As of yesterday, the AL and NL All-Star rosters are all but done. Of course, players out due to injuries and pitchers being used right before the game on July 10th will be replaced, so other players could still be added. Nevertheless, here are the Los Angeles Angels that will be in Seattle for the All-Star Game.
Two Angels Named to the All-Star Game, One Snubbed
Starting DH Shohei Ohtani
It goes almost without saying how insane Shohei Ohtani has been playing. His month of June alone was as good as some players’ season. He has been playing out of his mind over the last 30 days. Ohtani is hitting .310/.396/.674 (188 OPS+) with 15 doubles, five triples, 30 home runs, 67 RBI, 60 runs, and 11 stolen bases in 82 games. He’s 7-3 on the mound with a 3.02 ERA, 1.038 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts in 95 1/3 innings. He has the lowest hit rate (5.7 hits allowed per nine innings) in the majors and the highest strikeout rate (12.0 K/9) in the AL.
For good measure, Ohtani also made the All-Star Game as a pitcher. His numbers listed above are also great. The thought that he also hits 400-foot homers on top of pitching at an ace level is ridiculous. It almost feels redundant to say how good Ohtani has been, but somehow he manages to exceed everyone’s expectations. At every turn, he does something that hasn’t been done yet. He is something special that sometimes goes underappreciated. Ohtani will be playing in his third straight All-Star Game. He might even start the game on the mound for the American League, something he did back in 2021.
It’s good for the sport of baseball that a guy like Ohtani makes people want to watch the All-Star Game. In every other sport, the All-Star Game is a half-effort event few people want to watch. The league does a good job of ensuring the top talent gets into the game. Ohtani was the top vote-getter in the American League. Intrigue for Ohtani is still there, and the voting proves that fans want to see him on the national stage more often.
Center Fielder Mike Trout
Even in a down year by his standards, Mike Trout is back in an All-Star Game. He will return to playing in one since he missed the last two due to injury and the 2020 game was canceled due to COVID. Through 77 games, Trout is slashing .260/.367/.491. He ranks second on the Angels in home runs (17) and third in both hits (75) and RBI (42). Trout now becomes the 14th player in MLB history to be elected by the fans 10 or more times.
Seeing Trout in the Midsummer Classic will be a welcome sight for fans. He battled injuries in both 2021 and 2022. In 2021, he missed most of the season due to a calf strain suffered in May. Then, in 2022, Trout was diagnosed with a rare back issue that some thought would end his career. That wasn’t the case, however; Trout did return. In only 118 games last year, Trout hit 40 home runs. It’s wild to think the number he would have put up if he had stayed healthy all season.
Even though Trout is having some issues this season, at the end of the day, he is still Mike Trout. He is still a top player in baseball and plays alongside the premiere player in the game. They both want to win and lead this team to the postseason. Trout is still an all-time talent who gets to show his skills again on a stage with other big names.
Carlos Estévez Gets Snubbed
The rest of the All-Star Game rosters were announced on Sunday afternoon, and one Angel who should have been named was left off the roster. This could change as the game gets closer, and players back out, get hurt, etc. Carlos Estévez deserved the nod over Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen (Note: Jensen is the lone Red Sox representative, and every team sends at least one representative to the All-Star Game).
Looking at the numbers, Jansen, in 30 games, has an ERA of 3.45, a record of 2-4, a WHIP of 1.430, and 17 saves in 20 chances. Estévez, in 34 games, is 2-1, with an ERA of 1.91 and WHIP of 1.273, and is perfect with 20 saves in 20 chances. Again, other factors go into these selections. Having every team involved is one of them. It says more about the Red Sox than anything. In any All-Star Game, there will always be guys left on the short end of the stick and not invited. It’s unfortunate when those players are more than deserving of being there.
Carlos Estévez on not making the ASG:
“It’s crazy, but it is what it is. It sucks. But they picked their guys. I don’t know what else I have to do.”
Said that he’ll gladly go if selected as a replacement, but feels like he should have been picked up front.
— Sam Blum (@SamBlum3) July 2, 2023
The Angels will have two players starting in the game once again. They may even have the starting pitcher in Shohei Ohtani too. Despite Estévez’s snub, the two best players in the sport are back on the field for the All-Star Game, which is something Angels fans can be happy about. Plus, with how pitchers get shifted around, it’s more than possible that Estévez gets in to replace a pitcher who is hurt. There is plenty of time for changes, but looking on the positive side, there is a lot to like for the All-Star Game.
Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Players Mentioned: Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout, Carlos Estévez, Kenley Jansen
