The baseball season is moving along, and the All-Star game is less than six weeks away. The mid-summer classic will occur on July 11 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. It will mark the third time Seattle hosts the All-Star game, as they hosted in 1979 and 2001. Seattle will also play host to popular events such as will the Futures Game on July 8, the Home Run Derby on July 10, and the MLB Draft on July 9. For Nats fans, expect at least one top prospect in the Futures Game, and we can all wonder who the Nats’ representative will be on the All-Star roster. Top candidates are Jeimer Candelario, Lane Thomas, MacKenzie Gore, and Josiah Gray. We should get more clarity by the end of June.
Coaching the All-Star game will be Houston Astros skipper Dusty Baker, who will manage the American League, while the Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson will oversee the National League.
Just like last year, the voting will be split into two phases. The first phase will go through Thursday, June 22, and fans can vote five times daily. You can vote through team websites, MLB.com, or simply click here. After those votes are recorded, the top two players at each position and six outfielders will be announced. Furthermore, the top overall vote-getter in each league will automatically earn a spot on the roster and bypass the second voting phase.
Phase two will start shortly after the first phase ends, and fans can vote only once a day through June 29. The remaining starters on ESPN will be revealed on June 29. Pitchers and reserves will be announced on July 2 on ESPN.
Each team must have at least one player represent their squad in July, but teams submit nine players for the ballot. The one player minimum will be the reason the Nats will have at least one player as none are expected to be voted in like past years when the team had a superstar position player.
Teams submit their nine players for the All-Star ballot. For the Nationals, who currently sit at 24-32, there isn’t a high probability that more than one player will be chosen. However, many agree the Nationals could have a starting pitcher nominated for the All-Star game instead of a position player.
Washington Nationals nominees:
- Catcher: Keibert Ruiz (.237 AVG, 23 RBIs, .705 OPS, 0.6 WAR)
- First base: Dominic Smith (.269 AVG, 14 RBIs, .662 OPS, 0.3 WAR)
- Second base: Luis Garcia (.269 AVG, 24 RBIs, .694, 0.3 WAR)
- Shortstop: CJ Abrams (.236 AVG, 29 RBIs, .692 OPS, 0.3 WAR)
- Third base: Jeimer Candelario (.265 AVG, 25 RBIs, .797 OPS, 2.1 WAR)
- Outfield: Corey Dickerson (.270 AVG, 8 RBIs, .855 OPS, 0.2 WAR)
- Outfield: Victor Robles (.292 AVG, 8 RBIs, .748 OPS, 0.1 WAR)
- Outfield: Lane Thomas (.284 AVG, 26 RBIs, .796 OPS, 1.1 WAR)
- Designated hitter: Joey Meneses (.300, 29 RBIs, .729 OPS, 0.3 WAR)
Discussion question: Who do you want representing the Nationals in the All-Star game?
