The calendar has flipped to July, and in the baseball world that means it’s almost time for the highlight of the summer: the Midsummer Classic. The 92nd Major League Baseball All-Star Game is set to take place July 19 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, finally being played at the venue that was originally slated to host the event in 2020, before the festivities were canceled due to the pandemic and the shortened 60-game season.
In the spirit of the All-Star Game, I have selected my picks for the rosters of both the American and National league squads, an exercise that proved to be much more difficult than I anticipated. Like the AL, the NL is loaded with deserving All-Star candidates, particularly at both infield corners, where I had to make several tough omissions.
A few reminders before we dive into the rosters:
-Each league’s team consists of 32 players: 20 position players, 12 pitchers
-Each MLB team will receive at least one All-Star representative
-In the event of injuries or players choosing to not participate in the game, replacement players will be added by MLB
All stats are through Wednesday, July 6 and are courtesy of Baseball-Reference and Fangraphs unless otherwise noted.
National League Starters
Catcher: Willson Contreras- CHC
Contreras has picked the best time possible to have a career year at the plate, hitting for a 147 OPS+ with 3.1 WAR as he prepares to enter the free agent market this offseason. Once the All-Star festivities conclude, expect to hear Contreras’ name frequently in trade discussions.
First Base: Paul Goldschmidt- STL
The frontrunner for NL MVP at the moment, Goldschmidt leads the league in batting average (.343), OBP (.427), slugging percentage (.620), runs scored and hits. The 34-year-old has finished within the top five in MVP voting three different times in his career, and at this pace is a great candidate to finally win the award in 2022.
Second Base: Jazz Chisholm Jr.- MIA
Currently on the injured list with a back issue, Chisholm has been electic on the field when he has played in 2022, ranking in the NL’s top seven in triples and stolen bases, and just outside the top ten with 2.6 WAR.
Shortstop: Trea Turner- LAD
The first of two players that I expect to start in their home venue of Dodger Stadium, the speedy Turner has put together another strong offensive season, hitting .306/.357/.481. Turner’s 16 steals are fourth in the NL.
Third Base: Manny Machado- SD
In the closest race of any position in the NL, Machado earns the slight nod over Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado, outpacing him in average and OPS. While Arenado has the higher WAR, Machado has been an indispensable piece of the Padres’ success in 2022, stepping up to carry the offense in the absence of star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.
Outfield: Mookie Betts- LAD, Kyle Schwarber- PHI, Brandon Nimmo- NYM
One of the most complete players in the game, Betts is in line to make his sixth All-Star team and second as a member of the Dodgers. The 29-year-old is first among NL outfielders in WAR and has produced a 144 OPS+, showcasing his most power since 2019. Speaking of power, Schwarber has provided it during his first season with the Phillies, leading the senior circuit with 27 home runs, to go along with a 146 OPS+. Nimmo is the engine that drives the NL East-leading Mets, pacing the team in WAR with 2.8, while playing solid defense in center and reaching base at a 36 percent clip from the leadoff spot.
Designated Hitter: Bryce Harper- PHI
Harper will not be eligible to participate in the game due to a fractured left thumb but is the obvious and deserving choice at NL designated hitter. Harper has followed up his 2021 MVP season with a .318/.385/.599 slash line, with 15 home runs, all while playing through another injury to his ulnar collateral ligament that prevented him from playing the field. Injured or not, that’s an All-Star.
National League Reserves
C Will Smith- LAD
Add another representative for the All-Star host Dodgers with Smith, who has continued to rank as one of the best hitting catchers in the Majors since his 2019 debut. Smith is second on a powerful Los Angeles squad in home runs (13) and fourth in OPS (.802).
1B Pete Alonso- NYM
The National League leader in RBIs, Alonso has continued to mash home runs at a superb clip, blasting 22 in the first half of this season. For his career, the two-time Home Run Derby champion has crushed 128 home runs, an average of 46 per season in a 162-game campaign.
1B Josh Bell- WSH
Superstar outfielder Juan Soto receives most of the hype in Washington, but it’s Bell that has been the most productive hitter so far in 2022. The 29-year-old is hitting a sizzling .311/.393/.502, leading the Nationals in hits, doubles and RBIs as well.
1B C.J. Cron- COL
An underrated slugger due to his penchant for too many strikeouts on occasion, Cron has mashed in his two seasons as a Rockie. He currently sits among the league leaders in home runs with 20, and his .295 batting average is the highest of his nine-year career.
2B Tommy Edman- STL
Peruse the National League WAR leaderboard for position players, and there you will see Edman third, nestled behind his two superstar teammates Arenado and Goldschmidt. Edman’s strong defense up the middle, combined with his 85 hits, 58 runs scored, and 19 stolen bases make him one of the most indispensable players in the Majors.
SS Dansby Swanson- ATL
The former number-one overall pick has put it all together in 2022, posting the highest OPS (.850) of his career, while anchoring the top of the Braves’ lineup alongside Ronald Acuna Jr. A free agent at season’s end, Swanson continues to earn himself a substantial payday with his play in 2022.
3B Nolan Arenado- STL
Another year, another MVP-type season from Arenado. The slugging third baseman is hitting .295/.356/.534 with 20 doubles and 17 home runs. And don’t worry, Arenado’s otherworldly defense at the hot corner has remained into his 30s, as his 11 defensive runs saved are tied for fourth in the NL.
3B Brandon Drury- CIN
A dismal season for the Reds has given Drury an opportunity to shine, and the 29-year-old has delivered. Drury has already reached his career high with 17 home runs, while leading Cincinnati in slugging percentage (.524), OPS (.855) and RBIs (45).
OF Joc Pederson- SF
Pederson has remained the same player he always has been in 2022. A powerful left-handed hitter that mashes against righties, struggles against lefties and is a threat to hit a home run at any time. His 17 home runs and 41 RBIs lead the Giants, while his .557 slugging percentage represents a career high.
OF Juan Soto- WSH
By his lofty standards, Soto is having a down year, hitting just .231 in the first half. But make no mistake, Soto remains a very dangerous hitter, as evidenced by his .388 OBP, league-leading 69 walks and 15 home runs.
OF Ronald Acuna Jr.- ATL
Acuna has yet to return to the MVP form that he displayed prior to his ACL injury in July 2021 but has still shown off his skillset in many ways since returning in May. Through 49 games, Acuna has stolen 17 bases, has a .375 OBP and an .812 OPS. Once the power returns, Acuna will resume his post as one of the premier players in the sport.
OF Jeff McNeil- NYM
Aside from a 2019 season in which he went deep 23 times, McNeil has never been known as a home run hitter. Instead, most of the 30-year-old’s value comes from his ability to hit and reach base at a terrific rate. McNeil’s .316 average is third in the NL, while his .374 OBP is tenth.
National League Pitchers
SP Sandy Alcantara- MIA
In an era of short outings and quick hooks for starting pitchers, Alcantara is one of the few pitchers in the sport that can consistently pitch deep into games. On top of that, the right-hander has been dominant in 2022, leading the NL in WAR (4.3 and ERA (1.82).
SP Max Fried- ATL
Fried’s name is rarely mentioned among the game’s best starting pitchers, but perhaps it should be. Since the beginning of the 2020 season, Fried has pitched to a 2.74 ERA across 56 starts. In a league-leading 17 starts this season, Fried has once again delivered strong results with a 2.52 ERA and 100 strikeouts.
SP Zack Wheeler- PHI
After leading the NL in strikeouts, innings pitched and complete games in 2021 (as well as finishing second in Cy Young voting), Wheeler has maintained his dominance in a Philadelphia uniform. Wheeler is top 10 in the senior circuit in WAR (2.7), ERA (2.66) and strikeouts (99).
SP Corbin Burnes- MIL
Simply put, Burnes may just be the pitcher in baseball. The 2021 NL Cy Young award winner has only gotten better since bringing home the hardware, lowering his ERA from 2.43 to 2.20, while leading the league in strikeouts, WHIP and hits per nine. If the Brewers end up making the postseason field, Burnes could become a playoff hero in Milwaukee.
SP Carlos Rodon- SF
After a fifth place Cy Young finish in 2021, Rodon’s free agent market did not return the long-term deal that he may have envisioned, leading to the left-hander inking a two-year deal with the Giants. Rodon has continued to deal on the mound regardless, posting a 2.87 ERA and an NL-leading 2.24 FIP as the anchor of the Giants’ staff.
SP Tony Gonsolin- LAD
With the event in Los Angeles, expect plenty of calls for Gonsolin to earn the starting nod for the NL squad. Those calls will certainly have merit. In 81.2 innings pitched, Gonsolin has recorded a dazzling 1.54 ERA and 3.4 WAR. With injuries to Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw at different times in the first half, Gonsolin has been the story of the year on the mound for the Dodgers.
SP Joe Musgrove- SD
Musgrove’s transformation since joining the Padres has been remarkable to watch. In his first five MLB seasons with the Astros and Pirates, Musgrove had a 4.33 ERA, striking out just 8.4 per nine innings. Since his trade to San Diego, Musgrove has placed himself in the upper echelon of starting pitchers, posting a 2.86 ERA and 9.7 strikeouts per nine, while increasing his cutter usage significantly.
SP Zac Gallen- ARZ
After putting up a 4.30 ERA and struggling with his command in 2021, Gallen has rediscovered the dominance that earned him a ninth place Cy Young finish in 2020. Gallen’s 3.40 ERA leads the Diamondbacks staff, though Merrill Kelly has also been solid and may earn this spot instead.
RP Josh Hader- MIL
The best relief pitcher in baseball since 2018, Hader is once again dominating the ninth inning for the Brewers. The flamethrowing left-hander leads the National League in saves with 25 and has punched out 45 hitters in only 27.2 innings of work.
RP Edwin Diaz- NYM
When the Mets acquired Diaz in exchange for a package headlined by top prospect Jarred Kelenic, many assumed the club would lose the deal in the long-term. That may still be the case, depending on Kelenic’s development, but Diaz has delivered during his time in New York, once again ranking as one of the top closers in the game with 66 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA.
RP David Bednar- PIT
The most impactful player for the postseason race may currently be in Pittsburgh, as Bednar has been a game changing closer for the Pirates in 2022. With a 2.37 ERA and 51 strikeouts, Bednar will be in high demand from contending teams. The question is if the Pirates are willing to part with him? He remains under club control through 2026.
RP David Robertson- CHC
The 37-year-old Robertson has orchestrated a magnificent comeback to the Majors, recovering from various injuries that allowed him to pitch only 18.2 innings from 2019-21. The right-hander has returned to a relief ace role for the Cubs, saving 12 games while pitching to a 1.89 ERA.
Just Missed
3B Austin Riley
1B Freddie Freeman
C William Contreras
1B Christian Walker
2B Jake Cronenworth
SP Logan Webb
SP Luis Castillo
SP Pablo Lopez
SP Kyle Wright
SP Aaron Nola
SP Tyler Anderson
RP A.J. Minter
RP Ryan Helsley
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