CALDWELL, Idaho – Former College of Idaho standout Riley O'Brien ('17) has reached one of baseball's highest honors, earning his first career Major League Baseball All-Star selection. O'Brien was officially named a National League All-Star during the MLB All-Star Game Selection Show presented by KONAMI on FOX.
The 2026 MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard, will be played July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia (8 p.m. ET, FOX).
O'Brien becomes the latest Yotes alum to make his mark on the national stage. In his fifth Major League season, the St. Louis Cardinals reliever has emerged as one of the National League's top closers, compiling a 3.72 ERA and 22 saves across 36 appearances and 36.1 innings pitched. His 22 saves rank second in the National League, just one behind San Diego's Mason Miller entering the All-Star break.
The Cardinals enter the break with a 47-43 record and sit third in the National League Central Division, with O'Brien playing a pivotal role in the club's success throughout the first half of the season.
O'Brien starred for The College of Idaho before beginning a professional career that ultimately led him to baseball's biggest stage. His selection represents a milestone achievement for both O'Brien and the Yotes baseball program.
The College of Idaho baseball program has also garnered national attention in recent weeks. Major League Baseball recently featured Wolfe Field, home of the Yotes and its distinctive purple playing surface, as part of its America 250 celebration highlighting a notable ballpark from each state. Wolfe Field was selected to represent Idaho in the nationwide series. The nation wide series is available here.
O'Brien's All-Star selection adds another chapter to a memorable summer for Yotes baseball, showcasing both the program's growing national profile and its ability to develop talent capable of reaching the highest levels of the sport.
