SPORTS fans, game, Seattle, Starters, voted sam January 1, 2024 0 Comments

Starters voted by fans for 2024 game in Seattle

This Major League Baseball All-Star Game will feature not just new blood, but instant impact.

Seven first-time All-Stars were selected to start the July 11 game at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park as fan balloting for the second phase of voting was revealed Thursday.

Los Angeles Angels two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. already captured starting spots by leading their respective leagues in voting during the first stage. Two finalists at each of the 16 other positions advanced to a final stage of voting, which stretched from Monday until Thursday at noon ET.

The winners largely reflected a changing tide across the major leagues.

Rookie outfielder Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, a Pacific Northwest native, led a group of first-time electees, many of whom transformed their franchise’s fortunes. In all, nine starters were elected by fans for the first time.

Follow the money: MLB player salaries and payrolls for every major league team

A look at the fan-elected starters for the 93^rd All-Star Game, with stats entering Thursday:

American League

First base: Yandy Diaz, Rays (first selection). In a startling but meritorious upset over Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Diaz gains the nod on the strength of a .922 OPS and .315 batting average, second in the AL.

Of note: Guerrero’s streak of consecutive fan-ballot elections is broken.

Second base: Marcus Semien, Rangers (second selection). Second in the AL with 97 hits, paired with .803 OPS.

Of note: One of eight Rangers whose adjusted OPS is at least 18% above league average.

Shortstop: Corey Seager, Rangers (fourth selection). Despite a hamstring injury, Seager gets the nod over Bo Bichette thanks to a 1.020 OPS in just 49 games.

Of note: Four of the five elected infielders and the catcher are Rangers.

Third base: Josh Jung, Rangers (first selection). He started hot and stayed hot as fellow finalist Matt Chapman tailed off at the plate, producing an .815 OPS and 16 homers.

Of note: Jung is Texas through and through – going to high school in San Antonio, playing college ball at Texas Tech and starring at the hot corner for the Rangers.

Catcher: Jonah Heim, Rangers (first selection). A moderate upset over Adley Rutschman, who will be a fellow first-time All-Star when reserves are announced.

Of note: Heim’s .800 OPS is at the moment just a hair above Rutschman’s .789.

Outfield: Aaron Judge, Yankees (fifth selection). Hit 19 home runs and posted a 1.078 OPS in 49 games before a toe injury knocked him out. He will likely be replaced in the starting lineup.

Of note: Judge’s 9.2 at-bats per home runs since the start of the 2022 season leads the major leagues.

Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels (11^th selection). On track to score 100 runs for the first time since 2019, thanks in part to 17 first-half home runs.

Of note: Trout’s .363 OBP would be the lowest of his career.

Outfield: Randy Arozarena, Rays (first selection). A .401 OBP and 14 home runs make Arozarena a potent combo of discipline and power.

Of note: Not since Carl Crawford in 2010 has a Rays outfielder earned election to the starting lineup.

DH: Shohei Ohtani, Angels (third selection). A major league-leading 29 home runs and 1.045 OPS. Not bad for half a resume.

Of note: Not here for his pitching, but we’d be remiss to omit that he leads the AL with 12 strikeouts per nine innings.

National League

First base: Freddie Freeman, Dodgers (seventh selection). Third in the NL in OPS (.938) and bound for his seventh season hitting .300 in eight years.

Of note: Freeman is the first Dodgers first baseman to win fan election since now-senatorial hopeful Steve Garvey from 1974-1980.

Second base: Luis Arraez, Marlins (second selection). It is good to know hitting .400 (or close to it) for half the year is still worth something.

Of note: Arraez’s .396 batting average is 148 points above the league batting average.

Shortstop: Orlando Arcia, Braves (first selection). The surprise starter at shortstop in Atlanta is producing a higher OPS (.794) than Dansby Swanson (.774), the man he replaced.

Of note: Arcia played in just 67 games last year backing up Swanson.

Third base: Nolan Arenado, Cardinals (eighth selection). Just a so-so first half for a player elected for the fifth time as a starter.

Of note: Only Mike Schmidt (nine) has more fan-elected All-Star starts than Arenado and David Wright.

Catcher: Sean Murphy, Braves (first selection). He eased into the starting role in Atlanta, supplanting former All-Star Travis d’Arnaud, and produced a scorching .926 OPS, edging Dodger Will Smith.

Of note: Murphy’s selection means Oakland A’s alums Matt Olson, Liam Hendriks, Semien, Chris Bassitt and Murphy have been named All-Stars in recent years.

Outfield: Mookie Betts, Dodgers (seventh selection). With 20 home runs in 79 team games, he’s flirting with his first 40-homer season.

Of note: Has started games at three positions this season: Right field, shortstop and second base.

Outfield: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks (first selection). Power (17 homers), speed (24 steals) and defense all wrapped up in a package that’s produced 3.9 WAR, second among NL position players.

Of note: Becomes the first Arizona rookie to start an All-Star Game.

Outfield: Ronald Acuña Jr., Braves (fourth selection). With a .993 OPS and 19 homers at the halfway point, he may add MVP to All-Star starter.

Of note: Acuña became the first Braves player to lead in fan balloting since Dale Murphy in 1985.

DH: J.D. Martinez, Dodgers (sixth selection). Bounced back on a one-year deal to rip 18 homers and post a 129 adjusted OPS.

Of note: Martinez has been an All-Star for three teams – the Tigers, Red Sox and Dodgers.