PHILADELPHIA, PA — The Phillies will host the 2026 Major League Baseball All Star Game at Citizens Bank Park, according to multiple reports Thursday, coinciding with America’s 250th birthday.
A formal announcement is scheduled at City Hall next Tuesday, April 16, where Gov. Wolf, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Phillies President John Middleton, Mayor Jim Kenney, and many other city and Phillie dignitaries are expected to be in attendance.
The news was first shared by Philly Inquirer beat writer Matt Breen and later confirmed by mutiple sources.
MLB has confirmed the next two All Star games will be held in Cleveland and Los Angeles, though cities have not been announced for 2021 through 2024.
The news comes as the Phillies re-emerge on the baseball scene as a potential World Series contender. Their aggressive offseason drew national attention, capped by their record 13-year, $330 million signing of superstar outfielder Bryce Harper.
>>Why Bryce Harper Chose Philadelphia As His New Home
Just as notable was their hot start to the season, which saw them sweep the Atlanta Braves and sit on Thursday in a three-way tie for first place in the NL East.
By 2026, it will have been 30 years since Philadelphia last hosted the MLB All Star game. It was held at Veterans Stadium in 1996 and, before that, in 1976, for the bicentennial. 2026 will mark the first time it is hosted at Citizens Bank Park.
So what will the Phillies look like in 2026? Right now the only player guarenteed by the Phillies in 2026 is Bryce Harper, who will be paid $27.54 million that year and will still have five years left on his contract. The Phillies will also have a $15 million option on Scott Kingery, the final year of control they have over him under the present contract, but that’s only if they pick up $13 million and $14 million team options in 2024 and 2025.
And that’s it.
The Phillies, as it stands, are built for the future, but that future extends mainly to 2021. Of course, things could and probably change. It’s certainly possible that stars like Rhys Hoskins or Aaron Nola will be extended through that time period, as they’ll still be in their early 30s then.
Current and former Phillie players will be present at the Tuesday announcement, the team said.
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