MLB All-Star Game: The case for each NL Final Vote candidate

DENVER, CO - MAY 11: Mark Reynolds
DENVER, CO - MAY 11: Mark Reynolds
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MIAMI, FL – JULY 27 (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL – JULY 27 (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)

Which of the Final Vote candidates in the National League should head to this year’s MLB All-Star Game in Miami? Here’s a rundown of the choices.

Yesterday we looked at the five American League candidates in the MLB All-Star Game Final Vote and why you might lend your support to each of them. Today we’ll do the same for the five would-be All-Stars in the National League Final Vote.

Like the AL, the NL ballot only includes infielders, with one position in particular receiving most of the spotlight. While the Junior Circuit offered three shortstops fans could vote for, the Senior Circuit features a trio of third basemen. There are no full-time outfielders on either ballot, so if you have a soft spot for those who roam the outfield grass, you’re out of luck.

There is plenty of talent to consider among the National League candidates, however, and it might actually be more challenging to pick a frontrunner among the five choices. It should be interesting to see who fans decide to send to Miami as the last member of the NL squad. There is a case to be made for each player, including both on- and off-the-field factors. Only one has been an All-Star before, so there’s a good chance the winner will be a first-timer.

Fans have until Thursday, July 6 at 4:00 pm ET to cast their ballots in the All-Star Game Final Vote. The easiest way to vote is at MLB.com, where you can submit as many ballots as you’d like. You can also vote up to 35 times via text. (See link for more details.) Beginning at 10:00 am ET on Thursday, fans can also vote for players by Tweeting their respective hashtags (which are decidedly more boring in the NL).

Without further ado, let’s examine the five candidates vying for that final spot on the National League roster.

Next: One More for the Home Team