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PHOENIX — Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game seeks to highlight the top talent from all 30 teams, but it is also very much a popularity contest in many ways, with fans voting in the position players who start the game.
And Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, it appears, is very popular.
At the first voting update, released earlier this week, Buxton sat fourth among American League outfielders, behind just Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger. He was a little more than 36,000 votes shy of Bellinger, but he could be well-positioned to actually start the game even if he doesn’t catch Bellinger.
That’s because Judge is on the injured list with a stress fracture in his rib cage and is not likely to return until much later in the season. Trout was also recently placed on the injured list, though there’s more of a chance that he returns in time for the game.
If voting stayed as is, one, but possibly both, would need to be replaced in the starting lineup. Per MLB’s official website, if a starter voted in by fans cannot play, he would be replaced in the starting lineup by the player who garnered the most votes from the player ballot, and Buxton figures to be a popular selection among his peers.
Whether or not he draws the start for the game, Buxton is almost a guarantee to be named to his third All-Star Game and second in as many years.
The center fielder entered Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks hitting .270 with a .919 OPS, the highest in his career, save for his 61-game 2021 season. It also put him tied for Kyle Schwarber at 10th in the majors and first among AL outfielders.
His 23 home runs were third in the majors entering Friday and second in the AL. His .589 slugging percentage was also third in the majors. If he does draw the start, it would be for the second time in his career. He replaced Trout as a starter in the 2022 game in Los Angeles.
“This guy deserves to be a starting outfielder in the All-Star Game,” manager Derek Shelton told reporters in Texas this week. “If you look at his numbers compared to everyone else, you’re going to be hard pressed to tell me that there’s three other people that are more deserving.”
The Twins’ best bet at this point for a potential second All-Star lies in Joe Ryan, who made it alongside Buxton last season. Ryan has the credentials with a 2.99 ERA across 87 1/3 innings pitched.
Catcher Ryan Jeffers had a good chance to make his first Midsummer Classic with a performance that was among the best offensive backstops in the game through the first portion of the season, but a broken hamate bone and subsequent surgery has sidelined him for a month already.
Rosters for next month’s game will be revealed on July 4.
The Twins have not named a starter for Sunday’s game against the Diamondback, but Mick Abel has joined the team in Phoenix. Abel (elbow), who has been on the injured list for two months, has made a pair of rehab outings for the Triple-A Saints. … Kendry Rojas (triceps) gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings in a rehab game on Thursday with the Saints. He threw 33 pitches.
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And Twins center fielder Byron Buxton, it appears, is very popular.
At the first voting update, released earlier this week, Buxton sat fourth among American League outfielders, behind just Aaron Judge, Mike Trout, Cody Bellinger. He was a little more than 36,000 votes shy of Bellinger, but he could be well-positioned to actually start the game even if he doesn’t catch Bellinger.
That’s because Judge is on the injured list with a stress fracture in his rib cage and is not likely to return until much later in the season. Trout was also recently placed on the injured list, though there’s more of a chance that he returns in time for the game.
If voting stayed as is, one, but possibly both, would need to be replaced in the starting lineup. Per MLB’s official website, if a starter voted in by fans cannot play, he would be replaced in the starting lineup by the player who garnered the most votes from the player ballot, and Buxton figures to be a popular selection among his peers.
Whether or not he draws the start for the game, Buxton is almost a guarantee to be named to his third All-Star Game and second in as many years.
The center fielder entered Friday’s game against the Diamondbacks hitting .270 with a .919 OPS, the highest in his career, save for his 61-game 2021 season. It also put him tied for Kyle Schwarber at 10th in the majors and first among AL outfielders.
His 23 home runs were third in the majors entering Friday and second in the AL. His .589 slugging percentage was also third in the majors. If he does draw the start, it would be for the second time in his career. He replaced Trout as a starter in the 2022 game in Los Angeles.
“This guy deserves to be a starting outfielder in the All-Star Game,” manager Derek Shelton told reporters in Texas this week. “If you look at his numbers compared to everyone else, you’re going to be hard pressed to tell me that there’s three other people that are more deserving.”
The Twins’ best bet at this point for a potential second All-Star lies in Joe Ryan, who made it alongside Buxton last season. Ryan has the credentials with a 2.99 ERA across 87 1/3 innings pitched.
Catcher Ryan Jeffers had a good chance to make his first Midsummer Classic with a performance that was among the best offensive backstops in the game through the first portion of the season, but a broken hamate bone and subsequent surgery has sidelined him for a month already.
Rosters for next month’s game will be revealed on July 4.
Briefly
The Twins have not named a starter for Sunday’s game against the Diamondback, but Mick Abel has joined the team in Phoenix. Abel (elbow), who has been on the injured list for two months, has made a pair of rehab outings for the Triple-A Saints. … Kendry Rojas (triceps) gave up five runs in 1 1/3 innings in a rehab game on Thursday with the Saints. He threw 33 pitches.
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