Diamondbacks all-stars the past 3 seasons

Let’s be honest, the 21 and 22 seasons did not bring very many bright moments.

From 2021-2022, the D-backs went a combined 126-198 (39% win percentage).  In 2021, Arizona had the 6th worst offense and the 2nd worst pitching staff.  In 2022, the offense improved to the top half of the league but the pitching remained in the bottom 10 league-wide.

That being said, it’s no surprise Arizona only had one all-star representative for both 2021 and 2022.

But hey, the past is the past; and now in the present, the D-backs are a must-see TV kind of team.  A club that is built on their youth movement; led by a powerhouse offense, this club currently sits atop the mighty NL West a week before the all-star break.

This season, the D-backs will be shipping not 1, not 2, but 3 players to the mid-summer classic in Seattle.  (Hopefully) With a possibility of more joining the fun as a reserve player…

Eduardo Escobar was the Diamondbacks lone all-star in 2021

Ah yes, Diamondbacks legend Eduardo Escobar (interpret this as you want).  Escobar suited up for the Snakes for a total of 364 games.  On July 28, 2021, Escobar was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for Cooper Hummel and Alberto Ciprian.

In Eduardo’s time with the D-backs, he recorded a batting average of .254, an on-base percentage of .309, and an OPS of .777.

His best season came in 2019; In ‘19, he racked up 74 extra-base hits (35 HRs), 94 runs, and 118 RBIs!  He finished the season with an .831 OPS which was 8th among NL third basemen.

In his all-star season in ‘21 however, Escobar wasn’t that great.  In 88 games before the all-star break that year, Escobar had an OPS under .800, he struck out in 21% of his plate appearances, and his on-base percentage was a point above .300.

The sad thing was, Arizona didn’t have anyone that was performing better…

Joe Mantiply was the Diamondbacks lone all-star in 2022

Joe Mantiply was dominant in last year’s first half of the season.

In 36.2 innings of work before the ‘22 all-star break, Mantiply recorded a 2.21 ERA and a 0.95 WHIP.  Equally impressive, Joe had a walks per 9 innings rate of 0.49 and a strikeout per 9 innings rate of 9.33.

In last year’s all-star game, Mantiply pitched a perfect 6th inning striking out SS Xander Bogartes to finish it off.

Mantiply looks to get back on track for the remainder of the ‘23 season…

Diamondbacks boast 3 all-stars in 2023

Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Zac Gallen will all be heading to Seattle next week for the 93rd MLB all-star game.

Corbin Carroll is having an MVP-type season.  Through 80 games, Carroll has 40 extra-base hits, 44 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, an OAA of 2, and an OPS of .922.  

You can’t say enough good things about this kid.

The second all-star is Lourdes Gurriel Jr.  Yes, he has cooled off a bit, but Gurriel Jr. still has an OPS above .800.  He also has 34 extra-base hits and 49 RBIs.  

In the month of May, the only player in the NL that had a higher OPS than Lourdes was Dodgers 1B Freddie Freeman.

The final all-star for Arizona is ace Zac Gallen.

Among NL starters, Gallen is 1st in wins, 6th in ERA, and 4th in WHIP.  He is also 2nd in strikeouts and 3rd in walks per 9 innings. 

In 5 April starts, Gallen was virtually untouchable.  He went 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA racking up 44 strikeouts in 33 innings.  In those 33 innings, he astonishingly only walked 2 batters.  2!

After 2 hard seasons, D-backs fans everywhere have had many reasons to smile.  These 3 have been a huge part of Arizona’s 50 victories.

It’ll be a treat watching them compete against this year’s best…