The first round of voting results for the upcoming MLB All-Star Game in Colorado were released yesterday and, as always, there were a number of surprises and snubs. While the final rosters won’t be finalized until early July, here are what my NL and AL squads would look like at this point in time.
Bold indicates the starter at each position, while the stats represent all games played prior to June 15th. Injuries are also as of June 15th. As a reminder, each MLB team must have at least one representative on the roster.
National League
Catcher
Buster Posey (SFG) – 180 PA, .329 AVG/.400 OBP/.571 SLG, 11 HR, 23 RBI, 31 K, 18 BB, 166 wRC+
J.T. Realmuto (PHI) – 184 PA, .294/.402/.477, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 41 K, 24 BB, 144 wRC+
Carson Kelly (ARZ) – 174 PA, .271/.391/.479, 8 HR, 26 RBI, 36 K, 26 BB, 138 wRC+
After a year away from the game, Posey has put together career numbers through the first two-plus months of the 2021 season. You could certainly make an argument to swap Realmuto for Milwaukee’s Omar Narvaez, as both have had sensational campaigns. Both could conceivably make it in if Arizona outfielder Ketel Marte is able to amass enough plate appearances between now and early July. As it stands, Kelly is the best choice to be the Diamondbacks lone representative with almost 70 more PAs than his teammate.
1st Base
Freddie Freeman (ATL) – 274 PA, .237/.354/.461, 15 HR, 35 RBI, 48 K, 41 BB, 119 wRC+
Jesús Aguilar (MIA) – 254 PA, .268/.327/.482, 12 HR, 49 RBI, 45 K, 21 BB, 121 wRC+
With the loss of Max Muncy to the IL, the crop of first basemen in the National League is relatively weak, especially when compared to their AL counterparts. There are a number of guys who could earn the nod here given Muncy’s injury, but NL East peers Freeman and Aguilar just edge out Anthony Rizzo this time around.
2nd Base
Adam Frazier (PIT) – 284 PA, .332/.394/.469, 2 HR, 24 RBI, 31 K, 23 BB, 141 wRC+
Jazz Chisholm (MIA) – 180 PA, .278/.344/.481, 8 HR, 24 RBI, 58 K, 14 BB, 132 wRC+
Jean Segura (PHI) – 198 PA, .335/.384/.473, 3 HR, 20 RBI, 28 K, 13 BB, 136 wRC+
Fans of these three teams haven’t had a ton to cheer about in 2021, but all three of their second basemen have been major bright spots for the most part. Frazier is putting up the most potent numbers of his six-year career and may end up being in contention for the NL batting title if he can keep it up. After a rough big-league introduction in 2020, Chisholm is exhibiting why many analysts loved him as a prospect, while Segura has given the hot-and-cold Phillies offense a much-needed spark.
3rd Base
Kris Bryant (CHC) – 256 PA, .292/.371/.544, 13 HR, 39 RBI, 59 K, 26 BB, 150 wRC+
Justin Turner (LAD) – 263 PA, .278/.369/.485, 12 HR, 34 RBI, 50 K, 32 BB, 140 wRC+
Austin Riley (ATL) – 245 PA, .299/.384/.517, 12 HR, 20 RBI, 70 K, 24 BB, 144 wRC+
While Bryant has played far more innings in the outfield than he has at the hot corner this year, the All-Star ballot has him listed as a third baseman. C’est la vie. He’d make the NL team regardless, but he’ll prevent Turner or Riley from earning starting honors.
Shortstop
Fernando Tatis Jr. (SDP) – 210 PA, .273/.348/.639, 19 HR, 44 RBI, 60 K, 23 BB, 161 wRC+
Brandon Crawford (SFG) – 214 PA, .257/.341/.545, 15 HR, 44 RBI, 51 K, 23 BB, 140 wRC+
Trea Turner (WSH) – 276 PA, .298/.344/.459, 10 HR, 30 RBI, 56 K, 16 BB, 120 wRC+
As the second-leading vote getter in the NL to this point, Tatis will almost certainly be jogging out to short on July 13th as the starter in the midst of an MVP race. Let’s not overlook Crawford (who is having the best season of his career at age 34) or Turner (who is trying his best to keep the Nationals afloat), though.
Outfield
Nick Castellanos (CIN) – 260 PA, .357/.412/.626, 13 HR, 37 RBI, 51 K, 20 BB, 180 wRC+
Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) – 259 PA, .282/.390/.597, 18 HR, 39 RBI, 57 K, 36 BB, 164 wRC+
Jesse Winker (CIN) – 254 PA, .342/.417/.631, 17 HR, 41 RBI, 43 K, 25 BB, 183 wRC+
Bryan Reynolds (PIT) – 262 PA, .286/.389/.500, 10 HR, 31 RBI, 55 K, 35 BB, 146 wRC+
Tyler O’Neill (STL) – 176 PA, .291/.330/.630, 15 HR, 33 RBI, 60 K, 6 BB, 161 wRC+
Chris Taylor (LAD) – 244 PA, .275/.389/.475, 9 HR, 35 RBI, 60 K, 32 BB, 144 wRC+
Barring injury, it would be surprising if we didn’t see two Reds flanking the fun-loving Acuña in the vast Colorado outfield next month. Castellanos and Winker have definitely done their part to keep Cincinnati in the playoff race while Acuña continues to cement himself as an elite player nightly. Reynolds has bounced back from a ghastly sophomore season to put up big numbers, and O’Neill seems to have finally put all the pieces together at 26 years of age. After years of being overlooked due to numerous factors, it would be a travesty if Taylor isn’t finally rewarded with his first All-Star nomination with the kind of season he’s having.
Pitchers
Jacob deGrom (NYM) – 10 GS, 0.56 ERA/1.29 xERA/0.92 FIP, 64.0 IP, 14.48 K/9, 1.13 BB/9, 0.42 HR/9, 15 ERA-
Corbin Burnes (MIL) – 11 GS, 2.27/1.50/1.00, 63.1 IP, 14.49 K/9, 1.42 BB/9, 0.28 HR/9, 57 ERA-
Zack Wheeler (PHI) – 13 GS, 2.29/2.41/2.38, 90.1 IP, 11.16 K/9, 1.79 BB/9, 0.70 HR/9, 57 ERA-
Brandon Woodruff (MIL) – 13 GS, 1.52/2.61/2.48, 83.0 IP, 10.52 K/9, 1.84 BB/9, 0.65 HR/9, 38 ERA-
Kevin Gausman (SFG) – 13 GS, 1.43/2.79/2.39, 81.2 IP, 10.69 K/9, 1.98 BB/9, 0.66 HR/9, 37 ERA-
Freddy Peralta (MIL) – 12 GS, 2.25/2.51/3.02, 68.0 IP, 12.97 K/9, 3.84 BB/9, 0.93 HR/9, 56 ERA-
Trevor Rogers (MIA) – 13 GS, 2.02/2.92/2.56, 75.2 IP, 10.59 K/9, 2.97 BB/9, 0.48 HR/9, 54 ERA-
Clayton Kershaw (LAD) – 14 GS, 3.39/3.06/2.73, 82.1 IP, 10.38 K/9, 1.53 BB/9, 0.87 HR/9, 89 ERA-
Yu Darvish (SDP) – 13 GS, 2.28/2.71/3.13, 79.0 IP, 10.48 K/9, 2.16 BB/9, 0.91 HR/9, 59 ERA-
Josh Hader (MIL) – 27 G, 0.68/1.57/0.71, 26.2 IP, 15.53 K/9, 3.04 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 17 ERA-
Craig Kimbrel (CHC) – 28 G, 0.66/1.85/1.32, 27.1 IP, 14.82 K/9, 2.96 BB/9, 0.33 HR/9, 17 ERA-
Daniel Bard (COL) – 24 G, 4.15/4.13/3.38, 26.0 IP, 12.46 K/9, 3.81 BB/9, 1.04 HR/9, 91 ERA-
There are only so many ways to see “deGrom is really good.” He’s rewriting the story of the game every five days and he’s on the fast-track to being one of the best players we’ll ever see. The 2021 NL Cy Young Award already has his name engraved, but there are many other talented pitchers in the NL that deserve recognition. The Brewers have put together one of the best rotations in the league, and there aren’t many trios better than Burnes-Woodruff-Peralta. Gausman has finally become the pitcher many thought he’d be back in his Orioles days and may very well be the biggest surprise in the NL through the first two-and-a-half months. The feel-good story out of this grouping would easily be Bard, the lone Rockies representative—after being away from the game for almost seven years, the pitcher earns his first-ever All-Star bid on this squad.
Injuries
Max Muncy (LAD) – 244 PA, .264/.418/.528, 14 HR, 33 RBI, 50 K, 46 BB, 163 wRC+
Jack Flaherty (STL) – 11 GS, 2.90/4.48/3.72, 62.0 IP, 9.73 K/9, 2.90 BB/9, 1.02 HR/9, 75 ERA-
Max Scherzer (WSH) – 13 GS, 2.21/2.71/3.05, 77.1 IP, 12.10 K/9, 1.75 BB/9, 1.28 HR/9, 54 ERA-
American League
Catcher
Salvador Perez (KCR) – 266 PA, .285/.316/.526, 16 HR, 43 RBI, 66 K, 8 BB, 126 wRC+
Yasmani Grandal (CWS) – 186 PA, .154/.395/.400, 10 HR, 23 RBI, 50 K, 52 BB, 132 wRC+
How has Perez followed up his career-best 2020 season? By posting the second-best season of his career in 2021! It’s also worth noting the 266 plate appearances he’s accumulated so far, which is an impressive feat even when taking into account the 15 games he has DH’d. Grandal’s batting average is ugly, for sure, but everything else…is pretty darn good for a catcher.
1st Base
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (TOR) – 273 PA, .346/.451/.697, 22 HR, 56 RBI, 42 K, 40 BB, 206 wRC+
Matt Olson (OAK) – 259 PA, .290/.375/.606, 18 HR, 48 RBI, 44 K, 29 BB, 167 wRC+
Here, you’ll find your 2021 AL MVP frontrunner in Vlad Jr., who continues to amaze all of us each time he swings the bat. Any other year, Olson might be in the MVP conversation (and, to be fair, it wouldn’t be surprising if he was named a finalist), but his first All-Star appearance has to be a fair consolation prize.
2nd Base
Marcus Semien (TOR) – 288 PA, .290/.354/.521, 15 HR, 37 RBI, 69 K, 26 BB, 138 wRC+
José Altuve (HOU) – 257 PA, .288/.358/.473, 12 HR, 30 RBI, 40 K, 26 BB, 132 wRC+
Semien finished third in AL MVP voting in 2019 and then, considering the circumstances, followed that up with the worst season of his career. You can’t keep a good Semien down, though, as Marcus has bounced back and put up similar numbers to that incredible ’19 campaign. Speaking of bounce backs, Altuve is also proving that he doesn’t need trash cans to be successful.
3rd Base
José Ramirez (CLE) – 259 PA, .276/.359/.538, 14 HR, 38 RBI, 33 K, 28 BB, 139 wRC+
Rafael Devers (BOS) – 265 PA, .276/.340/.552, 15 HR, 50 RBI, 67 K, 21 BB, 135 wRC+
Yoán Moncada (CWS) – 266 PA, .280/.402/.408, 5 HR, 32 RBI, 75 K, 41 BB, 134 wRC+
Remember that point in time in 2019 when people wondered whether Ramirez would ever perform like the guy who finished third in AL MVP voting in ’17 and ’18? That was funny. You could honestly make a strong case for any of these three studs to be the AL’s starter at third base, but for right now the Cleveland veteran holds a very slight edge.
Shortstop
Xander Bogaerts (BOS) – 259 PA, .320/.382/.550, 12 HR, 39 RBI, 49 K, 23 BB, 151 wRC+
Carlos Correa (HOU) – 271 PA, .288/.376/.492, 11 HR, 35 RBI, 44 K, 33 BB, 144 wRC+
Joey Wendle (TBR) – 215 PA, .291/.349/.495, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 44 K, 13 BB, 136 wRC+
Bogaerts has outlasted the rest of the Killer B’s (Bradley, Benintendi, Betts) and has been a big reason for Boston’s surprise resurgence in 2021. He has one top-five AL MVP finish on his resume, and a 2nd top-five finish seems to be in the cards. As with his teammate in Altuve, Correa is also proving that he doesn’t need trash cans to put up good numbers (and in a contract year, no less). It’s understandable that Wendle gets overlooked but he’s quietly crafted an All-Star worthy 2021 as part of one of the best teams in the league.
Outfield
Aaron Judge (NYY) – 255 PA, .289/.388/.532, 15 HR, 35 RBI, 63 K, 35 BB, 154 wRC+
Cedric Mullins II (BAL) – 276 PA, .321/.389/.524, 9 HR, 19 RBI, 51 K, 27 BB, 152 wRC+
Michael Brantley (HOU) – 202 PA, .337/.381/.497, 3 HR, 21 RBI, 22 K, 12 BB, 148 wRC+
Mark Canha (OAK) – 288 PA, .252/.378/.462, 11 HR, 27 RBI, 63 K, 36 BB, 141 wRC+
Mitch Haniger (SEA) – 274 PA, .259/.310/.518, 16 HR, 40 RBI, 64 K, 19 BB, 128 wRC+
Robbie Grossman (DET) – 280 PA, .242/.357/.424, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 67 K, 40 BB, 117 wRC+
Due in part to their season-long performance and in part to some unfortunate injuries, the trio of Judge, Mullins II, and Brantley should be the starters on July 13th for the AL, although the current voting results don’t seem to be trending that way. Canha has posted All-Star numbers and while it would be neat to see both him and Laureano make the team, there’s likely only room for one of them. I really wanted to include Austin Meadows in this group, but he’s classified as a DH on the ballot so I had to stray away and select Grossman to fill out the bench as Detroit’s lone representative.
Designated Hitter
J.D. Martinez (BOS) – 263 PA, .309/.373/.542, 13 HR, 41 RBI, 59 K, 24 BB, 146 wRC+
Nelson Cruz (MIN) – 228 PA, .297/.373/.549, 13 HR, 31 RBI, 43 K, 23 BB, 149 wRC+
You could really just flip a coin when it comes to this spot—Martinez has bounced back from a terrible 2020 while Cruz continues to impress at the ripe age of 40.
Pitchers
Gerrit Cole (NYY) – 13 GS, 2.31/2.37/2.10, 81.2 IP, 12.45 K/9, 1.12 BB/9, 0.88 HR/9, 55 ERA-
Carlos Rodón (CWS) – 11 GS, 1.89/2.51/2.40, 66.2 IP, 13.10 K/9, 2.30 BB/9, 0.81 HR/9, 46 ERA-
Lance Lynn (CWS) – 12 GS, 1.51/2.82/3.25, 71.2 IP, 10.05 K/9, 2.51 BB/9, 1.00 HR/9, 36 ERA-
Chris Bassitt (OAK) – 14 GS, 3.43/3.13/3.29, 86.2 IP, 9.45 K/9, 2.18 BB/9, 0.83 HR/9, 85 ERA-
Hyun-Jin Ryu (TOR) – 12 GS, 3.34/3.59/3.57, 70.0 IP, 7.97 K/9, 1.54 BB/9, 1.16 HR/9, 77 ERA-
Shohei Ohtani* (LAA) – 9 GS, 2.85/3.59/3.41, 47.1 IP, 12.93 K/9, 5.32 BB/9, 0.76 HR/9, 68 ERA-
Kyle Gibson (TEX) – 12 GS, 2.13/3.13/3.40, 71.2 IP, 7.28 K/9, 2.64 BB/9, 0.63 HR/9, 51 ERA-
Dylan Cease (CWS) – 13 GS, 3.38/3.54/3.26, 66.2 IP, 11.48 K/9, 3.92 BB/9, 0.81 HR/9, 81 ERA-
Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) – 14 GS, 3.76/3.47/2.61, 79.0 IP, 8.43 K/9, 2.05 BB/9, 0.34 HR/9, 86 ERA-
Matt Barnes (BOS) – 28 G, 2.86/1.62/1.74, 28.1 IP, 15.88 K/9, 2.22 BB/9, 0.95 HR/9, 65 ERA-
Liam Hendriks (CWS) – 30 G, 2.22/2.13/2.66, 28.1 IP, 13.98 K/9, 0.95 BB/9, 1.59 HR/9, 54 ERA-
Scott Barlow (KCR) – 29 G, 1.95/2.97/1.79, 32.1 IP, 12.80 K/9, 3.90 BB/9, 0.00 HR/9, 45 ERA-
The talent pool for American League starting pitchers has been immensely diluted due to the current injury landscape. Because Bieber, Means, Turnbull, Glasnow, and Boyd are all on the IL, some unexpected names have made their way onto this edition of the roster. The injuries are also why I made one exception for sticking to ballot classifications; I have Ohtani with the pitchers on this roster, although I can’t imagine that precluding him from swinging a bat if manager Kevin Cash wants to send him out there.
Otherwise, the White Sox join the Brewers as teams who send three SPs and one reliever. Gibson also earns the nod as the lone representative for the Rangers as he remains on track for a career-best season one year before his contract expires.
Injuries
Mike Trout (LAA) – 146 PA, .333/.466/.624, 8 HR, 18 RBI, 41 K, 27 BB, 194 wRC+
Byron Buxton (MIN) – 98 PA, .370/.408/.772, 9 HR, 17 RBI, 23 K, 4 BB, 219 wRC+
Ramón Laureano (OAK) – 205 PA, .257/.332/.503, 11 HR, 22 RBI, 55 K, 17 BB, 133 wRC+
Shane Bieber (CLE) – 14 GS, 3.28/3.54/3.09, 90.2 IP, 12.90 K/9, 3.28 BB/9, 1.09 HR/9, 76 ERA-
John Means (BAL) – 12 GS, 2.28/3.64/4.18, 71.0 IP, 8.75 K/9, 1.65 BB/9, 1.65 HR/9, 54 ERA-
Spencer Turnbull (DET) – 9 GS, 2.88/3.01/2.93, 50.0 IP, 7.92 K/9, 2.16 BB/9, 0.36 HR/9, 67 ERA-
Tyler Glasnow (TBR) – 14 GS, 2.66/2.67/2.75, 88.0 IP, 12.58 K/9, 2.76 BB/9, 1.02 HR/9, 66 ERA-
Matthew Boyd (DET) – 13 GS, 3.44/3.91/3.73, 70.2 IP, 7.13 K/9, 2.42 BB/9, 0.76 HR/9, 80 ERA-
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