MLB Insider Picks Three Red Sox Players For All-Star Roster
MLB will reveal the full All-Star Game rosters this Sunday. The Boston Red Sox could send multiple representatives to Atlanta.
Boston likely won’t receive any help in the fan voting, which closes Wednesday at noon ET. Alex Bregman is the team’s only finalist, and the injured third baseman trails José Ramírez for the starting spot.
However, the Red Sox have two strong pitching candidates and some unheralded position players meriting All-Star consideration. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal picked three for his Midsummer Classic roster.
Rosenthal’s AL team includes Garrett Crochet, Aroldis Chapman and Wilyer Abreu.
Something’s wrong with the selection process if Crochet doesn’t receive his second All-Star nod. The 26-year-old ace has dominated during his first season in Boston, posting a 2.26 ERA and 144 strikeouts.
The crop of AL starting pitchers is so stacked that Rosenthal had no room for Framber Valdez, Joe Ryan and Bryan Woo. Still, Crochet should be a lock.
Chapman also seems like a safe choice amid a return to peak form. The 37-year-old closer hasn’t allowed an earned run since May 27, decreasing his ERA to a microscopic 1.23 with 50 strikeouts and 14 saves in 34 innings.
Abreu, on the other hand, is far less certain to receive recognition from his peers and the Commissioner’s Office.
The 26-year-old is batting .255/.325/.494 with a career-high 16 home runs. Abreu has also played strong defense in right field, but his 1.7 WAR ties two other AL outfielders for 11th.
His teammate, Ceddanne Rafaela, is seventh on that leaderboard with a 2.3 WAR. Yet much of the center fielder’s value stems from his 12 defensive runs saved, and the All-Star selection process often favors offensive production.
While the Abreu nod may delight Red Sox fans, they may also resent Rosenthal for snubbing another position player. The insider named Carlos Narváez as his notable omission at catcher behind Cal Raleigh and Alejandro Kirk. While Narváez has a higher OPS (.806), Rosenthal noted Kirk’s excellent pitch-framing behind the plate.
Rafael Devers was poised to start for the AL at designated hitter before Boston traded him to the San Francisco Giants. He’s now in danger of missing the game entirely, as Rosenthal predicted Kyle Schwarber will instead garner a reserve nod behind Shohei Ohtani.