Sean Murphy, Orlando Arcia join Ronald Acuña Jr. as 2023 NL All-Star starters

The Braves have at least two more All-Stars headed to Seattle this July, as Orlando Arcia and Sean Murphy were announced as starters for the National League. They'll join Ronald Acuña Jr. in the starting lineup, who was automatically voted in as the top vote-getter in all of baseball.

Coming into the season, the Braves didn't know who their starting SS would be after the departure of Dansby Swanson. Most assumed that Vaughn Grissom would take over the position, but the Braves management opted for Orlando Arcia.

Arcia had started for the Milwaukee Brewers prior to being traded to the Braves, howev,er his career-best year was a 2.0 fWAR, 86 wRC+ season. This year, Arcia has broken out, hit .303/.358/.436 (116 wRC+), and currently has a 1.9 fWAR. He beat out New York Mets SS, Francisco Lindor for the starting position in the 2023 All-Star Game.

Sean Murphy was acquired from Oakland this past offseason and has not disappointed. In addition to exceptional defense behind the plate, Murphy has hit .289/.385/.540 (150 wRC+) and has been worth 3.1 fWAR, 10th-best in the major leagues.

They'll join Freddie Freeman (Dodgers), Luis Arraez (Marlins), Nolan Arenado (Cardinals), Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Mookie Betts (Dodgers), J.D. Martinez (Dodgers), and of course, Ronald Acuña Jr. in the National League starting lineup.

The Atlanta Braves had four other finalists in Phase 2 of the 2023 All-Star voting, but Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, and Austin Riley all finished second, while Michael Harris II in fourth, behind Carroll and Betts. This does not mean that they won't be All-Stars in 2023. The full rosters will be revealed this Sunday, July 2, at 5:30. Bryce Elder and Spencer Strider join the Braves' four position player finalists as strong contenders for the All-Star game, with Jesse Chavez remaining a dark horse candidate.