One of the best parts of the baseball season is the All Star Game, an element that is simply off the mark in the other sports leagues but carries significant value on the diamond. With the Midsummer Classic coming to my local ballpark, Nationals Park, in a couple weeks, I wanted to release my ballot as far as the players that I think deserve bids. This ballot is in the format also found on MLB.com and, like the MLB.com official ballot, does not include pitchers or reserves (though I am certain that Cubs ace Jon Lester deserves a spot on the NL team). Each player’s stat line is also included, with all statistics as of June 21.
American League
C Wilson Ramos, Tampa Bay Rays- .288 avg, 9 HR, 36 RBI, 1.1 wins above replacement
1B Matt Olson, Oakland Athletics- .297 avg, 15 HR, 37 RBI, 1.9 wins above replacement
2B Jose Altuve, Houston Astros- .347 avg, 7 HR, 39 RBI, 3.7 wins above replacement
SS Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians- .288 avg, 16 HR, 40 RBI, 4.0 wins above replacement
3B Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Indians- .291 avg, 22 HR, 50 RBI, 4.9 wins above replacement
OF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels- .335 avg, 23 HR, 48 RBI, 6.6 wins above replacement
OF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox- .344 avg, 19 HR, 39 RBI, 4.3 wins above replacement
OF Aaron Judge, New York Yankees- .281 avg, 19 HR, 50 RBI, 3.8 wins above replacement
DH JD Martinez, Boston Red Sox- .315 avg, 22 HR, 55 RBI, 2.7 wins above replacement
National League
C J.T. Realmuto, Miami Marlins- .297 batting avg, 9 HR, 27 RBI, 2.6 wins above replacement
1B Freddie Freeman, Atlanta Braves- .332 avg, 15 HR, 49 RBI, 3.5 wins above replacement
2B Scooter Gennett, Cincinnati Reds- .336 avg, 13 HR, 50 RBI, 2.7 wins above replacement
SS Trea Turner, Washington Nationals- .266 avg, 6 HR, 26 RBI, 2.9 wins above replacement
3B Nolan Arenado, Colorado Rockies- .318 avg, 16 HR, 51 RBI, 2.5 wins above replacement
OF Nick Markakis, Atlanta Braves- .323 avg, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 2.3 wins above replacement
OF Lorenzo Cain, Milwaukee Brewers- .290 avg, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 3.7 wins above replacement
OF AJ Pollock, Arizona Diamondbacks- .293 avg, 11 HR, 33 RBI, 2.1 wins above replacement
Riker's Block 