Best and worst MLB All-Star Red Carpet outfits, from Shohei Ohtani and Julio Rodriguez to Raymond

David Suggs

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Best and worst MLB All-Star Red Carpet outfits, from Shohei Ohtani and Julio Rodriguez to Raymond image

Diamonds were dancing on Tuesday afternoon as MLB's best and brightest made their way by Pike Place Market for the 2023 MLB All-Star Red Carpet show.

Baseball's finest were decked out in the most elegant of finery, much of which paid homage to the city hosting this year's All-Star festivities, Seattle.

It wouldn't be a proper celebration without fits. And the masses had to be pleased with the selection on show; it seemed players were painstakingly detailed with their approach to this year's gala. These men, typically shrouded in the rigidity of baseball mores, broadened their horizons, with a great many opting for bright, vivid colors. Some even iced themselves out in jewelry, further showcasing the rapidly-improving marketability of America's game.

Not every move paid off. But it wasn't for a want of trying.

FAGAN: The Angels have failed Shohei Ohtani. They shouldn't fail their fans too.

Without further ado, The Sporting News fills you in on who dripped and who drowned in the preamble to this year's All-Star extravaganza.

Best and worst MLB All-Star Red Carpet outfits

Shohei Ohtani

To quote Jay-Z, Shohei Ohtani is a business, man, not a businessman. He certainly will be paid like one come the winter. Still, the Angels unicorn is a model of grace and composure on and off the field.

Case in point: his suit at the red carpet. Ohtani is a Japanese icon. But he seemed to pull up in Italian-like comfort, strutting through the deluge of fans and reporters that surrounded him with not a strand of hair out of place.

His pants were perfectly tailored, his shoes mirrors reflecting the brightness of his future. He accentuated his mammoth frame with a classy black necktie, leaving a sliver through his suit jacket as to show us just how far he has come. Ohtani used to pull up to these events with T-shirts. Now, he wears brands you probably can't even pronounce. Shotime indeed.

MORE: What to know about Ippei Mizuhara, Shohei Ohtani's interpreter

Adley Rutschman

The Orioles got themselves a keeper in Rutschman. For not only is he a gifted hitter — Rutschman has an eye that would make a cyclops shed a tear — he also always understands the assignment.

MORE: Adley Rutschman shows prodigious talent on Derby stage, despite first-round exit

Baltimore's catcher tends to be hounded in the shackles of his gear when he crouches behind the plate. That wasn't the case this time around, however. And freed from the captivity of his armor, Rutschman looked better for it; the 25-year-old sported a glistening rose-gold number. Extra points for the shade, which goes perfectly with that of his guests, his beloved mom and sister. Not only is he a ballplayer. He's also a family man.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (and his sons)

Winning anything — a world title, liberation from the scourge of colonial oppression, even a game of rock-paper-scissors — requires creativity. You have to conjure up a world that is fundamentally different to the one that surrounds you.

The Gurriels are a shining example of this. At first glance, the outfit may seem overwhelming. The pattern is stark, even a bit startling, depending on your viewpoint. However, it is through the mist that you can see the Gurriel family's vision. Two generations of Gurriels, each dressed to the nines in matching outfits. Even down to the Gucci shoes. Family love is a gorgeous thing, man. And if you need any example of that, just check out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and his dripped-out kids.

MORE: Why isn't Mike Trout in the MLB All-Star Game?

Julio Rodriguez

As a young, brash Seattle center fielder adept of hitting home runs and stealing them, Julio Rodriguez is cut from a certain cloth. And much like his spiritual predecessor, Ken Griffey Jr., Rodriguez is making sure to do his thing in style.

His look at the red carpet may seem understated at first glance. However, a closer examination reveals just how intricate Rodriguez and his team intended his outfit to be. First off, it's textured, an underrated element in any good outfit. Summer shirts are cool. Summer shirts with an alluring bit of rough wear on them, though? That's fire.

MORE: How many home runs did Julio Rodriguez hit at the 2023 Home Run Derby?

Secondly, peep his ice. Rodriguez's jewelry game is simply immaculate, headlined by a shimmering chain encrusted in all sorts of crazy gems. The pendant features his logo, prominently, yet another example of his growing stature in the league. And he did all of it while donning that friendly J-Rod smile, the one that has melted fans' hearts across the Pacific Northwest.

Rodriguez walks on the shoulders of his idols. And given the way he's able to perform on- and off-the-diamond, let's just say he's doing a pretty good job.

Greg Amsinger

Special mention to the reporters, by the way. MLB Network came to play, with each interviewer on the scene tied up in numbers that perfectly represented their on-air personality. But Amsinger took it up a notch.

Amsinger made sure to wears shades of teal and dark blue beneath his cream-colored suit jacket, paying homage to the Mariners. Then, he did it one better, capping off his outfit with the backwards lid a la Griffey.

MORE: Why did Ken Griffey Jr. wear his hat backwards?

It's the little things that matter. And when you pull up to Seattle in a backwards cap paying homage to one of the city's favorite sons, that will get you some serious clout. Here's hoping a fan buys him a cup of grasshoppers for his efforts.

Zac Gallen

Zac Gallen is undeniably cool. He throws darts, routinely touching the upper 90s with a devastating fastball. When that's not working for him, Gallen resorts to enigma: his pitch mix features a cutter that looks like his four-seamer and a changeup with an eerily similar trajectory to his curveball. All of this is to say, Gallen has a whole lot going for him.

His fit, though? Not so much. The NL's All-Star Game starter is scrawled in Gucci, something that a great many of us can't say. But it's a little bland, in this writer's humble opinion. Wearing brands just to wear them may seem cool. But fashion is about putting it on the line. And Gallen, with his choice of simple luxury attire, isn't really going for it.

No worries, though. He'll get another chance to shine on the mound.

MORE: Breaking down the MLB All-Star Game starting pitcher matchup

Raymond

Equal parts fur and phenom, Raymond — the Tampa Bay Rays mascot — has earned quite the reputation in Central Florida. He's a big, blue heap of joy that has helped breathe life into the mausoleum that is Tropicana Field, all while supporting one of baseball's best teams in the process. What a guy.

But fashion isn't about sentiment. It's about material results. And although Raymond's goofy smile may get the fans off their seats in the Trop, the expectations are different on the red carpet.

Raymond pulled up to Tuesday's festivities in his everyday attire. That's not necessarily a bad thing. But it would have been nice to see him tribute the Emerald City, if he had the chance. At least bring some Starbucks to the game or something.

He gets bonus points for putting on moves like a Soul Train attendee. But his outfit is just a bit lacking. And that's sad to see from such a bundle of joy.

Ronald Acuna Jr.

Ronald Acuna Jr. is, in the words of Frank Ocean, "ice cold, baby, ice cold." The Braves star, who is on pace for the first 40-70 season in MLB history, made sure to pull up to the red carpet frozen, with his neck shrouded in a crazy array of diamonds and jewels. His pendant is a reflection of his unique skillset, with the necklace showcasing him doing the "too small" celebration after pulling into second base after an extra base hit. Poetry in motion.

David Suggs

David Suggs Photo

David Suggs is a content producer at The Sporting News. A long-suffering Everton, Wizards and Commanders fan, he has learned to get used to losing over the years. In his free time, he enjoys skateboarding (poorly), listening to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye and D’Angelo, and penning short journal entries.