Initial roster released for All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game at Marlins Park

MLB.com has released the initial roster for the All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game that’s going to take place immediately following the Home Run Derby on July 10th at Marlins Park.

The roster will undoubtedly be expanding as it currently only stands at 16 people, but it’s an interesting glimpse into the minds of MLB brass as they attempt to appeal to the local populace. Last year the All-Star game was in San Diego, so the team that MLB ended up fielding was an interesting mixture of Hall of Famers, former Padres players, San Diego locals and cast members from the now defunct series “Pitch.”

Here is the list as it stands thus far:

Legends

• Ivan Rodriguez
• Benito Santiago
• Al Leiter
• Andre Dawson
• Rickey Henderson
• Tim Raines

Five of six actually spent some time with the Fish (Dawson was born in Miami) while Henderson clearly qualifies as a legend. We can only presume that there will be a mid-game stoppage of play to allow Henderson and Raines a chance to steal some bags off of Rodriguez and Santiago.

Celebrities

• William Levy
• Dascha Polanco
• Jencarlos Canela
• Chris Jackson
• Miles Teller
• Jennie Finch
• David Spark “Heavy D”
• Michael Cudlitz
• Justin Hartley
• Jessica Mendoza

If you don’t recognize most of those names...don’t feel bad, I didn’t either. Fortunately you can follow the link from above where MLB.com has handily provided information on each person. Many of them have local tie-ins. Finch and Mendoza can obviously lay claim to stout athletic pedigrees in addition to their present media responsibilities.

Of the bunch, I’d be most interested in seeing Cudlitz as I loved Abraham on the Walking Dead. I’d throw up a gif or two with some of his best quotes on it but I’m afraid my mom my be reading this so go look them up instead.