6 Giants who deserve All-Star consideration

June 7th, 2023

This story was excerpted from Maria Guardado’s Giants Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The Giants haven't really distinguished themselves as a team as they've hovered around .500 for most of this season, but they still have a handful of players who have emerged as standouts across the league.

With All-Star voting underway, here’s a look at six Giants who should be in the mix to represent the club at the 2023 Midsummer Classic in Seattle on July 11:

1. , 2B
2023 stats: .308/.354/.480, 6 HR, 18 RBIs, 13 SB, 48 G

Estrada’s bid for his first career All-Star selection hit a snag after he landed on the 10-day injured list with a left wrist sprain, but he didn’t miss a beat after returning to the Giants’ lineup on Tuesday, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI in a 10-4 rout of the Rockies. The 27-year-old Venezuelan leads National League second basemen with 2.2 WAR, according to FanGraphs, but he could face stiff competition from the Marlins’ Luis Arraez, who is chasing .400, and the Cardinals’ Nolan Gorman, who is also enjoying a breakout season at the plate.

2. , 3B
2023 stats: .286/.371/.481, 9 HR, 34 RBIs, 56 G

Davis didn’t appear to have a clear opening to regular playing time at the beginning of the year, but he ended up seizing the starting job at third base after establishing himself as one of the Giants’ top hitters. With perennial All-Stars Manny Machado and Nolan Arenado enduring subpar years with the Padres and Cardinals, respectively, there could be a path for Davis to earn a trip to Seattle, though the Dodgers’ Max Muncy and the Nationals’ Jeimer Candelario should be in the mix at third base, as well.

3. , RHP
2023 stats: 2.85 ERA, 79 IP, 82 K, 15 BB, 12 GS

The Giants’ homegrown ace has enjoyed a steady rise into the NL’s upper echelon of starting pitchers over the last couple of years, so it feels like only a matter of time until he’s recognized as an All-Star for the first time. Webb wasn’t at his best early in the year, but he’s now back to dominating on the mound, entering Wednesday with a 1.95 ERA over his last eight starts.

4. , 1B
2023 stats: .285/.429/.480, 8 HR, 19 RBIs, 58 G

The Giants were willing to move on from longtime first baseman Brandon Belt to give an everyday opportunity to Wade, who has rewarded their faith by emerging as a key catalyst out of the leadoff spot this year. The 29-year-old ranks second in the Majors in on-base percentage and has such an elite eye at the plate that manager Gabe Kapler often remarks that he probably knows the strike zone better than most umpires. Even so, Wade could be a longshot given the sheer depth of his position in the NL, which is also home to star sluggers like the Mets’ Pete Alonso, the Braves’ Matt Olson, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman and the Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt.

5. , RHP
2023 stats: 2.71 ERA, 69 2/3 IP, 64 K, 18 BB, 12 GS

Cobb is putting together one of the best years of his career in his age-35 season, leading the Majors with a 61.1 percent groundball rate while ranking fourth in the NL in ERA. Cobb has battled some issues with his delivery at times this year, but he recently made an adjustment that allowed him to fire 7 2/3 shutout innings in his last start against the Orioles on Saturday. If he can continue to roll, he should have a compelling case for his first All-Star selection.

6. , RHP
2023 stats: 2.10 ERA, 14 SV, 25 2/3 IP, 39 K, 10 BB, 26 G

The reigning NL Reliever of the Month, Doval has solidified his status as one of the most dominant young closers in the league this year. He’s tied with the Reds’ Alexis Díaz for the NL lead in saves and ranks sixth among NL relievers with a 37.1 percent strikeout rate. Doval is averaging 100.1 mph on his cutter, but he also wields a nasty slider that has held batters to a .119 (5-for-42) average with 24 strikeouts this season.