When Minnesota Twins first baseman Donovan Solano’s knee collided with Austin Hays’ left hip Sunday, the Orioles’ outfielder feared for the worst.

Hours after learning he was a first-time All-Star, Hays exited the game with a bruise, saying Thursday the “good news was kind of short-lived.” But despite having not played since Sunday, Hays said the injury won’t keep him from competing in the All-Star Game. In fact, he’ll start it.

With fan vote winners Aaron Judge and Mike Trout on the injured list, Hays will be one of the American League’s starting outfielders in Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park alongside the Texas Rangers’ Adolis García and the Tampa Bay Rays’ Randy Arozarena. The 28-year-old Hays is hitting .312, tied for the second-best average in the AL, with an .843 OPS.

Hays will be the Orioles’ second All-Star starter in three years, with Cedric Mullins also serving as an injury replacement for Trout in 2021. Baltimore has three other representatives this year in catcher Adley Rutschman and relievers Félix Bautista and Yennier Cano.

This story will be updated.

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