A week ago, the 2015 MLB All-Star Game took place in Cincinnati, a game in which the American League edged the National League yet again to lock up home field advantage for the 2015 World Series. We saw the names of old—Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Mark Teixeira, just to name a few. We also saw some new stars take the field this year, such as Lorenzo Cain, Dallas Keuchel, and Jacob deGrom. 33 different players made their first All-Star teams this season, which is abnormally high for the game. Little-known players such as Brad Boxberger and Brock Holt were first-timers, but well-known names such as Brett Gardner and A.J. Burnett also made their first career All-Star Game in 2015. Below I will be previewing ten different players to watch (5 position players and 5 pitchers) that could very well make their first All-Star game appearances in 2016.
The Position Players:
SS Xander Bogaerts, Boston Red Sox
At the age of 22, Bogaerts may be the best shortstop in the American League right now, and probably received one of the most notable All-Star snubs last week. Many forget that Bogaerts made his debut during the Red Sox historic World Series run in 2013. In 2013, the Sox had veteran shortstop Stephen Drew locked up to play shortstop, but Bogaerts made his impact at third base, a position where the Red Sox had really struggled to maintain consistent offensive production throughout the season. He took over the starting third base job during the ALCS in 2013, and didn’t disappoint one bit, playing very solid defense and coming up with big hits. This was all at the age of 20. Bogaerts is still adapting to the MLB, but has really turned some heads this season in the middle of the Red Sox batting lineup. Manager John Farrell has moved Bogaerts into the #3 spot in the lineup over the past several weeks. On the season, he is batting .302 with 3 home runs and 43 RBI. He has also only made five errors on the season in the field.
CF Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
Staying with the Red Sox theme, Betts is another player that has really impressed this season. Betts started making a name for himself in the Red Sox minor league system a few years ago, but there was always a need for a position change. A natural second baseman, Betts knew that he would not be able to play the position for the Sox at the big league level due to the long-term presence of Dustin Pedroia. Instead, Betts learned how to play center field and has already solidified himself as a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder. His bat is not bad either. Betts figures to be the Red Sox leadoff hitter for the years to come. After struggling toward the beginning of the season, Mookie’s bat has started to heat up as of late. To date, he is hitting .271 to go along with 10 home runs, 43 RBI, and 13 stolen bases.
SS Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
The #1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft, Correa finally made his highly anticipated Major League debut back on June 8th, and immediately filled a hole in the third spot of the Astros young, up-and-coming batting lineup. Thus far in 2015, the Astros have been one of Major League Baseball’s most surprising teams, and Correa figures to be the face of the franchise for the years to come. The only question mark with Correa moving forward revolves around his position, shortstop. At 6’4” tall, Correa does not look like the prototypical MLB shortstop. Thus far, in his first 35 games of MLB action, Correa has looked just fine in the field. His bat, however, is what will allow him to make a name for himself. Through his first 35 games, Correa is batting .290 with 8 home runs, 23 RBI, and 5 stolen bases.
LF Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates
The average baseball fan automatically thinks of Andrew McCutchen when the topic of “Pittsburgh Pirates outfield” comes up in casual conversation. Starling Marte is no McCutchen, but he’s an All-Star in the making, and quite possibly the biggest All-Star Game snub in 2015. 20 home runs-20 stolen bases is a realistic possibility for Marte by the end of 2015, and even 30-30 could happen for Marte at some point in his career. A natural centerfielder, Marte has played primarily left field throughout his career in Pittsburgh due to the presence of McCutchen. He will be a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder for a long time. In his first full season in the Majors in 2013, Marte stole 41 bases while hitting .280. Now at 26 years old, Marte is having a spectacular season in 2015, as he is currently hitting .276 to go with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, and 17 stolen bases.
RF Josh Reddick, Oakland Athletics
Prior to the 2012 season, Reddick was the key name that the A’s acquired in a trade with the Boston Red Sox, where the Sox acquired closer Andrew Bailey. Reddick did not disappoint one bit in 2012, where he became the starting right fielder and hit 32 home runs. The next couple of seasons, Reddick really struggled, as he did not hit much for average and also got quite the heavy dosage of the injury bug. However, in 2015, while the Athletics are far from contention in the American League West division, Reddick has put together a really solid season. And remember, he’s still only 28 years old and entering the prime of his career. To date, Reddick is hitting .281 with 12 home runs and 55 RBI.
The Pitchers:
SP Garrett Richards, LA Angels
Richards became a fixture in the Angels starting rotation in 2014, and has quietly become one of the most reliably consistent starters in the entire American League. In 2015, he is anchoring a staff that has struggled all season long with injury and inconsistency. Richards was putting together a phenomenal season in 2014, until a freak injury during an August start led to a torn tendon in his knee. At the time of the injury, Richards accumulated a 13-4 record to go along with a 2.61 ERA in 26 starts. Many thought that this injury would set Richards back, but it’s done quite the opposite, as Richards may now be the ace of the Angels pitching staff. In his first 17 starts of 2015, Richards has put up a 10-6 record to go along with a 3.24 ERA.
SP Jake Arrieta, Chicago Cubs
Throughout the early stages of his career, Arrieta was always regarded as one of the elite pitching prospects of the Baltimore Orioles farm system. However, when called upon in the Majors, his stuff never really translated over. The Orioles became frustrated with Arrieta by 2013, so they dealt him to the Cubs in a mid-season trade when the Orioles acquired veteran starter Scott Feldman. Since coming over to the North Side of Chicago, Arrieta has finally started to live up to all the hype. In his first full season with the Cubs in 2014, Arrieta finished 9th in Cy Young Award voting, putting up a 10-5 record with a 2.53 ERA in 25 starts. Still only 29 years old, Arrieta has been a huge part of the Cubs success this season, a season in which many thought the Cubs would be led by their veteran starting pitchers. In 2015, Arrieta has already matched his 2014 numbers. In his first 19 starts of the season, Arrieta has a 11-5 record to go along with a 2.52 ERA.
SP Kyle Gibson, Minnesota Twins
A 2009 first round pick of the Twins, Gibson is part of a young Twins pitching staff that should remain together for the years to come. Gibson has always been surrounded by high expectations, as a former first round pick. In his first full season in 2014, Gibson had his share of ups and downs. In 31 starts, he went 13-12 to go along with a subpar 4.47 ERA. This season, Gibson has been much better, and has actually been one of the big reasons for the Twins booming success under new manager Paul Molitor. While the wins may not be there on his record, the ERA has dropped nearly two full points. To date, in his first 18 starts of the season, Gibson is 8-6 to go along with a 2.85 ERA.
SP Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets
First it was Matt Harvey in 2013. Then, in 2014, Harvey was followed up by 2014 Rookie of the Year and 2015 NL All-Star Jacob deGrom. In 2015, it is Syndergaard who has secured the role of the next great Mets phenom pitcher in the starting rotation. Syndergaard has the stuff to be an ace, and the Mets surely think that he will turn into that. He is a different type of pitcher than Harvey and deGrom. His big frame offers a different look to hitters, and he relies heavily on his off-speed stuff. The three of them, along with rookie pitcher Steven Matz, figure to produce a very strong Mets pitching staff for the years to come. In his first 12 Major League starts, Syndergaard is 4-5 with a 3.05 ERA.
RP Jeurys Familia, New York Mets
We’ll stay with the Mets here, as Familia rounds out one of Major League Baseball’s most dominant pitching staffs. Familia has solidified himself into the closer’s role for the Mets, as he currently sits in a tie for third place in all of Major League Baseball with 27 saves on the season. He should have been an All Star in 2015, but will likely get a nod one of the next few years as one of the National League’s most dominant closers. Familia has a dominant slider to go along with a fastball that occasionally touches 100 MPH. Thus far in 2015, to go along with his 27 saves, Familia has a 1.42 ERA, a 0.95 WHIP, and 46 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.
Image via Rant Sports.