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MLB: Six Unlikely Players That Are All-Star Worthy

By Benno Martens

May 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo (45) hits a home run in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Mark Trumbo (45) hits a home run in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nick Castellanos – Detroit Tigers

Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

Now in his third full season in Motown, Nick Castellanos leads the American League with a .350 batting average through his first 38 games, and is in the top six in slugging, wOBA, and wRC+. While third base is a crowded position in the AL with the likes of Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, and Travis Shaw all in the mix, Castellanos should merit all-star consideration.

In his first two years with the Tigers, Castellanos was worth -0.6 fWAR and was such a defensive liability that he was often pulled from games in the late innings. His glove is still a work in progress, as he rates at or near the bottom of nearly every defensive metric in the AL, but his bat has been lethal in the middle of a Detroit lineup that has had its fair share of struggles in 2016 (looking at you, Justin Upton).

Next: The catalyst to the Red Sox resurgence

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