MLB All-Star Game: NL Final Vote Candidates

Starling Marte has had a very good first half of 2016. He has been one of the best players on his team, almost certainly the best position player on the team. The only other Pirates player on the All-Star roster is Mark Melancon, a relief pitcher. However, I do not believe that Marte has much of a chance against the strong competition in the NL Final Vote.

Marte is hitting .321/.366/.474 with a wRC+ of 128. He is playing well above average, getting on base at a good pace, and has hit a fair share of extra base hits (29). He’s leading his team in average, and he ranks second in wRC+, OPS, and SLG.

Starling Marte is one of the best players on the Pirates roster, but not one of the best outfielders in the National League. One could even argue that he’s not the Pirates player most deserving of even being on the Final Vote ballot. Gregory Polanco is playing just as good, if not better, than Marte has this season. Regardless, Marte is the man on the ballot and he is hardly deserving. With Ryan Braun on the ballot, it is almost impossible to argue that he should get the roster spot over a player outperforming him at the same position.

However this is a fan vote and Pirates fans could make a strong showing. If we are assuming that general fans will vote their fair share, then Marte probably doesn’t garner as much interest as the rest. Marte is only 27 years old, so he has plenty of time to reach his first All-Star Game. .

Next: A Giant at first