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MLB All Star Game: Youth Reigns in the American League

By Greg Goldstein |
July 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a three run home run in the fifth inning against Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
July 5, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a three run home run in the fifth inning against Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

With the MLB All Star Game rosters now having been fully digested, one thing jumps out in the results of the American League…youth has taken over. With the influx of young talent, it looks as if many of the all star spots could be locked up for the near future.

It’s that time of year again, when we all gather to watch the game’s best of the best compete in a scrimmage in front of the baseball world. As fans, we get to see what the state of the game is and this year’s American League roster is showing that baseball has a bright future.

Analyzing the starters in the AL, it looks like the fans got most of the positions right, and it is clear that the fans want to see the up and comers start to become the bonafide stars of major league baseball.

The American League’s starting lineup looks like this…

C-Salvador Perez (26 years old)

1B-Eric Hosmer (26 years old)

2B-Jose Altuve (26 years old)

3B-Manny Machado (24 years old)

SS-Xander Boegarts (23 years old)

OF-Jackie Bradley Jr. (26 years old)

OF-Mike Trout (24 years old)

OF-Mookie Betts (23 years old)

DH-David Ortiz (40 years old)

Of these players, David Ortiz is the only one that is over the age of 26 (by 14 years to to exact). Many of these players have produced at the major league level for years such as Salvador Perez, Jose Altuve, Many Machado and Mike Trout. But the Red Sox trio of Xander Boegarts, Jackie Bradley Jr and Mookie Betts are just starting to get notoriety.

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While most of these starters are well known to casual baseball fans, the fact that they now dominant the MLB All Star Game this year shows a shift in power in who runs the MLB. The likes of longtime greats such as Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera are gone, so the mantel has to passed and there are many great young players to choose from.

Mike Trout and Manny Machado seem like they are going to represent in the American League for years to come. But the shortstop position may be the most promising of all. While Boegarts is a deserving starter, other young talents including Francisco Lindor and Carlos Correa look to be in many great battles with the 23 year-old Red Sox for the starting shortstop spot .

Mookie Betts came into this season with a ton of fanfare and has proven many of his believers right with this outstanding play at the plate and in the field in 2016. But, not many expected Jackie Bradley Jr. to be an all star this season. Not only did Bradley record a hit in an impressive 29 straight games, but he has proved himself a building block for the next great Red Sox teams with the way he has improved his approach at the plate.

Salvador Perez will most likely become the next Jorge Posada or Ivan Rodriguez as the catcher that consistently gets the nod as the starting backstop in the AL. Perez, Trout and Altuve have all started the MLB All Star Game before as they look to lock down spots at their respective positions for the foreseeable future. Hosmer is a young veteran as well, but he is making his first all star appearance.

It is easy to see many of these players continue to dominant starting spots in the American League for years to come.

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Most of the veteran players in the American League will start the Midsummer Classic on the bench. Miguel Cabrera, Robinson Cano, Carlos Beltran and Edwin Encarnacion are in their mid-late 30s and lost the fan vote. While some of this can be attributed to team loyalty, the fans have clearly stated that they want to see a shift to the game’s young, exciting talent.

The National League has it’s fair share of dominate young ballplayers in Bryce Harper, Kris Bryant, Nolan Arenado, Anthony Rizzo and Corey Seager among others. However, there is much more of a mix of veteran talent in the starting lineup than in the American League.

The aging all stars that have been the premier players in the MLB for the past ten years still have a place among the game’s elite, but looking at what the American League will trot out on July 12, the players are young and ready to take their place as being the elite of their position for the foreseeable future.

Next: Kluber replaces Estrada

What do you think bout the youth of the American League starting lineup? Should we expect to continue to see these names in the starting lineup?

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