Betts and Martinez in June. (Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- The Red Sox will send at least five All-Stars to the nation's capital for next Tuesday's All-Star Game, including Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez. They'll start for the American League squad.
Betts will make his third start in the Midsummer Classic after finishing second behind Jose Altuve in total fan votes.
"It's pretty exciting, definitely doesn't get old," Betts said. "We don't play this game very long in the grand scheme of things, so every year I can make it, I definitely want to go."
Betts leads the majors in average, slugging percentage, and OPS. He also has 22 homers and he's scored 71 runs. Only six other Boston players have started an All-Star Game three straight years.
Martinez was last an All-Star in 2015. The DH paces baseball with 27 homers and 74 RBI to go along with a .329 average. He says he's excited to be heading to the exhibition with so many teammates, including Mitch Moreland, Chris Sale, and Craig Kimbrel.
"Good group of guys, and to go out to Washington and spend it all of us together, it's cool, it's going to be fun," he said.
Andrew Benintendi's a candidate to make the team as well if he wins the online fan vote.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports