O'Hearn is the designated hitter.

Ryan Mountcastle is batting seventh.

On Tuesday night during the All-Star game in Texas, no doubt at some point the national television audience will hear one of the broadcasters point out the two O’s starters in the game – Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson – were the first two draft picks by Mike Elias after joining the Orioles.

Rutschman was the No. 1 pick in that 2019 draft but the Orioles got Henderson at No. 42 overall. Baseball America had him at No. 30 in their pre-draft projections.

The first two picks of the new regime are now All-Stars.

“It is definitely a testament to Elias,” Henderson said in the clubhouse pregame yesterday. “I know Rutch was obviously the consensus 1/1 pick. But to take a chance on me, I can’t thank him enough for that. Just glad to be able to go out there and help the O’s win some games.”

So why was Gunnar still there at pick No. 42?

Make that five All-Star representatives for the Orioles.

Outfielder Anthony Santander has made the American League club as an injury replacement for Houston’s Kyle Tucker. He'll also head out early to Arlington, Texas.

Santander joins starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman, pitcher Corbin Burnes and infielder Jordan Westburg. This is the highest total for the Orioles since 2016 with Manny Machado, Matt Wieters, Mark Trumbo, Zack Britton and Brad Brach. They had four representatives last year in Seattle.

The honor for Santander comes in his free agency year and seven seasons after his major league debut as a Rule 5 pick from Single-A Lynchburg in Cleveland’s organization.

Santander goes into tonight’s game batting .233/.298/.492 with 15 doubles, a triple, 23 home runs and 57 RBIs in 366 plate appearances, and he’s playing an exceptional right field. He was a finalist on the ballot but finished one spot behind the starters.

When they play the All-Star game next Tuesday night in Arlington, Texas, the O’s participants will have a homegrown flavor.

Three of the four players repping the Orioles were drafted and developed by the Orioles in Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Jordan Westburg.

The fourth player going, pitcher Corbin Burnes, was acquired in a trade of O’s prospects they drafted and developed. They sent lefty DL Hall to Milwaukee in that deal, their first round pick (No 21 overall) in 2017. They also sent infielder Joey Ortiz, their fourth round pick in 2019 and a draft pick this year to the Brewers. They will have the No. 34 pick in this coming draft from the Burnes deal.

The first two selections Mike Elias ever made as O’s executive vice president and general in the 2019 MLB Draft were Rutschman taken No. 1 overall and Henderson at No. 42.

“That credit goes to Mike. Mike and his team,” manager Brandon Hyde said Wednesday pregame marveling at the O’s success in the draft under Elias. “What they’ve done in the draft since we’ve been here is unbelievable. To have Gunner, Adley and Jordan Westburg going to the All-Star game that just got drafted so many years ago that he drafted, that’s unbelievably rare.

Jordan Westburg knew that the local media was hovering around his locker after last night’s game. Notepads, recorders, cameras, microphones. All of them waiting for the player who found out about his All-Star selection earlier in the day and homered in his first at-bat. He was an obvious interview.

The scrum moved on from starting pitcher Dean Kremer, but Westburg first had to attend an All-Star meeting with teammates joining him in Arlington, Texas. It couldn’t be avoided.

All part of a whirlwind day that included phone calls to wife Anna Claire and his parents.

Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, the first two draft picks under executive vice president/general manager Mike Elias, are starting at catcher and shortstop, respectively, for the American League. Corbin Burnes could be the starting pitcher working on an extra day of rest. That announcement is pending.

Rutschman was the backup catcher in last year’s Midsummer Classic in Seattle and participated in the Home Run Derby. He’s the veteran among the position players.

Heston Kjerstad is starting again in left field tonight as the Orioles begin their three-game home series against the Cubs.

Cedric Mullins is in center field and Anthony Santander is in right.

Ramón Urías is the third baseman, with Jordan Westburg at second.

Per STATS, the Orioles have three of the 20 qualified major league hitters with a .500-plus slugging percentage – Westburg, Santander and Gunnar Henderson. This would be the fifth time the Orioles have had three qualified players slug .500 or better at the All-Star break, including four in 1996 and 2005 and three in 1969 and 2016.

Henderson is the fourth shortstop to reach 50 extra-base hits before the All-Star break, joining Francisco Lindor (55) in 2018, Miguel Tejada (53) in 2005 and Trevor Story (52) in 2018.

OAKLAND – The Orioles’ two All-Star starters made the first two outs today, with Gunnar Henderson grounding out and Adley Rutschman flying out. Anthony Santander followed with a home run. Ryan O’Hearn and Jordan Westburg singled, and they scored on Heston Kjerstad’s three-run shot.

A day after surrendering 19 runs in a blowout loss, the Orioles pounced and vented early, leading from the beginning in a 6-3 win over the Athletics in their final game at Oakland Coliseum. And a few All-Star omissions – some might say snubs - couldn’t be silenced.

Santander’s homer off Mitch Spence raised his total to 23, tied for fourth in the majors as the ball landed in the right field seats. He was a finalist in voting for American League outfielders, missed by one spot and didn’t get selected as a reserve.

O’Hearn was a finalist at designated hitter, missing election by four percent of the votes. Jordan Westburg was a finalist at third base. They’re also staying home barring a late substitution.

Corbin Burnes brought the total number of Orioles to three with his fourth selection in a row. That was the cutoff.

OAKLAND – The Orioles found out today that only one other player from the club that’s tied for the best record in the American League has been chosen for the All-Star Game.

If anyone else goes to Arlington, Texas, it will be as a late substitute.

Corbin Burnes made his fourth All-Star team in a row after going 9-3 with a 2.32 ERA, 1.021 WHIP and 14 quality starts in 18 outings. He didn’t appear in the last two games and must decide whether to leave his wife Brooke and their twin daughters. He rejoined the club in Seattle after going on the paternity list.

“Still going to have that conversation with my wife,” he said. “Obviously, just found out a little bit ago. She's already told me to go. So I'll see what the final decision is in the next day or so. But if I do go, definitely honored to be a part of it.

“It's a fun week. It's kind of one of those you never know when it's going to be your last. So I understand my wife's sentiments on me having to go to the game. We'll see what happens, but definitely just an honor to be selected.”

SEATTLE - For the first time in 10 years, the Orioles will have multiple players starting in the All-Star Game.

The 2014 club won the division. The 2024 Orioles are in first place and eyeing a World Series title.

Gunnar Henderson won the American League shortstop balloting over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. by receiving 65 percent of the votes. Catcher Adley Rutschman finished ahead of Kansas City’s Salvador Perez with 70 percent.

Henderson’s 26 home runs and 6.2 WAR rank second in the majors and he’s first in runs scored with 74. He’s batting .288/.383/.600 with 17 doubles, four triples, 58 RBIs and 46 walks in 84 games. He’s also stolen 13 bases in 14 attempts.

"I'm very humbled and blessed to be the starter. It's awesome being able to be do this my second full year," Henderson said.

SEATTLE – Ryan Mountcastle is out of the Orioles lineup tonight for the third game in a row.

Mountcastle was used as a pinch-hitter Saturday. Manager Brandon Hyde told the media Sunday night that Mountcastle was “under the weather.”

Heston Kjerstad is the designated hitter. Colton Cowser is in left field and Cedric Mullins is in center.

Jorge Mateo is the second baseman, with Jordan Westburg at third.

Gunnar Henderson’s on-base streak ended Sunday at 36 games. He struck out four times.

SEATTLE – Gunnar Henderson confirmed last night on ESPN that he’s participating in the Home Run Derby on July 15 in Arlington, Texas. Now he’s waiting to learn whether he’s starting at shortstop for the American League.

His chances look pretty good.

Henderson has received 67 percent of the votes in the Phase 2 update to maintain his lead over the Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr.

Balloting concludes at noon Wednesday, with starters announced at 7 p.m. on ESPN. Complete rosters will be shared on Sunday.

Adley Rutschman also is lined up to start. He’s received 72 percent of the votes to lead Kansas City’s Salvador Perez, an eight-time All-Star.