The All-Star Game for the MLB is happening in a few weeks! MLB's annual All-Star Game is happening on Tuesday, July 19th, in Los Angeles at Dodger Stadium. I'm not looking forward to seeing a Dodgers All-Star festival, but at least we shouldn't have to see it again anytime soon. As per MLB Rules, the Arizona Diamondbacks will have at least 1 representative on the National League All-Star Team. Last year, that was Eduardo Escobar. This year, I can think of at least 5 players that could be voted on the All-Star team by players, coaches, MLB officials, and the king himself, Rob Manfred. I'll rank the 5 Diamondbacks players below in the order of likelihood that it will happen.
While this has been a much better season for the Diamondbacks than 2021, it's hard to say it's been a great season. It's been enjoyable and aggravating, and I've liked almost everything I have seen from the team this year, but perhaps that's because 2020 and 2021 were just so bad. Due to their rather meh record, I wouldn't expect more than 2-3 All-Stars at most. I do think they have more than 1, with it ultimately being 2. Stats are current through July 6th.
Christian Walker: Potential HR Derby Contestant and Arizona Diamondbacks All-Star?
Christian Walker is having one weird season in terms of base stats compared to counting stats like HRs and then compared to analytics. Walker has been the Diamondbacks' best power hitter and one of the biggest sources of runs for the team. The 31-year-old leads the Dbacks in runs (41), WAR (2.7), HR (21), RBI (42), walks (41), slugging (.484), and OPS+ (125). According to Baseball Savant, Walker is among the elites of hitting in terms of xwOBA, Barrel %, Chase Rate, xSLG, exit velocity, and more. His Batting average is .210, but his expected batting average based on the contact he makes should be .271. He's had a ton of bad luck. His Slugging should be .588! Not .484. He's got a terrific K% to walk % of 23.9% to 10.1%.
Walker is 10th in the NL in Position Player WAR, 3rd in HRs, 9th in walks, and 2nd in at-bats per HR (13.2). He's 5th in assists at 1st (45), 5th in errors (3), 5th in double plays turned (51), 1st in Total Zone Runs by 6 (10, 2nd has 4), 5th highest range factor with 8.41, and 5th in Fielding % at .995. He's a stud.
Basically, Walker has been performing amazing aside from his base stats like batting average and on-base percentage. This is annoying as the casual fan wouldn't realize this. His defense at 1st is in contention for the best in the MLB let alone the NL. He's chasing pitches fewer than ever and driving the ball to all fields. So why wouldn't he be an All-Star? Well the MLB might ignore his advanced stats because he plays for the Dbacks. The bigger reason is that he's not as big a name as Paul Goldschmidt, Pete Alonso, Freddie Freeman, or Matt Olsen who each are deserving of All-Star recognition. It's going to be tough for Walker to make it but there's no doubt that he deserves his first All-Star nomination.
Zac Gallen: Could he be a 1st-time All-Star for the Diamondbacks?
Gallen was in the midst of his best season, and still is, but has struggled of late which could drop him from being a potential All-Star. Gallen has the Dbacks' best ERA as a starter (3.40), 3rd most innings despite 2 fewer starts (82), most Ks (77), best ERA+ as a starter (121), a 3.83 FIP, and lowest WHIP as a starter with a 1.049. He is the team's ACE, sorry MadBum. He's on pace to have a career season and is only 26. Considering how great he has been for the Dbacks, you would think that he might have a shot at the All-Star team.
The National Leagues has an overwhelming amount of star SPs so it could be tough and tight for Gallen to make it this year. There's a chance though if the MLB chooses him as the Dbacks rep. He's 10th in the MLB in WHIP, and 5th in Hits per 9IP (6.915).
Could Joe Mantiply make the All-Star Team? / Norm Hall/GettyImages
Joe Mantiply: Could the Dbacks reliever make the All-Star Team?
It's so rare for a reliever, especially one that isn't a closer to make the MLB All-Star Game. That puts ace left-handed reliever Joe Mantiply at a disadvantage. Mantiply is having a career season at 31 years old. He bounced around the minors making random MLB appearances with the Yankees and Tigers before signing on a MiLB deal with the Dbacks last year. Suffice to say, that was a wise decision. Mantiply already has 1.1 WAR, which is insane for a non-closer reliever. He's pitched in 34 games, throwing 33 innings. He has a 1-2 record with 2 saves, 34 Ks, 1 walk, and has given up 28 hits. That all combines into a terrific 1.91 ERA, 217 ERA+ (100 is league average), and an amazing 2.20 FIP.
There's no question that Mantiply is deserving of All-Star recognition, especially since he's been one of the most valuable arms for the Dbacks. The odds are against him though as relievers often don't make it. We here at Venom Strikes believe he is an All-Star regardless of what the MLB says.
Alek Thomas: Rookie All-Star for the Diamondbacks?
Alek Thomas is a young phenom out in centerfield for the Diamondbacks. You can just see future star written all over him. It might be a bit too soon to say he's an All-Star, but he's definitely been playing really well. Thomas has only played in 52 games but has 7 HR, 21 RBI, 4 stolen bases, 14 walks to 36 Ks, 7 doubles, and an OPS+ of 103. That's impressive for a super-young MLB rookie. He's already complied 1.5 WAR in that short amount of time while being worth 0.8 Wins Above Average. He's barely striking out at 18.4% while walking at a 7.1% rate which is very impressive. He has the best range in the MLB in centerfield so far this year according to advanced stats. He's the 7th-youngest player in the MLB. We got an amazing player on the Dbacks.
Ketel Marte: 2nd baseman could make his 2nd All-Star Team
Ketel Marte previously made the MLB All-Star Team back in 2019 when he started the game at 2nd base. That was his career year, so far, when he finished 4th in MVP voting. Marte's having another solid year, although not to the amazing levels of 2019. He started off ice-cold until he caught fire on May 1st. Due to that, his base stats just aren't that pretty despite hitting over .300 since May 1st. He has the 3rd most doubles in the NL with 25.
On the season, Marte is hitting .263/.351/.424/.775/120 OPS+ with 33 walks to 54 Ks. That's a great ratio and speaks to how good Marte is at the plate right now in his 299 plate appearances. He has 25 doubles, and 1 triple, but only 5HRsR which is concerning since he has plenty of power for more HRs. Marte has played in 73 games, so almost every day. He's worth 1.9 Offensive WAR and 1.4 overall WAR. If I had to choose one likely Dbacks player to make the MLB All-Star team, I'd say it's Marte.
Only time will tell who from the Diamondbacks will make the All-Star Team, but hopefully, we have more than 1! There are certainly multiple guys that are plenty deserving.
