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2 hours ago
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Voting for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is winding down, and I figured I'd share some of my picks and why I decided to go the route I did with a few of them.
In most spots, I feel like there was a clear, deserving player, but others certainly didn't fit into the same category. Anyways, let's get into all my picks so I can explain a few.
In the infield, I went with Nick Kurtz and Matt Olson at first base.
Second base in both leagues is where I found some questions, but I went with Travis Bazzana and Xavier Edwards. I don't think people are talking enough about what Edwards has done throughout the season. I think he deserves a bit more respect.
He's genuinely a very fun player to watch, and his .800 OPS, as well as his 128 OPS+, shows that he should at least get some love for this All-Star Game.
Bazzana is in a similar boat, though I did factor in that he made his debut after the season began and has only played in 48 games. Still, he has an .841 OPS and a 135 OPS+.
Going to third base, I know this might surprise some, but I actually went with Zack Gelof in the American League. My reason for that is because Jose Ramirez is having a down year by his standards, though I still expect him to be an All-Star.
Ramirez has just a .757 OPS and a 112 OPS+. Gelof, who has played in 61 games, has an .838 OPS and a 125 OPS+. He also has a 24-game hit streak.
In the National League, I went with Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy.
The American League shortstop was probably the easiest pick I made all day, selecting Bobby Witt Jr. In the National League, it wasn't much more difficult, taking CJ Abrams.
To finalize things in the infield, I went with Shea Langeliers of the Athletics and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves behind the dish.
The outfield definitely gave me things to consider, but I wanted to get a bit creative with this and try to give it to players I really thought deserved it.
Cody Bellinger, Byron Buxton, and Riley Greene were my three picks in the American League. I would have taken Aaron Judge, but I don't think it's fair to give it to a player who we know certainly isn't going to be in the game.
National League-wise, I went with Corbin Carroll, Juan Soto, and James Wood.
Because I know Shohei Ohtani will be selected as a pitcher and will definitely be in the game no matter what, and he'll definitely be hitting, I didn't go with him for the National League designated hitter.
Instead, I went with Kyle Schwarber. Schwarber has been incredible to watch once again and deserves to be playing in his home city during this All-Star Game.
In the American League, I went with the second-best hitter in Major League Baseball behind Judge in Yordan Alvarez.
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