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After Trout, AL All-Star OF spots up for grabs
- Updated: May 6, 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 going to look position by position through each league, continuing today with the American League outfielders.
The stalwarts
Mike Trout is at it again. After a slow start, the Angels center fielder has found his footing and entered Thursday third in the Majors with 2.0 wins above replacement (WAR), according to FanGraphs. The 24-year-old is on his way toward a fifth straight All-Star selection, batting .317/.400/.596 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs.
Toronto’s Jose Bautista has made it to the Midsummer Classic in each of the past six seasons, averaging 38 home runs along the way. He hasn’t quite found his power stroke in 2016, going deep five times thus far, but he leads the AL with 25 walks and owns a .364 on-base percentage.
Baltimore’s Adam Jones is a five-time All-Star, including in four straight years, but he will have to get his bat going soon to make it back again. Jones, who has averaged 26 homers since 2009, has hit one while posting a .579 OPS and seven RBIs.
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Alex Gordon re-signed with the Royals this offseason, coming off three straight All-Star campaigns, but so far has not found his usual level of performance. The 32-year-old has more than three times as many many strikeouts (34) as walks (11), while batting .211/.324/.311 with two homers and five RBIs.
The fast starters
The Orioles’ trade for Mark Trumbo this offseason could not be working out much better. Trumbo, whose only All-Star appearance came for the Angels in 2012, ranks among the AL leaders in OPS (.953), homers (seven) and RBIs (22).
Although he has slumped of late, Colby Rasmus got off …
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