Early-season MLB All-Star picks: Two-way Shohei, Ben Rice, Matt Olson and more (original) (raw)

The first MLB All-Star fan voting phase began last Wednesday and will close on June 25. Phase 2, which is when fans vote from the list of finalists, will commence on June 30 and conclude on July 2, with the All-Star Game being held this year on July 14 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia.

With fans already filling out their ballots, it’s a good time to weigh in on who should be representing the American and National Leagues in this year’s Midsummer Classic. Below you’ll find my picks for the AL and NL All-Star rosters.

This year, the NL All-Star team will be loaded with aces galore and choosing a starting pitcher will be difficult. Hometown star Cristopher Sánchez would be a strong choice, and it’s easy to make an argument for Jacob Misiorowski and Shohei Ohtani, as well. All three are early-season Cy Young Award candidates.

In the AL, the dynamic left-handed hitting power duo of first baseman Ben Rice and designated hitter Yordan Alvarez will lead the lineup. The roster might only have room for one member of the strong Mariners starting rotation, which is hard to stomach but also a result of all teams needing to have at least one representative.

One thing you’ll be sure to notice on my teams is that some of the best overall players in the sport, like Ronald Acuña Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., aren’t on the rosters. Maybe one or two will find a way into the game, but with Tatis struggling to hit for power, Acuña spending time on the IL and Guerrero not performing at the level of the other top AL first basemen, they are currently on the outside of my All-Star rosters looking in.

When the actual All-Star rosters are announced, there will be deserving names left off the lists due to roster constraints — each team has 32 spots, 12 for pitchers and 20 for position players — and that is the case with the rosters I have put together here, which are built under the same rules. Several of the players whom I have snubbed will still end up voted in or make it as injury replacements. But because of the roster rules and voting process, some worthy players inevitably don’t make it.

Here is my early look at the AL and NL All-Star teams, with starters and backups for each position, if I had to pick them today. Let me know which ones I got wrong — and right — in the comments section below.

All stats are through Sat., June 6 unless noted.

National League

First base (2)

Matt Olson, Atlanta Braves (starter)

Olson plays every day and leads NL first basemen in homers, hits and slugging percentage. He’s also a plus defender and is having a strong bounce-back season after a down year.

This would be Bryce Harper’s ninth All-Star selection. (Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies

A Philadelphia hometown favorite, Harper edges out Reds rookie Sal Stewart and the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman for the backup role.

Second base (2)

Brice Turang, Milwaukee Brewers (starter)

Turang is the best overall second baseman in baseball. He’s a Platinum Glove-level defender with elite range to both sides. At the plate, his power-and-speed combination makes him one of the most productive hitting infielders in the NL.

Xavier Edwards, Miami Marlins

I chose Edwards due to his .306/.389/.459 slash line, along with his plus defense and 10 steals. This was one of my most difficult decisions because I had to leave off three other deserving second basemen in the Pirates’ Brandon Lowe, the Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt and the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte.

Shortstop (2)

CJ Abrams, Washington Nationals (starter)

Abrams is having a tremendous season, leading all shortstops in OPS (.908) to go along with 13 homers and nine steals.

Elly De La Cruz, Cincinnati Reds

It’s extremely close between Abrams and De La Cruz on who should start, as De La Cruz also has 12 homers with 10 steals, but his slash line is slightly below Abrams’ and he’s currently on the IL with a hamstring strain.

Third base (2)

Max Muncy, Los Angeles Dodgers (starter)

Muncy leads all NL third basemen in OPS and homers. Third base is the weakest position in the NL this year, with players like Manny Machado, Alex Bregman, Austin Riley and Matt Chapman all having down years.

Casey Schmitt, San Francisco Giants

Nolan Arenado is probably having the second-best season among all NL third basemen, but it’s not the type of year that deserves an All-Star nod. Since the Giants need a representative on the team, Schmitt is the most deserving. He’s been the Giants’ most consistent offensive player all year and has an .869 OPS with 15 homers.

He doesn’t play third base regularly for the Giants with Chapman ahead of him, but he’s played all of the infield positions and even some outfield, so he fits the roster well. He’s the 32nd player on this roster.

Right field (3)

James Wood, Washington Nationals (starter)

Wood plays every day, leads all right fielders in OPS and has belted 17 homers with 10 steals while playing a solid right field.

Corbin Carroll, Arizona Diamondbacks

Carroll fills up the stat sheet and is on pace to have double-digits in doubles, triples, home runs and steals. He’s a complete player.

Jordan Walker, St. Louis Cardinals

In a breakout season, Walker has been the MVP of the Cardinals, with 16 homers to go along with a .362 on-base percentage.

Center field (3)

Andy Pages, Los Angeles Dodgers (starter)

Pages has been the Dodgers’ best offensive player all season while playing elite defense in center field and has a higher bWAR than every position player on the NL team not named Shohei Ohtani.

Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves

Harris, like Walker, is having his breakout season, hitting over .308, with 13 homers and plus range in center field. He edges out the Pirates’ Oneil Cruz, who is having an outstanding season offensively but has struggled on defense.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Chicago Cubs

I had a difficult time choosing a Cubs representative. It was between Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, but I elected to go with Crow-Armstrong because of his plus-plus defense in center and his special power-speed combination offensively.

Left field (1)

Juan Soto, New York Mets

Soto has been the only real bright spot on the Mets this year and even with time missed due to a calf injury, he’s still slashing an impressive .280/.365/.537 with 13 homers.

Mets fans have had little to cheer about this season, but Juan Soto is a legitimate All-Star choice and a reason for them to smile. (Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

Catcher (3)

Drake Baldwin, Atlanta Braves

Baldwin is the best all-around catcher in the league, leading all catchers in OPS. He has a 1.93-second pop time and is above average in both framing and blocks above average. He’s currently on the IL with an oblique injury but is expected to return before the end of the month.

Hunter Goodman, Colorado Rockies

Goodman was the Rockies’ only All-Star last year and deserves to be their sole representative again this year. He’s a well-above-average offensive catcher and is considered above average at blocking balls in the dirt.

Liam Hicks, Miami Marlins

Hicks has been a pleasant surprise for the Marlins, hitting 12 homers while posting an .815 OPS.

Designated hitter (2)

Shohei Ohtani, Los Angeles Dodgers

Ohtani makes the All-Star team as a two-way player, counting as one of the NL’s 20 position players but not counting against their 12-pitcher limit, just like he doesn’t count as a pitcher on the Dodgers’ roster. Still, expect to see him in both roles in the All-Star Game. Ohtani has posted a .941 OPS with 11 homers but has been even better on the mound, with only five earned runs allowed in 61 innings pitched.

Kyle Schwarber, Philadelphia Phillies

He has 23 Schwarbombs already, with a .944 OPS and 155 OPS+ and is the face of the franchise for the host city.

Pitchers (12)

Cristopher Sánchez, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies (starter)

Sánchez recently ended a historic streak of 50 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings and has developed into the ace of the Phillies staff. If he continues to pitch as he has so far this season, he’ll be the popular pick to throw the first All-Star pitch at his home park. Jacob Misiorowski and Ohtani will also be under strong consideration for the honor.

Jacob Misiorowski may get edged out of the starter spot for the NL, but he’s a lock to make it two-for-two in All-Star selections in his young career. (John Fisher / Getty Images)

Jacob Misiorowski, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers

Misiorowski has arguably the best fastball in MLB history and has thrown more pitches over 100 mph than anyone since the stat started being documented. He has 116 strikeouts, 22 walks and a 1.50 ERA over 13 starts. If the game weren’t in Philadelphia, he’d get the edge for me as the starter.

Chris Sale, LHP, Atlanta Braves

Whenever Sale is healthy, he’s a Cy Young candidate and this year is no different. His strong start has helped lead the Braves to the best record in baseball.

Chase Burns, RHP, Cincinnati Reds

Burns is 7-1 with a 2.05 ERA, with opponents hitting just .183 against him. His 98-mph fastball is as devastating as his wipeout slider, which is one of the best in the game.

Paul Skenes, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

It doesn’t look like Skenes will win another Cy Young Award this season, but he certainly will be in the All-Star Game, as he’s been solid after a bad first start of the season. His 2.60 FIP is nearly half a run lower than his ERA and his expected ERA (xERA) is 2.29.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP, Los Angeles Dodgers

The reigning World Series MVP has been solid all year, posting a 2.68 ERA with 73 strikeouts and 15 walks over 77 1/3 innings.

Kyle Harrison, LHP, Milwaukee Brewers

Acquired in an offseason trade with the Red Sox, Harrison is having a breakout season in his first year in Milwaukee, putting up the lowest ERA through his first 10 starts with the team in franchise history, surpassing C.C. Sabathia in 2008.

Braxton Ashcraft, RHP, Pittsburgh Pirates

Ashcraft is the most underrated pitcher in the NL, with a 3.28 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 79 2/3 innings. Bryce Elder of the Braves is another strong choice, but in my book, Ashcraft is just ahead of him for a spot.

Eduardo Rodríguez, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Rodríguez is fifth in the league in ERA (2.52) and is a candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. Nice to finally see him healthy and dealing.

Mason Miller, RHP, San Diego Padres

Miller is putting together one of the most dominating seasons from a reliever in the modern era. He’s converted all 18 of his save opportunities and has struck out nearly two batters an inning while allowing only 12 hits in 26 2/3 innings and just three earned runs. He’s also a Cy Young Award candidate.

Jhoan Duran, RHP, Philadelphia Phillies

Duran has converted all 15 of his save opportunities with an impressive 1.31 ERA with 33 strikeouts and five walks over 20 2/3 innings. He’s pitching as well as he ever has in his impressive career.

Raisel Iglesias, RHP, Atlanta Braves

He’s converted all 13 of his save opportunities with a 0.87 ERA over 20 appearances. Dominant best describes him right now.

American League

First base (3)

Ben Rice, New York Yankees (starter)

It’s hard to believe that Rice is having a better year than his teammate and the reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge, but that’s the case. He’s turned into a bona fide star this season.

Nick Kurtz is an on-base machine, and when he’s not walking, he’s hitting for power. (Scott Marshall / Imagn Images)

Nick Kurtz, Athletics

Kurtz’s 48-game on-base streak was as amazing as his current .435 on-base percentage. He’s already walked (60) almost as many times in 63 games as he did in 117 games (63) in his AL Rookie of the Year season. He’s also still hitting for power (.489 SLG).

Munetaka Murakami, Chicago White Sox

Murakami was leading the league with 20 homers when he suffered a Grade 2 right hamstring strain. There is a chance he could be back in time for the All-Star Game and he’s a deserving participant if he’s healthy enough to play.

Second base (1)

Jazz Chisholm Jr., New York Yankees (starter)

Second base is probably the weakest position in the AL, but I gave the nod to Chisholm despite his slow start to the season due to his power-and-speed combination. I did consider the Blue Jays’ Ernie Clement, the Rangers’ Ezequiel Duran and the White Sox’s Chase Meidroth.

Shortstop (2)

Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals (starter)

Witt is the best all-around shortstop in the sport, ranking in the 100th percentile in fielding run value and 86th percentile in batting run value. He has special range to both sides with a strong arm and incredible athleticism. At age 25, his best years are ahead of him.

Kevin McGonigle, Detroit Tigers

McGonigle is the frontrunner for the AL Rookie of the Year Award. He’s reaching base at an above-average rate and is one of the best baserunners in the AL. He doesn’t whiff, doesn’t chase and makes consistent sweet spot contact. He can play both short and third and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Love his bat.

Third Base (3)

José Ramírez, Cleveland Guardians (starter)

The future Hall of Famer has had a subpar start to his season, but has still belted 10 homers, stolen 23 bases and has more walks than strikeouts. He’s the most complete third baseman in baseball, always hustling and leading by example.

Junior Caminero, Tampa Bay Rays

Caminero has Gary Sheffield bat speed. What does that mean? He ranks in the 100th percentile in bat speed. He’s slugging .506 with 14 homers with an OPS+ of 147.

Miguel Vargas, Chicago White Sox

Originally on my just-missed list, Vargas gets a deserving nod now that Judge will likely have to miss the Midsummer Classic (more on that below). Vargas is finally reaching the potential he showed as a prospect in the Dodgers’ chain, hitting for power, taking his walks and making things happen on the bases. He has a 142 OPS+ and ranks in the 97th percentile in chase rate and 88th percentile in Barrel rate.

Right field (1*)

* Aaron Judge, New York Yankees (injured list)

The reigning AL MVP was a shoo-in to start in right field, but a stress fracture in his rib will likely have him on the injured list through the All-Star break.

Cody Bellinger, New York Yankees (starter)

With Judge on the shelf, his teammate Bellinger gets the nod as the starting right fielder. He’s played more left field than anywhere else so far this season, but has logged time at all three outfield positions and has played elite defense. Offensively, Bellinger loves playing half his games at Yankee Stadium (1.116 OPS at home) and thrives in the Big Apple. He’s reaching base at an above-average clip and has a .462 SLG.

* With Judge on the IL, he won’t count against the AL’s roster limits.

Center field (3)

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels (starter)

Trout is the frontrunner for Comeback Player of the Year. The future Hall of Famer is back, hitting for power with 14 homers and an OPS+ of 145. He also leads the league in runs scored and walks, and he’d be playing near his hometown of Millville, N.J.

In what would be his 12th All-Star appearance, Mike Trout would get to perform in front of friends and family from his nearby hometown. (Geoff Stellfox / Getty Images)

Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners

Rodríguez has 13 homers and a 121 OPS+ while playing elite defense in center field.

Byron Buxton, Minnesota Twins

Buxton has been healthy for two years in a row and is off to an excellent start with 18 homers and a 137 OPS+. He’s still a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder with elite range and sprint speed.

Left field (2)

Randy Arozarena, Seattle Mariners (starter)

Arozarena is a two-time All-Star already and he’s on pace for the best season of his career, so he is likely heading to his third Midsummer Classic this July.

Riley Greene, Detroit Tigers

Greene’s power numbers have been down, but his overall production is up, as he’s hitting for average and getting on base at an elite clip.

Catcher (3)

Shea Langeliers, Athletics (starter)

Langeliers has been the best catcher in the AL this year, slashing .283/.350/.540 with 16 homers. He ranks in the 88th percentile in pop time and 70th percentile in blocks above average.

Dillon Dingler, Detroit Tigers

Dingler has 12 doubles, 14 homers and an .816 OPS. He’s an elite defensive catcher and ranks in the 97th percentile in Fielding Run Value.

Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles

The AL needs a third catcher and the Orioles must have a representative on the team, which is why I chose Rutschman as the 32nd player. After two down years offensively, Rutschman is having the best season at the plate of his career, and his defense remains solid.

Designated hitter (2)

Yordan Alvarez, Houston Astros (starter)

Alvarez is one of the best hitters in the game, period. He’s healthy and dominating the league with a 200 OPS+ and is an MVP candidate.

Yandy Díaz, DH, Tampa Bay Rays

Díaz has reached base at a 40 percent clip this year with 11 homers while batting .326.

Pitchers (12)

Cam Schlittler, RHP, New York Yankees (starter)

Schlittler is the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award and the variations on his fastball are elite. He flashes an above-average curveball, as well. He has the presence of a 10-year veteran with ice in his veins.

Davis Martin, RHP, Chicago White Sox

Martin has been a real bright spot for the surprising White Sox, with a 2.61 ERA over 12 starts.

Parker Messick is part of a loaded Cleveland Guardians’ pitching staff. (Nick Cammett / Getty Images)

Parker Messick, LHP, Cleveland Guardians

Messick has been the best lefty starter in the league. The combination of his filthy changeup and four-seam fastball is just dominating.

José Soriano, RHP, Los Angeles Angels

The Angels finally have their ace in Soriano, who has a 2.72 ERA over his first 13 starts of the year with 85 punchouts in 76 innings.

Dylan Cease, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Cease once again is among the league leaders in strikeouts. He’s the only starter in baseball since 2021 who has made at least 32 starts every year with over 200 strikeouts each season. He’s on pace to do it again.

Gavin Williams, RHP, Cleveland Guardians

Williams is quietly developing into the ace of the Guardians staff. He handles a heavy workload, mixes his pitches extremely well and misses a lot of bats. He’s the full package with a high ceiling.

Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins

Ryan could be the headliner at this year’s trade deadline, and the All-Star game will be a good showcase for him. He has a 3.07 ERA with 84 strikeouts in 76 1/3 innings.

Jacob deGrom, RHP, Texas Rangers

DeGrom saw his ERA rise in May after a dominating April, but he’s still putting up elite K:BB numbers while limiting hits. His biggest bugaboo in May was allowing home runs. He’s still the best choice to represent the Rangers.

Emerson Hancock, RHP, Seattle Mariners

Most of the Mariners’ starting rotation is All-Star worthy, but probably only one will make this year’s team. I went with Hancock because he’s having the best year of the group.

Louis Varland, RHP, Toronto Blue Jays

Varland has been dominating with 10 saves and a 0.27 ERA and he’s taken on the closer’s role for the Jays. He has 48 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.

Cade Smith, RHP, Cleveland Guardians

Smith leads the league with 21 saves and has 43 strikeouts and five walks over 28 2/3 innings.

Aroldis Chapman, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Chapman has converted all 13 of his save opportunities, posting a 0.46 ERA with 26 K’s in 19 2/3 innings of work. The Red Sox have several pitchers who will receive consideration, but Chapman is the most likely to get an All-Star nod.