An Early Look at Phillies 2017 All-Star Game Candidates
Voting for the 2017 All-Star Game opened Monday, so we’ll take a look at some of the Phillies’ early candidates for the game.
In baseball, every team gets to send at least one player to the All-Star Game. Even when the Phillies were at their worst, one player got to represent their team who was at the bottom of the barrel.
Fans can now vote for this year’s MLB All-Star Game in Miami, and each Phillies starting position player is on the ballot. Whether or not any Phillies will actually make the starting lineup is to be determined, but we can certainly take a look at players who will make the team via managerial selection.
Second Baseman Cesar Hernandez
If anyone is going to be voted into the starting lineup from Philadelphia, it’s going to be Cesar Hernandez. He leads all second baseman in fWAR (1.2) and leads the Phillies in several offensive categories, including hits (31), extra-base hits (10), and batting average (.323).
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Hernandez’s competition for a starting spot in the National League lineup come July is Washington’s Daniel Murphy and Atlanta’s Brandon Phillips. Phillips leads all qualified NL second baseman in batting average (.355) and on-base percentage (.388) while Murphy leads in slugging percentage (.590) and home runs (5).
What could be the difference-maker is the success of each player’s teams. Murphy and the Nationals are currently running away with the division with a five-game lead in the NL East. At 17-8, they have the best record in the league. Washington’s fans are going to be much more motivated to vote for Murphy versus Philadelphia or Atlanta’s fans.
Washington’s fans are going to be much more motivated to vote for Murphy versus Philadelphia or Atlanta’s fans.
If Hernandez can keep up his success at the plate so far this season, he certainly has the chance to make his way onto the All-Star Game roster, even if it is as a reserve.
Starting Pitcher Jeremy Hellickson
Through his first five starts this season, Jeremy Hellickson has been among the best pitchers in the National League. He is tied for first in wins (4), second in hits-per-nine-innings (6.3), third in WHIP (0.800) and WAR for pitchers (1.4), and fourth in ERA (1.80).
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Hellickson has been effective using his entire arsenal this season. His changeup has been his best pitch so far with a value of 4.6 runs. It is third-most valuable changeup in baseball. All of his pitches have a positive value, with his cutter being worth 2.0 runs.
For Hellickson to make the roster, he will have to be selected by Cubs manager Joe Maddon and his coaching staff. Hellickson has a start Tuesday against the Cubs.
If he pitches well against them, Maddon may remember it when he has to sit down and decide the rest of the roster.
Starting Pitcher Zach Eflin
Zach Eflin hasn’t spent the entire season in the majors, but since his promotion, he has been lights-out for the Phillies. Through his first three starts this season, Eflin has a 1.89 ERA, 0.684 WHIP, and 3.67 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He leads all Philadelphia starters with 10 or more innings pitched in those categories.
Eflin’s stats could very well change by the time the selection for the All-Star Game rolls around. His knees could flare up again and he could miss the entire season. However, for the time being, he is one of Philadelphia’s better starters and a possible option for the All-Star Game.
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Seeing Eflin make the All-Star Game would be a great sign for the team’s rebuild. The 23-year old would be the second straight Phillie to make an All-Star Game in his sophomore season. Having a young, growing player versus a veteran making the roster is a lot more exciting to see.