Now that we are officially past Memorial Day and June is nearly upon us, it’s time to start talking about the MLB All-Star Game.
As there is every season, there will be a plethora of new All-Stars. In 2021, there were a staggering 43 first-time All-Stars for the All-Star Game in Denver, including nine in the starting lineup.
Today, we will look at one player from each MLB team who could be an All-Star in 2022 that would be a first-time All-Star and someone that you may never have heard of before. Let’s start out in the senior circuit and in the East.
All stats are current entering play on Memorial Day.
1 player you may not have heard of from each team that could be an MLB All-Star
Atlanta Braves: Kyle Wright
Entering play on Monday, one of the best starting pitchers for the reigning World Series champion Atlanta Braves this year has been Kyle Wright.
He has appeared in the majors for parts of the last four seasons but already has pitched more in the majors this year than any other season prior.
He has a 2.68 ERA in nine starts with a 2.82 FIP, a 1.043 WHIP, and striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings.
Miami Marlins: Pablo López
Entering Monday, Pablo López was pitching extremely well for the Miami Marlins and he is, perhaps, one of the most underrated starting pitchers in baseball.
His 2.04 ERA in nine starts was fourth in the NL (behind his teammate Sandy Alcantara at 2.00) as was his WHIP (0.962) with 56 strikeouts, which was tied for 13th in the NL. His rWAR was 2.2, which is the seventh-highest in the NL.
New York Mets: Brandon Nimmo
Brandon Nimmo has been a good player for a few years now but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
The outfielder has played in 42 games and he’s hitting .293/.386/.452 with an OPS+ of 144, three homers, 17 RBI, eight doubles, and an MLB-leading four triples.
Philadelphia Phillies: Seranthony Domínguez
Not many relievers are selected for the All-Star Game but Seranthony Domínguez is finally healthy, pitching well, and flies a bit under the radar.
He has appeared in 19 games with an ERA of 2.00, a 2.03 FIP, and he’s striking out 11 batters per nine innings.
Washington Nationals: Yadiel Hernández
Outfielder Yadiel Hernández has been one of a few bright spots on an awful Washington Nationals team.
He’s hitting .307/.350/.472 in 137 plate appearances, which is about 70 fewer appearances than most everyday players but his 139 OPS+ is second only to Juan Soto’s 143 on the team.