This year’s MLB All-Star game voting was changed by MLB by having a primary selection and the top three at each position (top 9 for Outfielders) were then able to advance to the next round.
The next round is starting and with a clean slate so whoever tallies the most votes for their position will be the starter for their respective league. The Angels have two of their players who advanced to the Starters Election in Center Fielder Mike Trout and 2nd Baseman Tommy La Stella. Mike Trout will likely not need much help in winning the Starters election as he had the most votes in the American League with 3,370,499. Tommy La Stella was in a close race in the first round with Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros and DJ LeMahieu of the New York Yankees.
The Angels will need help in sending Tommy La Stella to the All-Star Game in which he is well deserving of being the starting 2nd Baseman for the American League. La Stella is having a spectacular season in which he has produced a slash line of .297/.350/.498 with 7 doubles, 15 home runs with 43 RBI in 72 games as of June 24th. Among all AL 2nd Baseman La Stella, is 3rd in Runs (46), tied for 1st in Home Runs(15),3rd in Batting Average (.297), 3rd in RBI (43) and 2nd in On-Base Percentage (.350).
Mike Trout is more than likely going to be an All-Star for the 8th consecutive year as he is putting up historic numbers yet again. Other Outfielders include Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox),Michael Brantley (Houston Astros), Joey Gallo (Texas Rangers), Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Austin Meadows (Tampa Bay Rays), Josh Reddick (Houston Astros), Eddie Rosario (Minnesota Twins), and George Springer (Houston Astros).
Trout, through 75 games has worked a slash line of .307/.466/.642 with 18 doubles, 1 triple, and 22 home runs with 56 RBI. He leads AL Outfielders in Runs(62), Home Runs (52), Walks (68), On-Base Percentage(.466), Slugging(.498), On-Base+Plus Slugging(1.108), Intentional Walks (11), Total Bases (165), and Extra Base Hits (165).
MLB has made it known that just because a player makes it to the Starters Election that does not mean they will make the All-Star team. That is why it is important for people to vote for the starters of the All-Star Game beginning at 9:00 AM PT on Wednesday.
Voting will run through Thursday at 1:00 PM PT. The winners will be announced on Thursday at 4:00 PM PT on ESPN. Voting can be done on MLB.com, any official team website such as angels.com, or by searching a player’s name on Google.
Featured Image: AP Photo/Jim Mone