The All-Star Game press conference was winding down when Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts suddenly dropped a curveball, no, not in the game, but mid-sentence. Reporters leaned in, not because of a roster update or strategy breakdown, but because something felt oddly… fishy. And sweet. Moments later, the room erupted in laughter, and a previously ordinary media appearance turned into a viral moment across baseball fandom.
The unexpected star of the moment? The Miami Marlins outfielder, Kyle Stowers, had to step into late-game action after Eugenio Suarez left the field because of a hand injury. But rather than just calling on Stowers by name, Roberts introduced him with flair: “I was hoping we didn’t have a home run, a swing off,” Roberts began, building up to the punchline. “Then obviously Eugenio got hit in the hand, so I had to replace him with my starfish, Kyle Stowers. That’s his new nickname, Starfish.”
That hilarious one-liner wasn’t random either. As Roberts later revealed, the Dodgers’ media team dared him to sneak two unrelated words, “sweet potato” and “starfish,” into a real press conference. Without flinching, he accepted the mission, and in true Roberts fashion, he delivered with humor and timing that rivaled his bullpen management.
He even worked in the second word with surprising sincerity. “When I came to Atlanta, I got this restaurant that I get my favorite sweet potato from,” Roberts shared, grinning as the media caught on. “That was one takeaway I had pop in Atlanta and get my favorite meal.”
But behind the laughs and nicknames was something more genuine: a glimpse at how baseball’s biggest names keep things light in the middle of high-stakes, star-studded weekends. “Spending time with the guys,” Roberts added, “there’s more talent in this game, top to bottom, than there has ever been.”
For Stowers, who had already earned his All-Star nod with quiet consistency, the nickname was an unexpected gift, a playful, unscripted moment now etched into the weekend’s storyline. Whether Starfish sticks or not, one thing’s certain: this wasn’t just a press conference. It was classic baseball banter at its best.
Marlins’ Kyle Stowers returns to Baltimore as an All-Star
A year ago, Kyle Stowers was caught in limbo, riding the shuttle between Triple-A Norfolk and Baltimore, trying to stick in a crowded Orioles outfield. Fast-forward to now, and he’s walking back into Camden Yards not as a fringe player, but as a 2025 National League All-Star. The same stadium where he debuted. The same outfield where he crushed his first big league homer. “I’m very comfortable in this ballpark. It’s where I debuted. I hit my first home run here,” Stowers said with a quiet smile. “Lot of special moments. I guess I shouldn’t say a lot. A few special moments.”
His journey since that debut hasn’t followed a straight line. The Orioles, chasing pitching help at last year’s deadline, dealt Stowers and Connor Norby to Miami in exchange for Trevor Rogers. The move uprooted Stowers, who then hit just .186 in 50 games with the Marlins. Instead of giving up hope and failing, he took action by refining his technique and changing his mindset that previously blocked his progress. “I just feel like I’ve learned how to not put pressure on myself,” he said. “I have a multitude of people that love and care about me regardless of what happens on the baseball field.”
Now, Stowers is delivering in ways few saw coming. He arrived in Baltimore hitting .279 with 16 homers and 48 RBIs, numbers that would lead the Orioles’ lineup. From a walk-off single on Opening Day to a grand slam off All-Star closer Mason Miller, Stowers has turned big moments into a habit. “That was a big one for us and a big one for Kyle,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said of the May 3 blast.
As he steps back into Camden Yards this weekend, it’s not just about nostalgia; it’s about owning the arc of his own redemption story.
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