Stepping on a Major League Baseball field is a unique opportunity, let alone playing on it. On Monday night at Camden Yards, 31 Maryland high school seniors will get that special moment.
They are part of a prestigious group selected to play in the 2024 Brooks Robinson High School All-Star game, set to start at 6 p.m. It will be the 42nd All-Star game and the first since the Hall of Famer Robinson’s passing in 2023.
Thirty All-Star game alumni have gone on to play in the major leagues, nine of whom are still active. Former Severna Park standout and current San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill was the most recent, the MVP of the 2021 game.
On Thursday morning, the players and their families gathered in the Warehouse at Camden Yards to receive their jerseys, plus a special No. 5 hat in honor of Robinson. Each player was also given two tickets to Sunday night’s game against the Texas Rangers, a rematch of the 2024 American League Divisional Series.
Family and friends smiled ear-to-ear as the jerseys were presented by Maryland State Association of Baseball Coaches President Adam Leader and former Oriole Al Bumbry. Each player posed for photos alongside Bumbry who greeted them with a smile, congratulations and a curiosity about their position.
Bumbry, a one-time All-Star, played for the Orioles for 13 seasons, five of which were alongside Robinson. The long-time Oriole also gave a speech where he offered congratulations, provided on and off the field advice as well as reminiscing about a former teammate and the game’s namesake for the last 20 years.
“I think they’ll realize that the road gets tougher moving forward,” Bumbry said. “These guys are All-Stars. Going forward, when they get to the college level, the competition will be All-Stars. Coming into the minor and major league teams, it’s the same. Everyone on those teams, they were All-Stars. The road gets tougher, but they have to dedicate themselves to it and hopefully they’ll be able to advance.”
Howard County will be well-represented with seven players on the South Team. River Hill coach Craig Estrin and his son Brandon will be part of the South team’s coaching staff.
Hammond’s Chase Endres, Mt. Hebron’s Lucas Edwards and Marriotts Ridge’s Chase Kamerman will be representing their schools. Cade Ahearn and Zach Harris (Centennial) as well as Danny Dorsey and Zach LaFountain (Glenelg) have the unique chance to share the field one last time as teammates.
“Ever since my freshman year, this was my biggest goal to get into this game,” LaFountain said. “It just doesn’t feel real that I actually did. To get one more game with Danny, it feels so surreal right now.”
Both Dorsey and LaFountain said they were blessed for the opportunity and looking forward to Monday night. The Eagles and Gladiators are two of six schools to have multiple players selected.
“It doesn’t really feel real,” Dorsey said. “I never thought I’d be here doing this. I’m here now, so I’m blessed to have this opportunity.”
Before the next step in their journey, each player will get a glimpse of that major league feeling. While their collective paths to Camden Yards have taken different directions, they’ll all converge in a special moment at Camden Yards.
“It’s a start, but they have no idea how good it can get the longer they play,” Bumbry joked. “[They’ll say], ‘This is great.’ But then they get to college, play there and then they get drafted and go into the big leagues, they’ll say, ‘Yeah, this is really great.’ This is just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the feeling and satisfaction that you get as you move up. They’ll be overwhelmed by it, it’s quite an accomplishment.”
North roster
Pitchers
Bobby Burk, Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Mac Crismond, Sherwood
Michael Hemelt, Patterson Mill
Jack Kinsey, Hereford
Luke Pearre, Poolesville
Jay Wandell, Walter Johnson
Britton Wildasin, Oakdale
Catchers
Vance Bonior, Walter Johnson
Will Oates, St. Maria Goretti
Infielders
Jackson Inman, Good Counsel
Ryan Maxey, Georgetown Prep
Hunter St. Denis, Magruder
Pierce Tewksbury, Bethesda-Chevy Case
Outfielders
Koltin Boyer, Brunswick
Liam Irving, Sherwood
Ryan Thompson, St. Maria Goretti
Alternates
Aziz Bishop, Towson
Thomas Mezzulo, Dulaney
South roster
Pitchers
Matt Donaldson, Crofton
Zach Harris, Centennial
Daniel Hesson, Colonel Richardson
Zach LaFountain, Glenelg
Lukas Loring, Stephen Decatur
Catchers
Chase Endres, Hammond
Henry Mulliken, St. Michael’s
Infielders
Cade Ahearn, Centennial
Ryan Brown, Great Mills
Calvin Cook, Broadneck
Lucas Edwards, Mt. Hebron
Chase Kamerman, Marriots Ridge
Outfielders
Danny Dorsey, Glenelg
Tha’mon McGriff, Arundel
Danny Orr, Thomas Johnson
Alternates
Nicholas Dolbin, Arundel
JC Wilson, Southern
Local Baltimore, MD
Most Popular
Comments / 0