The following story is a collaboration between MLB.com and Yahoo Sports writers working together to cover baseball topics this season.
The second phase of voting for the 2024 All-Star Game began Sunday, with fans able to vote for finalists at each position until the polls close on Wednesday.
But even if the starting pitchers are set, there’s still a ton of work to do to fill out the roster (pitchers and backup position players) for the Midsummer Classic, which will be held at the Rangers’ Globe Life Field on July 16. Some of the selections are obvious, but looking behind the biggest names and flashiest stats, there are some quality All-Star candidates who may not be as well known to most baseball fans.
Below, six writers have each chosen one candidate: three from the American League and three from the National League. While none of them will start in the All-Star Game, each player is more qualified to participate in the event than you might expect. (The following stats are current through Sunday’s game.)
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Sarah Langs (MLB): Heriot RamosCF, Giants
Ramos has been named to MLB Pipeline’s preseason top 100 prospects for four consecutive years, ranking 81st in 2021, 65th in 2020, 92nd in 2019 and 63rd in 2018.
Now in 2024, he’s playing like an All-Star. Since the season opener on May 8, no NL outfielder has posted a higher WAR than Ramos’ 2.0, according to FanGraphs. The only NL outfielder with a wRC+ higher than Ramos’ 149 in that span is Fernando Tatis Jr. (150), who is in contention for a starting spot but is currently on the disabled list.
Development isn’t always linear. Baseball is very difficult. But stories like this are what make baseball great.
Not long ago, the Red Sox offense started and ended with Rafael Devers. But with the emergence of leadoff hitter and powerhouse Duran, those days are over. Duran is having a breakout year in Boston, on pace to set new career bests in every area of the offense and leading the major leagues in triples. He’s one of the most exciting players in baseball and has led the Red Sox to the brink of an American League wild card.
Manny Randhawa (MLB): Ryan McMahon3B, Rockies
McMahon isn’t on most baseball fans’ radar because he’s playing for a team that’s nearly 30 games under .500, but he ranks second among NL third basemen in hits (83), home runs (14, tied with Jeimer Candelario), runs (44), batting average (.270), on-base percentage (.349), OPS (.812), OPS+ (124) and fWAR (2.1), and third in RBIs (42) and slugging percentage (.463). (You might be tempted to bring up the Coors counterpoint, but McMahon has more extra hits on the road than at home, and his OPS is about the same.)
According to Statcast, McMahon is tied with O’Neill Cruz for 10th in the major leagues in hard-hit percentage at 53.3%, and defensively he ranks in the top five among third basemen in three outs above average.
Jake Mintz (Yahoo): John Grayright-hander, Rangers
Every team needs at least one All-Star, but it’s undeniably odd that the defending champion Rangers, host of the Summer Classic, are the team with the most uncertain Summer Classic situation. Postseason hero Corey Seager would be the obvious choice, but he’s injured and has been a disappointment so far in 2024. Ditto Adoris Garcia, Nathaniel Lowe and Marcus Semien. Replacement third baseman Josh Smith has been phenomenal. He’s the only Rangers player with an OPS above 80%, but the AL third base field is crowded.
That leaves Gray and two veteran relievers with impressive first half seasons in David Robertson and Kirby Yates. My pick is Gray. In 76 1/3 innings, he has a solid 3.77 ERA (3.32 FIP). His peripheral metrics and strikeout numbers aren’t particularly encouraging, but he hasn’t allowed any runs (apart from two of his last three starts). Gray is the likely pick to be the under-the-radar hidden star.
Shanti Sepe Chepuru (MLB): Bryce Turan2B, Brewers
Voters will have to choose between Luis Arraez and Ketel Marte, but Turan’s 2.5 fWAR is actually second only to Marte’s 3.5 fWAR, which is league-leading among NL second basemen. The 24-year-old Turan has quietly shown potential as a true contact hitter, compensating for an overall weak hitting profile with the fifth-lowest strikeout rate in baseball. He doesn’t have a lot of power, but his .292/.354/.417 batting average is nothing to scoff at. Plus, his 28 stolen bases are second-most in baseball behind Ellie de la Cruz.
The Brewers are often described as “greater than the sum of their parts,” so if they could only have one All-Star, Turan is more likely to be the Milwaukee player than any of his teammates.
Jordan Shusterman (Yahoo): JJ BradyCF, A’s
If Mason Miller hadn’t emerged as one of the most dominant closers in baseball, I would contend that Brady would be Oakland’s only All-Star representative next month. Drafted fourth overall by Miami in the 2019 MLB Draft, Brady showed few signs of blossoming into the star talent many predicted in his first few seasons in the big leagues.
But since being traded to Oakland this winter, he’s really proven himself to be a staple in the outfield: He ranks in the top 10 among qualified AL hitters in both wRC+ and fWAR, and while his offensive stats aren’t as flashy as teammate Brent Rooker’s, I’d make Bleday an Athletics All-Star candidate given his defensive value.
It’s no surprise that Bleday hits like an All-Star, but he’s also developed his outfield skills to be able to play center field every day for Oakland, which is no small feat. Bleday is only 26 years old, but Oakland appears to have found a solid offensive anchor for the long term.
