"I Knew I Wouldn't Make It:" The Biggest Snub Of The 2023 All-Star Game
Part of the voting and selection of the All-Star roster is the inevitable snubs and groups of fans that believe their team's player should be playing in the game. Some examples are Wander Franco and Fernando Tatis Jr who both have a solid case to be on the roster this year.
However, the biggest snub of the 2023 All-Star roster is the Cleveland Guardians' first baseman, Josh Naylor.
Let's take a look at which first baseman made it over Naylor first.
Starting at first will be Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays. No real complaints here. Diaz has been one of the best hitters in baseball with a .318 batting average and a .914 OPS on the best team in the American League. He deserves to be there and deserves to start.
This is where it gets complicated.
Valdimir Guerreo Jr. made the team as an infield reserve. While he is one of the big young names and baseball, is he truly having an All-Star season?
Vladdy is slashing .274/.347/.445 with an OPS of .792 this season. He's also hit 12 home runs and has 52 RBI. Those are definitely solid numbers, but remember this is the All-Star Game. It's supposed to showcase the best of the best.
Unfortunately, these stats aren't the best out of AL first baseman.
Naylor is currently hitting .301/.318/.429 with an OPS of .747. He has 10 home runs and driven in 60 runs. That's the second-high batting average and OPS, and the most RBI among any AL first baseman.
This is after he started the season as one of the unluckiest players in terms of xBA in baseball.
We can't talk about Naylor's impact this season without mentioning how great he's been on defense too. Josh has statistically been the second-best defensive first baseman in the AL. He's in the 92nd percentile in outs above average, is four OAA, and has prevented three runs.
For the record, Diaz is a -3 OAA, and Guerro is even worse with a -9. So, if we want to find the very best player we have to consider how each of them has performed on the field.
Naylor admitted that making the team was a long shot, which is an unfortunate realization to have. He said:
"I knew I wouldn't make that team to begin with to be honest with you. I didn't really have plans to do it because I knew I wouldn't make it, so it didn't really affect me at all. It's a blessing to do it, don't get me wrong, great opportunity. But I didn't think I would to begin with. It wasn't really in my mind at all."
Having a player that objectively has stats that make them at the top of the league admit they knew they weren't going to make it highlights a massive flaw in how the rosters are selected.
But that's a conversation for another day.
For now, let's just appreciate the incredible career year Naylor is having because it's been one of the best in MLB.
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Read More:
Someone Has To Win The AL Central, Why It Will Be The Guardians
Jose Ramirez Should Be Starting In The All-Star Game
Josh Naylor Redeems Himself As Guardians Take Series Over Cubs
Multiple Guardians Selected To 2023 MLB All-Star Game
Tanner Bibee Ties Career High Against Cubs
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