Cristopher Sánchez will have the honor of throwing the first pitch in front of the hometown crowd.

National League manager Dave Roberts “officially selected” Sunday that the Phillies left-hander will start the 2026 MLB All-Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, capping a remarkable first half for one of baseball’s breakout stars. Sánchez enters the Midsummer Classic with one of the National League’s best ERAs while establishing himself as a legitimate Cy Young contender.

Cristopher Sanchez’s 7th K pic.twitter.com/AeZx3ffJxF

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 12, 2026

His dominant finish before the All-Star break helped solidify his case to earn the nod over a talented field of NL aces. It marks another milestone in Sánchez’s career and gives Phillies fans a hometown starter in the All-Star Game for the first time in years. Philadelphia will now watch one of its own take center stage when the baseball world turns its attention to South Philadelphia.