Panama to be represented at 2026 MLB All-Star Game as Iván Herrera replaces Shohei Ohtani

Panama will be represented at the 2026 MLB All-Star Game, with player Iván Herrera stepping in for Shohei Ohtani. Herrera, a designated hitter and catcher for the St. Louis Cardinals, earned his spot on the National League roster due to Ohtani's withdrawal because of a left knee irritation.

Herrera is having a solid season, batting .249 with 11 home runs and 40 RBIs, and an OPS of .779. He also ranks eighth in the National League with a .384 on-base percentage. His selection marks a significant moment for Panamanian baseball, as he is the first player born in the country to make an MLB All-Star appearance since Mariano Rivera in 2013.

This inclusion adds Herrera to a distinguished list of Panamanian players who have participated in the mid-summer classic. The list includes legends like Rod Carew, who holds the record with 18 selections, and Mariano Rivera, a Hall of Famer with 13 selections. Other notable Panamanian All-Stars mentioned are Manny Sanguillén, Ben Oglivie, and Carlos Lee.