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#ASGWorthy: SS standouts are plentiful in AL
- Updated: April 30, 2016
The 2016 Esurance MLB All-Star Ballot has been released, and while the season is still young, it’s never too early to start evaluating candidates. Many have already begun to stand out, while others are sure to hit their stride in the coming months leading up to the 2016 All-Star Game presented by MasterCard on July 12 at San Diego’s Petco Park.
As fans cast their votes for who they deem worthy of 2016 All-Star status, MLB.com is looking position by position through each league, continuing with the American League shortstops. (All stats entering play Saturday).
• Cast your Esurance All-Star ballot #ASGWorthy players
The stalwarts An All-Star in five of the past six seasons with the Colorado Rockies, the Blue Jays’ Troy Tulowitzki is looking to make his first appearance representing the AL squad. Tulowitzki’s name holds significant weight, but he’s off to a slow start at the plate. Though the veteran’s .177 batting average bests only the Rays’ Brad Miller among AL shortstops, his four long balls and 10 RBIs both rank second in the league at the position.
Since hitting 77 home runs from 2011-13, J.J. Hardy’s power has waned with age. The Oriole has clubbed just 19 homers since ’13, when he was selected to his second All-Star game, but his rock-solid defense and consistency are not to be overlooked. We may be seeing a resurgence, as Hardy ranks third among AL shortstops in slugging percentage (.444) thanks largely to his seven doubles in April.
The fast startersXander Bogaerts has picked up right where he left off in 2015, when the Boston star led AL shortstops in batting average (.320), RBIs (81) and runs scored (84). The reigning AL Silver Slugger Award winner at short paces the field with 18 runs scored this year to go along with 10 RBIs and five stolen bases. He has also nearly doubled his walk rate from last season.
Oakland’s Marcus Semien is more than one-third of the way to his career high in home runs. The 25-year-old crushed 15 homers last year, but has already hit six in 2016 — the most among …
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