The MLB All-Star Game is a little more than a month from now, but with voting officially underway it’s worth taking a closer look at which Red Sox players could conceivably take the field with the game’s best at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15.
At this stage it appears as if the Red Sox have five plausible contenders. Here’s a look at each.
Garrett Crochet, LHP
Garrett Crochet has been everything the Red Sox hoped he could be and more, and through the first third of the season the 25-year-old lefty is not only a sure bet to make the American League All-Star team, but a top candidate to earn the start.
Through his first 13 outings Crochet led the AL in strikeouts (101) and innings pitched (82) while also ranking third in Wins Above Replacement for pitchers (2.8) and fifth in ERA (1.98). Crochet has also posted eight quality starts and pitched into the seventh inning or deeper seven times, establishing himself as a legitimate workhorse — which was the one major question mark he had coming in after the White Sox limited his workload in the second half last season.
Crochet will have tough competition to earn the starting nod. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal is having another brilliant season, as is Kansas City’s Kris Bubic and Houston’s Hunter Brown. But whether he gets the starting distinction or not, there should be no doubt Crochet will earn his second career All-Star nod when the final selections are announced.
Rafael Devers, DH
What a difference a couple of months makes.
Through the first week of the season Rafael Devers was among the least productive batters in baseball, striking out at an alarming rate as he suddenly appeared incapable of catching up with even the most punchless fastball.
But eventually Devers worked out his timing, and he’s been raking ever since.
Devers is having one of the best seasons of his career and currently looks like the favorite to earn the AL’s starting designated hitter job in his first full season at the position. As of this writing Devers leads the AL in RBI (54) and walks (50) while also ranking among the top performers in runs scored (39, t-2nd), doubles (17, t-3rd), total bases (121, t-3rd), on-base percentage (.408, 4th), OPS (.914, 7th), WAR (2.3, t-9th) and hits (68, t-9th).
The only other realistic candidates for the AL DH spot are Brent Rooker from the Athletics and Baltimore’s Ryan O’Hearn, but while both have posted strong numbers, Devers has a clear edge and should cruise to his fourth career All-Star selection.
Carlos Narvaez, C
Has there been a bigger revelation in baseball this season than Carlos Narvaez?
An under the radar offseason addition originally expected to do little more than provide catching depth behind Connor Wong, Narvaez has emerged as one of the best all-around catchers in the game through the first third of his rookie season.
Offensively Narvaez has been excellent, currently ranking second in the AL among catchers in WAR (1.8) and third in doubles (12) and OPS (.809). Defensively he’s been even better. According to Fangraphs, Narvaez’s plus-six defensive runs saved is tied for third best in MLB among catchers, and Statcast has Narvaez as 97th percentile in blocks above average and fielding run value and 92nd percentile in framing.
In laymen’s terms, he’s been elite.
Narvaez has no shot at starting — Seattle star Cal Raleigh’s case is unimpeachable — but the Red Sox rookie stacks up well against the AL’s other top contenders for the reserve spot. That group includes Detroit’s Dillon Dingler and Los Angeles Angels backstop Logan O’Hoppe.
Wilyer Abreu, OF
There was a point early in the season where Wilyer Abreu had a strong argument for being the most productive outfielder in the AL not named Aaron Judge. He’s cooled off since, but Abreu should still have a real shot at making the All-Star team, especially if he performs well over the next month.
As of this writing Abreu is seventh in WAR among AL outfielders with 1.8, behind Judge (4.7), Cleveland’s Steven Kwan (2.6), Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez (2.2) and, interestingly, Red Sox teammate Ceddanne Rafaela (2.2), whose impressive total is largely driven by his off-the-charts defensive metrics. He also trails Minnesota’s Byron Buxton (2.0) and Harrison Bader (1.9) but is ahead of notable names like Mike Trout and George Springer.
Judge, Kwan and Rodriguez would be the most likely All-Star starters if the vote ended today, but Abreu has a good case of his own.
Abreu is tied for seventh in the AL with 13 home runs and boasts a strong .812 OPS, and his 24 walks are tied for sixth among AL outfielders. Defensively the reigning Gold Glove winner grades out well again too, his plus-seven defensive runs saved is sixth best among all MLB outfielders, and Statcast has him at 90th percentile or better in arm strength (95th), range (93rd) and fielding run value (90th).
Will fan voters appreciate Abreu’s contributions? If Jarren Duran’s experience last summer is any indication, probably not, but within the game the second-year standout has made a strong impression, so he should at least get a good look as a potential reserve.
Aroldis Chapman, LHP
What Aroldis Chapman is doing at age 37 is pretty impressive, and while he’s no shoe in to make the All-Star team, he certainly has a shot.
Last year each All-Star team had five relief pitchers selected, and this year there should be at least four locks: Seattle’s Andres Muñoz (1.40 ERA, 17 saves), Kansas City’s Carlos Estevez (1.71, 17 saves), Houston’s Josh Hader (1.38, 16 saves) and Minnesota’s Jhoan Duran (0.99, nine saves). Assuming there are once again five selections, can Chapman (1.88, nine saves) beat out everyone else?
Chapman has performed better than Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase (3.96, 13 saves) and Mason Miller of the Athletics (5.49, 12 saves), but those two were All-Stars last year — Clase each of the last three — and remain highly respected around the game. Miller is also continuing to pile up massive strikeout totals, which could help some voters overlook his unsightly ERA.
Chapman will also have to beat out Tampa Bay’s Pete Fairbanks (1.96, 10 saves) and Los Angeles’ Kenley Jansen (4.66, 12 saves), who is now the game’s active career saves leader with 459 and counting.
One thing Chapman has going for him, besides name recognition and seven previous selections, is the fact he’s still bringing the gas. Chapman is still regularly topping 100 mph on the radar gun, and his 103.8 mph fastball to Texas’ Blaine Crim on May 7 was the second fastest pitch thrown in MLB so far this season and the fastest by any Red Sox pitcher in the Statcast era.
Things like that resonate with the players and coaches who will select most of the pitchers, so it will be interesting to see if they’ll reward Chapman with his first All-Star selection since 2021.
