Top 5 Most Surprising American League All-Star Vote Snubs

4. Josh Donaldson

Apr 16, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman

(20) on ground after being struck by a pitch from Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher

(not in picture) in the eighth inning at Rogers Centre. Rays beat Blue Jays 4-2, Mandatory Credit: Peter Llewellyn-USA TODAY Sports

On a team like the Toronto Blue Jays, who get guys across the plate like it’s easy or something, it may come as no surprise that the statistical leader at third base in the American League is from the Canadian representation. What is surprising is that that third baseman is doing better than Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Bautista.

Another victim of Royals fever, Josh Donaldson finds himself 400,000 votes behind the Moose, Mike Moustakas, despite being grossly superior in nearly every major statistical category. Again, have a look for yourself:

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Forgive me if I don’t think that .015 points of a batting average and a better nickname is worth 400,000 votes. The case for Josh Donaldson is the exact same as the case for Stephen Vogt. The better player is being kept out of the starting role, at least initially, because of the zealotry of the Royals.

Donaldson needs a bit less from voters than Vogt though, and for that reason I’m cautiously optimistic that he’ll be starting at third base when the final results come around.

Next: Number 3