2019 MLB All-Star Finalists Surprises and Snubs

The 2019 season has been a thrilling one so far with breakout stars and breakout teams. Here is a list of MLB All-Star Game surprises and snubs.

This MLB season has been full of surprises, from Cody Bellinger’s remarkable start of the season to Chris Davis’ incredible strikeout streak, to the astonishing under-performance of Jose Ramirez, this season has not been a dull one.

In this article, I will present the MLB All-Star finalists who were least expected to make it to the Mid-Summer Classic prior to this season and then I will mention players who have either been perennial All-Stars or deserve a spot and for one reason or another did not get one.

Let’s begin with this season’s most pleasant surprises.

Gio Urshela, 3B, New York Yankees

Prior to the 2019 season, Gio Urshela was known as an excellent defensive player but not much else.

This year, with the Yankees 3rd baseman Miguel Andujar going down for the season, Urshela has more than just sufficed at the hot corner. His glove and his bat have been outstanding and he has been one of the most clutch Yankees in a year full of clutch moments for the Bombers.

2018 season: AB 43/AVG .233/1 HR/3 RBI
2019 season: AB 193/AVG .306/6 HR/34 RBI

MLB All-Star Game Surprises

James McCann, C, Chicago White Sox

Playing his entire career in Detroit prior to this season, James McCann was an average catcher at best. In his time in Detroit, he received many opportunities to play, and he cracked 350 AB’s every season since his rookie campaign but he never showed this potential.

Chicago took a flyer and signed him in free agency and he has paid off in more ways than they could have imagined. While catchers are typically the worst hitters on their teams, McCann has been one of the best hitters in the all of the American League, regardless of position. Maybe it was just the change of scenery, but James McCann is having an outstanding season

2018 season: AB 427/AVG .220/8 HR/39 RBI
2019 season: AB 182/AVG .319/7 HR/21 RBI

Tommy La Stella, 2B, Los Angeles Angels

Since debuting with the Braves in 2014, La Stella never had more than 125 AB’s in a season.
He was never a great hitter, and he played for a Chicago Cubs team that was stacked in the infield.
Now, almost halfway through the 2019 season, La Stella already has 254 AB’s and has been a crucial part of the Los Angeles lineup.

2018 season: AB 123/AVG .266/1 HR/19 RBI
2019 season: AB 254/AVG .295/15 HR/41 RBI

MLB All-Star Game Surprises

Jorge Polanco, SS, Minnesota Twins

Polanco was not thought of as part of the big wave of American League shortstops who have come up in the past few years, but maybe it is time to throw him into that group. with such AL SS being so deep, it really is surprising that Polanco made the cut. Polanco has been the best hitter on the team that has the best record in the AL. Minnesota thought they had something special when they signed him to an extension prior to this season, but I doubt they expected this!

2018 season: AB 333/AVG .288/6 HR/42 RBI
2019 season: AB 335/AVG .326/11 HR/38 RBI

Hunter Pence, DH, Texas Rangers

Pence’s 2019 has been a great story. After winning two World Series titles with the San Francisco Giants, the 3x All-Star’s career started to seriously decline and fans began to wonder if it was time to hang up the cleats. Pence disagreed. He signed with his hometown Texas Rangers and has since thrived. The Rangers have been a sneaky good team this year, and they are only half a game back for the second wild card. Much of that is due to Pence’s performance. This would be the 36-year old’s first ASG appearance since 2014.

2018 season: AB 235/AVG .226/4 HR/24 RBI
2019 season: AB 194/AVG .294/15 HR/48 RBI

Other notable players include Joc Pederson (LAD), Luke Voit (NYY), Albert Almora Jr. (CHI), and Josh Reddick (HOU).

MLB All-Star Game Snubs

Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians

“Mr. Smile” as he is affectionately known, has been a star since arriving in Cleveland in 2015.
The Speed, the Glove, the Power, all appeal to the younger fan, and he is someone who just seems to love playing the game.

Lindor’s 2019 got off to a slow start as he landed on the IL at the end of spring training. But since he’s come back, Lindor has been playing like the elite player that he is. Unfortunately for Lindor, the Indians have not been playing too well and their division rivals, the Minnesota Twins, have been having a spectacular season. This, in addition to AL SS being a stacked position, has hurt Lindor’s poll numbers.

It is truly a shame considering that The Game is being played in his home field in Cleveland…

Manny Machado, SS, San Diego Padres

Bryce Harper, RF, Philadelphia Phillies

The 2019 MLB offseason was one anticipated for many years. Former NL MVP Bryce Harper and superstar Manny Machado would hit the free agent market.

After a long and drawn out offseason, both Machado and Harper would receive record-breaking deals with the Padres and Phillies respectively.

Harper had one of the greatest seasons recorded in 2015, and Machado is a .295/40 HR guy who has won the Gold Glove award multiple times for his fielding wizardry.

Yet, both of these baseball icons could not make the All-Star team. Harper has been an utter disappointment and Machado has been nothing special. Who would’ve thought…

Anthony Rendon, 3B, Washington Nationals

One of the most underrated players in baseball for a few years now, Rendon has been making quite the impact in the nation’s capital. Since 2017, Rendon has never hit under .300 and hit less than 24 HRs.

This season has been no different. Rendon is hitting .310, with 17 HRs and 53 RBI’s.

Rendon has always lived in the shadows of stars such as Bryce Harper and Max Scherzer and therefore hasn’t been appropriately acknowledged for the huge talent that he is.

Unfortunately for Rendon, the All-Star voting procedure is heavily based on the players’ star power. Josh Donaldson won the third spot in the ballot, and he is having a rather pedestrian year. But, considering he is a former league MVP and he brings a flamboyant and competitive attitude to the game, Donaldson received the nod.
Anthony, consider yourself robbed.

MLB All-Star Game Snubs

Tim Anderson, SS, Chicago White Sox

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Before coming to the majors, Anderson was a top prospect in Chicago’s farm system. Before 2019, he showed that he was a 20/20 guy with a good glove but his batting average was an issue. The last two seasons he has batted .257 and .240.

This year, that has definitely changed. He is batting .319 nearly halfway through the season and he hasn’t needed to sacrifice any of his power to do so. He is still on pace for a 20+ home run season. In addition, he is on pace for a 30+ SB season.

Anderson made the headlines when he instigated a brawl against the Royals this season by doing an epic bat flip which the Royals did not appreciate. and brought up the discussion “Let The Kids Play”. Anderson received a one-game suspension for the incident.

Is this why Timmy wasn’t voted onto the AS team? Were fans not happy with his swagger? Was it because he plays for a losing team? Or was it simply because of the depth of the position at which he plays in the American League? Probably a bit of each.

*Anderson just landed on the IL with a sprained ankle

Pete Alonso, 1B, New York Mets

Pete Alonso has broken the franchise rookie home run record set by Darryl Strawberry during the 1983 season … and we aren’t even halfway through the season! The Mets young 1st baseman is having quite the rookie campaign. Hitting 27 home runs before the All-Star game and hitting moonshots all over the park.

Sadly, 1st base this year in the National League is incredibly deep with the likes of Josh Bell, Freddie Freeman, and Anthony Rizzo filling out the ballot.

As I wrote earlier, the ASG voting is heavily dependent on the star power which one has. Alonso is a young rookie who hits bombs and STILL couldn’t make the team. This is a knock on the Mets fanbase all around the globe; that in New York, the media capital of the world, an unbelievably talented and likable player like Alonso ends up off the ballot.