PHOENIX -- The last time the Rays had two hitters in the starting lineup at the All-Star Game, they were represented by two of the greatest players in franchise history: Evan Longoria and Carl Crawford.

This year, the American League-leading Rays will be similarly well-represented in the AL¡¯s starting lineup.

Outfielder Randy Arozarena and first baseman Yandy Díaz were elected by fans to start in the 2023 All-Star Game in Seattle. The Midsummer Classic lineups were announced Thursday, and both of the Rays¡¯ finalists won the fan vote at their respective position.

¡°Certainly quite the honor for the organization and very representative of this specific team of being a very good team to be where we're at right now,¡± Rays manager Kevin Cash said. ¡°You¡¯ve got to have some All-Star performances, and with more than one, it's pretty telling of where we stand right now.¡±

Arozarena finished second among AL outfielders with 21% of the vote, trailing only Angels superstar Mike Trout (23%) while ranking ahead of Aaron Judge (19%), Yordan Alvarez (15%), Adolis Garc¨ªa (13%) and former Ray Kevin Kiermaier (10%). Arozarena is just the second Tampa Bay outfielder to earn a fan-elected start, joining Crawford in 2010.

¡°It feels good. [The fans] really value everything that I've done, all the hard work and energy that I bring out,¡± Arozarena said through interpreter Manny Navarro. ¡°This means a lot to them as well. ¡­ This is for them.¡±

D¨ªaz received 53% of the vote to beat Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He is the first Rays first baseman to win a fan election and only the second infielder in franchise history to do so, joining Longoria in 2009-10.

¡°I never expected to ever be in an All-Star Game, but I'm very happy,¡± D¨ªaz said through Navarro. ¡°Very appreciative of that, that they took the time to vote for me, so I'm very grateful and appreciative of it.¡±

This is the first All-Star nod for D¨ªaz and Arozarena, both key contributors who have taken their game to new heights for Tampa Bay this season. The most recent Rays hitter to start in the All-Star Game was Corey Dickerson, who did so as the AL¡¯s DH in 2017; catcher Wilson Ramos was elected to start in ¡¯18 but did not play due to a hamstring injury.

Tampa Bay could send more players to Seattle, including starter Shane McClanahan, with full rosters set to be announced on Sunday. Regardless, this will be the second time the Rays have multiple hitters in the All-Star starting lineup, a feat they previously accomplished with Longoria and Crawford in 2010.
?
¡°They are a couple of the best players to ever be a part of this franchise, and it's good to be listed in the same categories as them,¡± D¨ªaz said.

D¨ªaz entered Thursday leading all qualified AL hitters with a .407 on-base percentage. His .322 batting average ranked second in the AL, and his .928 OPS trailed only Shohei Ohtani and Yordan Alvarez. Long valued by the Rays for his plate discipline and ability to make contact, the muscle-bound infielder has reached another level this year by tapping into his raw power and launching 12 home runs, two shy of his career-high mark.

¡°I've always said I was a pretty good hitter. I think I'm just more of an established hitter,¡± D¨ªaz said recently through interpreter Manny Navarro. ¡°With all the work I've been putting in, I think people are just starting to notice that now.¡±

Arozarena has long shown All-Star ability, never more so than during his historic march through the 2020 postseason. He continued to flash his potential in 2021, when he won the AL Rookie of the Year Award, and during a 20-homer, 41-double, 32-steal campaign last year.

But with a newfound commitment to more in-depth information and pregame preparation, Arozarena is enjoying his most consistent season in the Majors. The fan favorite entered Thursday ranking highly among AL outfielders in on-base percentage (.401, first), wRC+ (154, first), OPS (.876, second) and RBIs (54, second).

¡°I think he's always kind of had that star power,¡± Cash said. ¡°Consistency has been a challenge with him. Feels like he's kind of bottled up consistency this first half.¡±

Riding the momentum of his incredible showing for Team Mexico in the World Baseball Classic, Arozarena has also emerged this season as one of the game¡¯s greatest entertainers. The Rays dedicated a Friday night seating section at Tropicana Field -- "Randy Land¡± -- to the All-Star left fielder, and he often speaks about how much he appreciates and feeds off fans¡¯ energy.

While starting his first career All-Star Game is obviously an honor, Arozarena has made it clear he¡¯d also like to take his big swing -- and arms-crossed celebration -- to the Home Run Derby at T-Mobile Park.