Each team's player most deserving of 1st ASG
The Google MLB All-Star Ballot is out, and you should, of course, fill it out however you wish. However, we’d like to make a suggestion: Let’s prioritize guys who have never been there before. There are some wonderful players who have never made an All-Star Game. And with a roster that large, that’s a travesty.
So, today, we look at the best player currently on each team who has yet to make an All-Star team. Some of these players are just starting out and will have many chances; some of them have everything riding on this year. But their next All-Star Game would be their first. Maybe you vote for these guys, maybe you don’t. But if they get there, they’ll never forget it. (Note: Yes, we are including pitchers below even though fans can’t vote for them. Players can, however, and hopefully they are reading this as well.)
AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST
Blue Jays -- Marcus Stroman, RHP: This is the perfect year to pick the Blue Jays’ ace, because he deserves it, because there has to be a Blue Jay and because it’ll be Vladimir Guerrero Jr. every year after this.
Orioles -- Trey Mancini, OF: He’s the Last Man Standing around these parts, and he remains beloved by the fan base. This is the year.
Rays -- Kevin Kiermaier, CF: Tommy Pham is another acceptable answer here, but can you believe the best defensive center fielder this decade has never made an All-Star Game?
Red Sox -- Rafael Devers, 3B: Andrew Benintendi hasn’t made one either, but Devers is the one off to a monster start.
Yankees -- Luke Voit, 1B: On a team littered with former All-Stars both on the injured list and off, Voit is the fan favorite who is helping keep the team afloat.
AMERICAN LEAGUE CENTRAL
Indians -- Carlos Santana, 1B: I had to look this up several times: Santana has never made an All-Star team. He’d look great back in an Indians jersey in front of the home crowd.
Royals -- Hunter Dozier, 3B: We all thought he’d be an All-Star when he was drafted. This is likely the year he becomes one.
Tigers -- Matthew Boyd, LHP: He’s their ideal lone representative this year. (It sure isn’t anyone from the offense.)
Twins -- Jorge Polanco, SS: The Twins have a ton of players who are having their breakthrough years, none more so than Polanco.
White Sox -- Yoan Moncada, 2B: It might have taken a year or two longer than the White Sox might have liked, but the former No. 1 prospect in baseball has now arrived.
AMERICAN LEAGUE WEST
Angels -- Tommy La Stella, 2B: It has been a whirlwind few years for La Stella, and it’d sure be something for him to end up in an All-Star Game after all of it.
Astros -- Ryan Pressly, RHP: All-Star rosters always need relievers, and this one just set a record for consecutive scoreless appearances. Catcher Robinson Chirinos, who is having a career year in his age-35 season, is another acceptable answer.
Athletics -- Matt Chapman, 3B: We were beginning to wonder if he was going to win an AL MVP Award before he made an All-Star Game. This is the first of many, many.
Mariners -- Daniel Vogelbach, 1B: At the very least, get him in the Home Run Derby.
Rangers -- Joey Gallo, OF: You know once he figured it out, he was going to turn into a monster. He has figured it out.
NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST
Braves -- Ronald Acuna Jr., OF: The only reason he didn’t make it last year was because he was called up too late. He may be on this team every year for the next decade.
Marlins -- Caleb Smith, LHP: He has been their best player by a rather large margin.
Mets -- Pete Alonso, 1B: We’ve gotta get this guy in the Derby as well.
Nationals -- Anthony Rendon, 3B: I’m just going to repeat this, because no matter how often you say it, it doesn’t seem real: Rendon has never made an All-Star team.
Phillies -- Zach Eflin, RHP: Eflin was a popular preseason breakout candidate, and he sure has come through.
NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL
Brewers -- Brandon Woodruff, RHP: The Brewers have had more All-Star selections than you might have necessarily thought. (Though Christian Yelich only made it for the first time last season.)
Cardinals -- Paul DeJong, SS: He has been the Cardinals’ best player this season, and they’d be even worse off than they already are without him.
Cubs -- Kyle Hendricks, RHP: Javier Baez only made it for the first time last year as well.
Pirates -- Josh Bell, 1B: The easiest pick on this board. What a thrill it is to see him doing this. He leads the Majors in extra-base hits by a wide margin.
Reds -- Luis Castillo, RHP: After a step back in 2018 following a promising rookie season, Castillo has put it all together so far.
NATIONAL LEAGUE WEST
D-backs -- Eduardo Escobar, 3B: In his ninth season in the Majors, Escobar is finally having his career year.
Dodgers -- Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP: We should all be talking about Ryu’s NL Cy Young Award chances this year.
Giants -- Will Smith, LHP: All-Star rosters usually end up with a lot of relievers, and Smith (2.38 ERA) is the best first-time candidate on a team loaded with veterans who have been to many Midsummer Classics.
Padres -- Chris Paddack, RHP: When Fernando Tatis Jr. gets off the injured list, you can feel free to put him here as well.
Rockies -- German Marquez, RHP: If anyone’s going to overcome the stigma attached to Rockies pitchers, it’ll be Marquez.