San Diego Padres earn four All-MLB Team selections, a league-best

Nov. 15 (UPI) -- The San Diego Padres earned a league-best four All-MLB Team selections, with shortstop Manny Machado, outfielder Jackson Merrill, and pitchers Dylan Cease and Michael King receiving the honor.

MLB revealed the first- and second-team selections Thursday on MLB Network. Recipients of the Hank Aaron Award, Reliever of the Year, Outstanding Designated Hitter Award and Comeback Player of the Year Award also were announced.

Players were selected through an even split of fan voting and from a panel of experts for the sixth-annual All-MLB Team. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros and Kansas City Royals earned three selections apiece.

The Dodgers, Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees were the only teams more than one first-team selection, with two apiece.

American League MVP favorite Aaron Judge and fellow outfielder Juan Soto were the Yankees' first-team selections. Designated hitter Shohei Ohtani and outfielder Mookie Betts were the Dodgers' first-team honorees. Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernandez was picked for the second team.

Guardians third baseman Jose Ramirez and pitcher Emmanuel Clase also were first-team selections. Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr., was picked for the first team, while two of his teammates -- catcher Salvador Perez and pitcher Seth Lugo -- made the second team. Pitcher Zach Wheeler and first baseman Bryce Harper -- both of the Philadelphia Phillies -- earned respective first- and second-team nods.

Astros second baseman Jose Altuve, designated hitter Yordan Alvarez and pitcher Framber Valdes made the second team.

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes was the only rookie to earn first-team honors. Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga and Oakland Athletics pitcher Mason Miller -- who made the second team -- were the other rookies honored with selections.

Other first-team selections included: Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras; Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.; Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte; Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale; Detroit Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal; Baltimore Orioles pitcher Corbin Burnes; and St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley.

New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran and Texas Rangers pitcher Kirby Yates were the other second-team selections.

Ohtani and Judge, who led MLB with 54 and 58 home runs, respectively, were named Hank Aaron Award winners as the best offensive players from the American League and National League.

Ohtani, the favorite for National League MVP honors, also took home the Edgar Martinez Outstanding Designated Hitter Award for the fourth-consecutive season.

Clase and Helsley received honors as the Reliver of the Year in the American League and National League, respectiively. Sale was named National League Comeback Player of the Year; while Chicago White Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet won that honor in the American League.

The Jackie Robinson Rookie of the Year Award winners will be announced Monday on MLB Network. Merrill and Skenes are the National League favorites. Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser and Yankees pitcher Luis Gil are the American League favorites.

Manager of the Year, Cy Young and MVP award winners will be announced Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. All award announcements will air at 6 p.m. EST on MLB Network.