MLB All-Star Game: The case for each AL Final Vote candidate
Which of the Final Vote candidates in the American League should head to this year’s MLB All-Star Game in Miami? Here’s a rundown of the choices.
If you didn’t adequately satisfy your voting appetite over the last couple months (really?), then Major League Baseball has you covered with the All-Star Final Vote. As always, fans will get the last word in filling out the MLB All-Star Game rosters by voting for their favorites among five players from each league.
With only four days to work with, there is a much greater sense of urgency for fans who want a particular player to nab that coveted final roster spot. The players themselves usually seem to have fun with it too as they “campaign” for their place on the All-Star team. Occasionally the fanbases of teams from different leagues will form alliances by agreeing to vote for each other’s candidate in an effort to get both to the Midsummer Classic.
MLB also gives fans more options in terms of how they get out the vote. They can submit as many ballots as they want on MLB.com until 4:00 pm ET on Thursday, July 6. They can also vote up to 35 times via text by sending each player’s alphanumeric code to a specific number. And they can vote on Twitter during the final six hours leading up to the deadline by using the unique hashtag assigned to each player.
But which players in the Final Vote deserve to go to Miami for this year’s festivities? Each candidate has a viable case, and we’ll take a closer look at them here by starting with the American League.
Next: Elvis has entered the building
Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers
Elvis Andrus previously made the All-Star team in 2010 and 2012, as he appeared to be one of baseball’s up-and-coming young shortstops. He proceeded to endure a rough period from 2013-2015, when he slashed a disappointing .264/.317/.340 (81 OPS+). Andrus began to get back on track last season by slashing .302/.362/.439, and he seems to be carrying that success into 2017.
Andrus is hitting a buoyant .302/.350/.475 through 80 games while showing more power and run production ability than ever before. He has 11 home runs – already a career high – and his 50 RBI puts him well on pace to set another personal best by surpassing last year’s 69. Andrus is also more of a speed threat than any of the other Final Vote candidates, having swiped 20 bases so far.
Still just 28 years old, Andrus remains very much in his prime and it’s nice to see him live up to that earlier potential rather than continue to slide. He has been a definite bright spot in a Rangers lineup that has seen many key players underwhelm to this point in the season. An all-around contributor at a premium position, Andrus has as strong a case as anyone for the last space on the AL All-Star squad.
Official Final Vote Hashtag: #ElectElvis
Next: Power of X
Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
The second of three shortstops on the AL ballot, Xander Bogaerts is also putting on a good show in the first half of 2017. The 24-year-old hasn’t quite matched his home run and RBI output from last year (21 HR and 89 RBI), but he’s still been plenty productive at the plate. He’s batting .314/.366/.455 with five homers and 39 RBI. Bogaerts’ 113 OPS+ would be a career high, edging last season’s mark of 110.
Like Andrus, Bogaerts is not a stranger to the Midsummer Classic, having made last year’s team for his first All-Star appearance. Since debuting in 2013, the Aruba native has lived up to his billing as the Red Sox shortstop of the future. Before last year’s power surge, Bogaerts enjoyed a career-high 4.6 bWAR in 2015 by slashing .320/.355/.421 with solid defense. He looks capable of putting together a similar campaign this season.
If you prefer players who hit for average, Bogaerts is probably your man (though the next candidate isn’t far behind in that category). If you dig the long ball, you’re likely looking elsewhere. Red Sox Nation is known to show up and represent, so Bogaerts could have a good shot at joining teammates Chris Sale, Mookie Betts and Craig Kimbrel in Miami.
Official Final Vote Hashtag: #VoteX
Next: That's Sir Didi to you
Didi Gregorius, New York Yankees
Didi Gregorius is the third shortstop on this list and second with a knighthood. (What are the chances?) Yes, both Bogaerts and Gregorius were inducted into the Order of Orange-Nassau. Only one can make the All-Star team, though. Maybe they should joust for it instead?
Since MLB would never agree to that, we’ll just have to consider on-the-field performance. Gregorius missed the first month of the season, which you’d think would put him at a legitimate disadvantage. However, he got right down to business upon returning from his shoulder injury, picking up where he left off in last year’s breakout season.
In 2016, Gregorius slashed .276/.304/.447 while setting career highs with 20 home runs and 70 RBI. Despite the late start he’s on an even better pace this year, hitting .310/.333/.489 with 10 homers and 36 RBI in only 57 games. And while defensive metrics haven’t always given him the best marks, he boasts a very strong arm at shortstop. With all the talk about the infield talent coming through the Yankees’ minor league pipeline, it’s easy to forget that Didi is already here and thriving.
The Bronx Bombers are already well-represented at the Midsummer Classic: Aaron Judge is the AL’s starting right fielder, along with Gary Sanchez, Starlin Castro, Dellin Betances and Luis Severino also on the roster. Adding Gregorius might seem like overkill, but he really has done a nice job and it’s fun to imagine his mischievous personality in the All-Star clubhouse. Who wouldn’t want an All-Star version of one of Didi’s famous post-game victory tweets?
Official Final Vote Hashtag: #SirDidi4Sure
Next: Needs More LoMo
Logan Morrison, Tampa Bay Rays
Like Gregorius, Logan Morrison has yet to make an All-Star team in his career. However, the Rays first baseman might have a more compelling argument considering what a complete turnaround the first half of the season has been for him.
Morrison was average at best for most of the first seven years of his big league career. He slashed an unremarkable .245/.325/.416 over that span while averaging 12 home runs and 42 RBI per season. He also struggled staying on the field, playing over 100 games in just three of the seven campaigns.
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“LoMo” simply looks reborn in 2017, leading the way for a Tampa Bay club that’s shown a surprising amount of offensive pop. Morrison owns a .256/.366/.579 batting line in 80 games. His 24 homers are tied for second in all of baseball, while his 57 RBI are good for sixth in the American League.
Morrison went through something of a home run drought from June 19 to June 30, managing only one long ball over the 10 games, but he came roaring back on Saturday with two jacks against the division rival Orioles. With the Final Vote now in full swing, it’s certainly not a bad time to get hot.
An All-Star nod would be a fitting reward for a player who most fans probably didn’t expect much from this year. Morrison could join teammate Corey Dickerson, the AL’s starting designated hitter, as a first-time All-Star enjoying a bounce-back season.
Official Final Vote Hashtag: #GoLoMo
Next: Moose Call
Mike Moustakas, Kansas City Royals
An All-Star back in 2015, Mike Moustakas missed nearly all of last year with a torn ACL. It was a disheartening blow after winning the World Series the previous fall. But the Kansas City Royals third baseman has returned with a vengeance in 2017, and with his fans’ help could earn a ticket to Miami.
Moustakas took his power production up a notch in 2015, belting a career-high 22 homers to go with 82 RBI and a .284/.348/.470 slash line. He was setting an even more rapid pace last year before his season was cut short, hitting seven home runs in just 27 games. Well, Moustakas is still swinging his power bat, having already tied his personal-best 22 homers in 73 contests. He has also added 49 RBI and is slashing .270/.306/.547 on the whole.
Fans in Kansas City should be especially motivated to get Moustakas to the All-Star Game since his future with the Royals is not guaranteed. A free agent at the end of the year, the third baseman has been the frequent subject of trade rumors.
However, the Royals have climbed back into the playoff race, so depending on how the next month goes they might not necessarily be inclined to move him. But who knows what will happen once he hits the open market. Either way, another trip to the Midsummer Classic would be an appropriate tribute to “Moose.”
Official Final Vote Hashtag: #VoteMoose