Detroit Tigers: All-Star Game Voting Update

Detroit Tigers haven’t had the best start to the season, however the team is still playing well and have some standout performers. Here is a look at where Tigers players stand in the All-Star voting.

Detroit Tigers players have turned in some solid displays in the early parts of this season. Starting on the mound, the likes of Jordan Zimmermann, Michael Fulmer and Justin Verlander have seemingly carried the team for stretches. Fernando Rodriguez and Justin Wilson have also been solid out of the bullpen.

However, many of the Tigers’ star performers have come from the team’s high-powered offense. Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Nick Castellanos have all gotten off to stellar starts. Additionally, after having his season debut delayed due to injury, Cameron Maybin has began his 2016 campaign on a tear. The former top prospect is hitting a blistering .354 with 34 runs scored, 13 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 30 games.

Despite Maybin playing in just 30 contests, a number of Detroit players are up for potential berths in the All-Star Game. MLB.com recently released an update on the voting, here’s where the Tigers players stand in terms of making it into the starting lineup in San Diego’s for MLB’s annual midseason showcase.

Miguel Cabrera, 1B

Miguel Cabrera has been his usual excellent self this season, with 43 RBI, 40 runs scored, 16 doubles and 15 home runs in 70 games. In addition, the first baseman has turned in some solid work on defense, and has even added a triple.

To top it all off, FanGraphs lists Cabrera as having the highest WAR of any first baseman in the American League.

Based on that, it wouldn’t be a shock to see the long-time Tiger atop the voting for first baseman in the junior circuit. However, that isn’t the case as Eric Hosmer of the Kansas City Royals currently has the edge by close to 600,000 votes. Never fear though, Cabrera is in second place.

Ian Kinsler, 2B 

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So far this season, Ian Kinsler has been one of the best second baseman in baseball. The 34-year-old currently leads Detroit with 45 RBI and is only second to Cabrera with 14 home runs. In 67 games, the leadoff hitter is batting a solid .299 with a .354 on-base percentage.

Like Cabrera, Kinsler isn’t in first place in the voting. The second baseman is currently fifth in the voting behind Jose Altuve, Robinson Cano, Dustin Pedroia and Omar Infante. Hopefully Kinsler can overtake former Tiger Infante in the voting seeing as the Royals recently cut the infielder.

It’s a loaded position group in general. At this point, Altuve, Cano, Pedroia and Kinsler probably all deserve to be in San Diego. It now will come down to fan voting and which players are picked as reserves.

Hopefully Kinsler can make it in—he certainly deserves it.

Nick Castellanos, 3B

Easily this season’s breakout performer, Nick Castellanos is developing into the hitter that many thought he would.

The third baseman is hitting .298 with 13 home runs and 39 RBI. What’s more, he’s also added 15 doubles, a pair of triples and 35 runs scored.

As with Kinsler, Castellanos is in fifth place in the voting. Like Kinsler, the third baseman is staring up at a stacked position group. Manny Machado leads the voting, while Toronto’s Josh Donaldson is second. Mike Moustakas, who is in third place, is out for the year, so perhaps Castellanos can move up. Coming in at fourth place is Adrian Beltre.

J.D. Martinez, OF 

Currently injured, it hasn’t even been determined if J.D. will be available to play in the game. However, the outfielder is 15^th in the fan voting. Consider how well he was playing before the injury, it wouldn’t have been a shock to see Martinez move up ahead of outfielders like Melky Cabrera and Kevin Pillar.

Victor Martinez, DH

Considering it is David Ortiz’ final season and that Royals players tend to get a significant number of votes—just look at what’s happening with Infante—it isn’t too surprising that Victor Martinez is relatively low in the voting for designated hitter. V-Mart is currently behind Ortiz, Kansas City’s Kendrys Morales and Edwin Encarnacion.

Purely from a production standpoint, Martinez is more than worthy of making it into the All-Star Game. The veteran designated hitter is batting a robust .326 with 12 home runs and 38 RBI (not to mention a mere 34 strikeouts) in 67 games.

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In Conclusion

Voting is still open, so vote for your Tigers players. Detroit will likely send multiple players to San Diego, but with fan voting, you can make an impact.