When the All-Star Game rosters were released Sunday, how the Orioles only had three representatives was shocking.

For Baltimore and Anthony Santander, it’s better late than never.

Santander will be representing the Orioles at the All-Star Game next week after being named by MLB on Thursday as the injury replacement for Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker.

Just a few days after the Orioles’ All-Star total was seen as a snub, they will send five players to the Midsummer Classic for the first time since 2016.

The switch-hitting Santander joins infielder Jordan Westburg as Baltimore players to originally miss out on making the American League’s roster but later get in as a replacement. MLB announced Tuesday that Westburg, who is in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, will replace Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, who elected to forego his spot on the AL roster because of a left shoulder injury.

Santander will join Westburg, starting pitcher Corbin Burnes, catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, for the game Tuesday. Rutschman and Henderson were voted by the fans to start the contest, while Burnes has a credible case to serve as the AL’s starting pitcher. Westburg and Santander were finalists to start the game but lost the fan vote.

The All-Star appearance will be Santander’s first of his eight-year career with the Orioles. The right fielder joined the organization as a Rule 5 draft pick in 2016, debuted in 2017 and became a mainstay in manager Brandon Hyde’s lineups in 2019.

The 29-year-old is hitting .233 with a .790 OPS in perhaps the best offensive season of his career. His 23 home runs rank tied for fifth in MLB and second on the Orioles behind Henderson’s 27.

Santander, who is a free agent this offseason, got off to his usual slow start, but once the weather warmed in June, so did the Venezuela native. Thirteen of Santander’s homers came in June when he belted a long ball in nearly 12% of his at-bats for one of the best power months in Orioles history.

The only teams with as many All-Stars as the Orioles’ five are the Philadelphia Phillies (seven), Los Angeles Dodgers (six), Cleveland Guardians (five) and San Diego Padres (five).

The Orioles have sent more than five players to the All-Star Game just four times since the club moved to Baltimore in 1954. The 1970 club, which went on to win 108 games and the World Series, sent seven players, while the 1969, 1971 and 1972 teams each had six All-Stars.

Next week will mark just the fourth time since 1973 that the Orioles have sent five players to the Midsummer Classic. In 2016, third baseman Manny Machado, outfielder Mark Trumbo, catcher Matt Wieters and relievers Brad Brach and Zack Britton represented Baltimore.

It’s possible that Santander isn’t the last Oriole to get a late invite. Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez has a hip injury that kept him out of Thursday’s lineup. If he can’t play in next week’s exhibition, Ryan O’Hearn could be his replacement after the Orioles slugger lost the fan vote against Alvarez to start the game by only four percentage points. O’Hearn entered the Orioles’ game Thursday against the Chicago Cubs with a .796 OPS.

Some pitchers could also elect to drop out, potentially creating room for Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel. The 36-year-old is enjoying a resurgent 2024 campaign with 23 saves (second in AL) and a 2.10 ERA. Since recovering from his early season stumble, Kimbrel has been the most valuable reliever in baseball with 1.1 wins above replacement by FanGraphs’ calculations.

The right-hander has given up only one earned run in his past 21 innings.

O’s add reliever Smith, option Tate: The Orioles selected the contract of veteran reliever Burch Smith on Thursday and optioned right-hander Dillon Tate to Triple-A Norfolk, the club announced ahead of its series finale against the Chicago Cubs.

Smith, 34, signed a minor league deal with the Orioles on June 27 after being released by the Miami Marlins a week before. The right-hander, who has pitched in Japan and South Korea in addition to parts of six MLB seasons, appeared in 25 games for Miami this year and posted a 4.25 ERA and 1.62 WHIP with 23 strikeouts over 29 2/3 innings. With Norfolk, he appeared in two games and pitched two scoreless innings.

“We’re excited to add Burch,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. “I think kind of the way the games have gone the last couple days, having a fresh bullpen arm was important, also. Burch is a guy that’s got a lot of experience. He’s thrown the ball really well the couple times down in Norfolk. So, to add a fresh arm for tonight we felt like was important.”

The move comes amid a tough stretch for the Orioles’ bullpen. Baltimore’s relievers have combined for a 6.07 ERA in July, fifth worst in baseball over that span.

Tate, 30, has struggled of late, allowing 11 earned runs over his past nine appearances dating to June 21. On the season, he has a 4.59 ERA and 1.41 WHIP, both of which are the highest among the Orioles’ relievers with at least 20 appearances. This will be the second time he’s been optioned to Triple-A this year.

O’s swing cash trade, move Bradish to 60-day IL: Executive vice president and general manager Mike Elias stayed busy pregame, acquiring right-hander reliever Colin Selby from the Kansas City Royals for cash. The Royals designated Selby, 26, for assignment Saturday after trading for him in April. A native of Chesapeake, Virginia, Selby has pitched 27 innings in the majors over the past two seasons with an 8.67 ERA and 30 strikeouts. He’s spent most of 2024 in Triple-A, where he’s put up a 5.32 ERA in 20 appearances.

To make room on their 40-man roster, which was full with the addition of Smith, the Orioles moved Kyle Bradish to the 60-day injured list. Bradish has already been ruled out for the remainder of this season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow in June. Shifting him to the 60-day IL is a procedural move that clears a spot on their 40-man.

Around the horn

The Orioles announced their starting pitchers for this weekend’s series against the New York Yankees, their final before the All-Star break: Cade Povich vs. Gerrit Cole on Friday, Grayson Rodriguez vs. Luis Gil on Saturday and Dean Kremer vs. Carlos Rodón on Sunday.

Triple-A Norfolk infielder Terrin Vavra landed on the minor league injured list Thursday with an illness, the Orioles announced. Vavra, a member of the club’s opening day roster in 2023, has hit the IL three times this season, limiting him to 24 games. He’s slashed .271/.380/.412 with two home runs for Norfolk when healthy.

The Chicago Cubs placed outfielder Coby Bellinger on the 15-day IL with a left middle finger fracture Thursday after he was hit in the hand by a pitch from Orioles reliever Cionel Pérez on Wednesday night. Chicago recalled outfielder Alexander Canario for the series finale in a corresponding move.

Henderson completed a practice round for the Home Run Derby on the field before Thursday’s game, taking pitches from Triple-A Norfolk manager Buck Britton — his choice to pitch to him in the derby Monday. Henderson will compete in a new format in Arlington, Texas, against New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso, Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna, Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, Cleveland Guardians third baseman José Ramírez, Texas Rangers outfielder Adolis García and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández.