This All-Star and his kids stole the show on the Red Carpet
SEATTLE -- D-backs outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. earned his nickname "La Piña" -- which translates to "the pineapple" -- because of his unique hairstyle. He embraced that during his first trip to the All-Star Game.
While other MLB All-Stars opted to walk down the All-Star Red Carpet with designer suits, Gurriel personified "La Piña" in Seattle’s historic Pike Place Market. Gurriel and his three children sported matching colorful pineapple sweatsuits. It was among one of the more popular outfits on display on Tuesday morning.
“My wife came up with the idea,” Gurriel told MLB.com in Spanish. “We really love to embrace 'Piña Power' when we can, so this was a great opportunity to do so.
“I’m just really happy to be here. It’s my first All-Star Game, so it’s a very special feeling for me.”
Gurriel didn’t come alone from Arizona, as his teammates Geraldo Perdomo, Corbin Carroll and Zac Gallen also represented the D-backs in the Midsummer Classic.
Perdomo was added to the All-Star roster just four days ago. Despite such short notice, he was still able to pull out a fancy all-black suit for his first All-Star Game.
“This is absolutely the best experience I’ve ever had in my life,” Perdomo said to MLB.com in Spanish. “There’s so much fanfare and so many people. There’s a little bit of everything.
“I didn’t have enough time to prepare for the Red Carpet, but I’m glad I was able to put something nice together.”
Adley Rutschman impressed the crowd at T-Mobile Park with his switch-hitting power in Monday night's Home Run Derby, but he also wowed the fans at the Red Carpet with his gold abstract silk suit by Gentlemen’s Playbook.
“I would not have come up with this on my own,” said Rutschman, who grew up in nearby Oregon. “Gentlemen’s Playbook was helping me out a little bit. I would’ve probably chosen something that was super basic, but he was like ‘Hey, it’s the Red Carpet, you've got to go with something that stands out.’ This is what we came up with.”
International superstar Shohei Ohtani has made three All-Star Games and has kept it simple each time on the Red Carpet, going with a suit and tie. When asked by Greg Amsinger of MLB Network if this was his favorite Red Carpet outfit, Ohtani said, “I’m not really sure, but I hope it is.”
There were certainly many candidates for the best-dressed award, who will be picked by last year’s winner, Ronald Acuña Jr. Some players struggled to answer who they thought had the best outfit.
“I don’t know,” Nationals pitcher Josiah Gray said to MLB.com. “Everyone is dressed well and really well-fitted.”
“I can’t pick just one,” Pirates pitcher David Bednar said. “There’s a lot of people swagging out here.”
There is one person who's betting on himself to win best dressed, and that’s Monday night's Home Run Derby champion Vladimir Guererro Jr., who said his cousin helped him design his two-piece denim suit that has wool-like material popping out all over. Guerrero was also rocking two diamond-encrusted chains around his neck.