Vote for Boston Red Sox players to make the All-Star Game
Major League Baseball released the ballot for the 2022 All-Star Game this week, giving fans an opportunity to send their favorite Boston Red Sox players to the Midsummer Classic in Los Angeles.
This year’s All-Star Game will be held at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, July 19. The festivities will also include several exciting events, including the All-Star Futures Game and the Home Run Derby.
There are two phases to the voting process that determines which position players will start in this year’s All-Star Game. Phase one opened on June 8 and runs through June 30. At the end of the first phase, the top overall vote getters in each league will automatically earn a starting spot. The top two players in each league at the remaining positions, including six outfielders, will advance to the second phase that will determine the rest of the starting lineups. Voting for this final phase begins on July 5.
Fans can vote on MLB.com up to five times in any 24-hour period.
As always, fan voting is a popularity contest that rewards players from teams with the most dedicated fan bases who are willing to take the time to flood the ballot box with their votes. Let’s be that fan base that pushes the Red Sox players to the top of the ballot!
The process is bound to lead to some questionable choices but there are several Red Sox players who at least warrant consideration for an All-Star spot.
Rafael Devers is among the best hitters at any position and should be a lock to make the team. His grasp on the starting role isn’t quite secure though, as he’ll face stiff competition from Cleveland’s Jose Ramirez, the league-leader in RBI. Devers is fifth in the league in batting average and tied for second in WAR. If fans vote based on production over popularity, this should be a tight race.
Xander Bogaerts is second in the league at his position in AVG, OBP, SLG OPS, and RBI. His primary competition for the starting spot, Chicago’s Tim Anderson, recently landed on the injured list and is expected to miss several weeks. If that takes him out of the running, Bogaerts should earn the starting spot at a loaded shortstop position.
J.D. Martinez is third in the league in batting average and eighth in OPS but a lack of home runs (5) might cost him in the eyes of casual fans. He has to compete with reigning MVP Shohei Ohtani, who will get plenty of votes despite some regression at the plate and on the mound this season. It doesn’t help Martinez’s case that Houston’s Yordan Alvarez is listed on the ballot as a DH despite seeing nearly half his playing time in the outfield.
A slow start may have doomed Trevor Story‘s chances since many voters will be turned away by his .230 batting average. He started heating up last month though and now leads all second basemen in RBI while ranking third in the league at his position in home runs.
If we’re being objective and basing our votes on this year’s production, the remaining position players on the Red Sox roster don’t have a realistic shot at being All-Stars. That’s not necessarily the point though. MLB has given fans the power. If you want to use it to vote for Christian Vazquez or Alex Verdugo, go for it! Want to reward Enrique Hernandez for his outstanding October last year? Here’s your chance to give him your vote. Nothing is stopping you from voting for Bobby Dalbec. Ok, fine… maybe don’t vote for Dalbec.
If any Red Sox players are going to crack the starting lineup in this year’s All-Star game, they are going to need your help. Get online and vote!