Best Choices For American League All-Star Team In 2016

The American League is hoping to extend the winning streak beyond their current three peat as Major League Baseball prepares for its annual All-Star game a month from now. Not only has the Junior Circuit won the last three Midsummer Classics, but their star outfielder has done something no player has ever done in the history of the sport.

Los Angeles’s Mike Trout has won the Most Valuable Player in the last two All-Star games, and he could very well earn the honor again. After all, he is more than likely to be voted in by the fans.

If Trout does indeed get the nod and makes the starting lineup, he certainly deserves it. He is having somewhat of an off year, but his stats so far in 2016 are still among the three best out of all outfielders in the A.L.

Here are the players who deserve to be the starters for the team, which will be managed by Ned Yost of the World Champion Kansas City Royals. These selections are based strictly on their performances so far in 2016.

First Base, Miguel Cabrera

The future Hall of Famer will probably not win the Triple a crown again, but he is still among the league leaders in the three main offensive categories. Eric Hosmer of the Royals is hitting higher, but he lacks the power to displace Miggy.

Second Base, Jose Altuve

This position is loaded, but the Houston star is having a little better all around season. It would be difficult to choose between Seattle’s Robinson Cano, Detroit’s Ian Kinsler, Boston’s Dustin Pedroia, and Oakland’s Jed Lowrie.

Shortstop, Xander Bogaerts

Baltimore’s Manny Machado and Cleveland’s Francisco Lindor are having great seasons, but Bogearts has trumped them both so far.

Third Base, Nick Castellanos

The corner infield partner of Cabrera in Detroit, Castellanos has already reached double figures in home runs and is hitting .317. Chicago’s Todd Frazier and Yunel Escobar are worthy of consideration.

Outfield, Mike Trout, Jackie Bradley Jr., Nomar Mazara

Trout is an automatic, and Jackie Bradley, Jr. is having a huge season even beyond the thirty game hit streak he pulled off in April and May. Mazara, the early favorite to win Rookie of the Year, has helped solidify the outfield of the Texas Rangers.

Catcher, Salvador Perez

Baltimore’s Matt Wieters has a higher batting average, but Perez’s .270 clip is respectable enough when combined with his superior power.

Designated Hitter, David Ortiz

It is Big Papi’s final year, and he and the Red Sox are going out with a bang. Edwin Encarnacion of Toronto is flexing his usual power, and Baltimore’s Mark Trumbo is leading the league in home runs.

https://youtu.be/C0qBiUlsIh4