{"id":58653,"date":"2023-06-06T19:00:49","date_gmt":"2023-06-06T23:00:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=58653"},"modified":"2023-06-06T18:31:09","modified_gmt":"2023-06-06T22:31:09","slug":"toronto-blue-jays-all-stars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/06\/06\/toronto-blue-jays-all-stars\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Toronto Blue Jays All-Stars Who Should Be Represented"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">The hunt for the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/06\/04\/jose-berrios-pitching-improved\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Toronto Blue Jays<\/a> All-Stars will be one to watch. The 93rd edition of the Midsummer Classic takes place in Seattle at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, July 11. With fan balloting now open, Toronto has had the opportunity to send a combined eight players in the last two All-Star Games. They will look to do the same, as a few players on the roster are worthy of attending this year&#8217;s festivities. Let&#8217;s get to which Blue Jays are making a case to play with the best of the best in baseball.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Toronto Blue Jays All-Stars<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Bo Bichette<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">An All-Star in 2021, Bichette stumbled in the first half of the 2022 season, but it tore up thanks to a hot month of September hitting. 406. Based on what the Blue Jays have seen from Bichette, he&#8217;s been on a roll since Opening Day. He has to be a starter at the Midsummer Classic in Seattle. The shortstop leads the AL in batting average (.333), hits (87), and at-bats (261). He has 12 home runs, 40 RBI, and two stolen bases with a .888 OPS. He&#8217;s hitting .302 for his career with 81 homers, 279 RBI, and 49 stolen bases.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bo Bichette is the face of the <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#BlueJays<\/a>&#8216; lineup, and it&#8217;s not close. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dQ9u9Y2nk3\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/dQ9u9Y2nk3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Keegan Matheson (@KeeganMatheson) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/KeeganMatheson\/status\/1664321001461628947?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Kevin Gausman<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Gausman has provided strong performances so far in 2023. The Blue Jays ace put 6 2\/3 scoreless innings on 115 pitches in his last start against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/02\/24\/the-greatest-reliever-season-ever\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Milwaukee Brewers<\/a>. His 11 strikeouts in that appearance give him 100 on the season, leading all AL pitchers. Gausman has posted a 2.76 ERA in 12 starts. The veteran right is in the 94th percentile in the chase rate and the 92nd percentile in K%. Opposing batters are hitting. 171 with a 46.6% whiff rate.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Kevin Gausman&#8217;s 9th, 10th and 11th Ks.<\/p>\n<p>99mph on his 100th pitch. \ud83d\udd25 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/79W1z9k6CN\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/79W1z9k6CN<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PitchingNinja\/status\/1664340130142756867?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 1, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Matt Chapman<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Chapman&#8217;s defense is good, but his offensive start to the season saw him with 1.182 OPS in April. He followed up with a .585 OPS in May but remained the best overall at his position. He leads the AL in extra-base hits while hitting .281 with a 137 OPS+. Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez is playing subpar baseball, and Rafael Devers is playing with a sub.300 on-base percentage.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Blue Jays WAR Leaders<\/p>\n<p>bWar:<\/p>\n<p>3.1 \u2014 Bo Bichette (2nd in MLB)<br \/>\n2.5 \u2014 Matt Chapman (7th in MLB)<br \/>\n2.5 \u2014 Kevin Kiermaier (8th in MLB)<br \/>\n1.1 \u2014 Daulton Varsho<br \/>\n1.0 \u2014 Kevin Gausman<\/p>\n<p>fWar:<\/p>\n<p>2.5 \u2014 Bo Bichette (6th in MLB)<br \/>\n2.4 \u2014 Kevin Gausman (8th in MLB)<br \/>\n2.0 \u2014 Matt Chapman<br \/>\n1.6 \u2014 Kevin\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/fWqfuLRlM8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/fWqfuLRlM8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 BlueJays Muse (@BlueJays_Muse) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BlueJays_Muse\/status\/1663392732763545601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">May 30, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Honorable Mentions<\/span><\/h3>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Kevin Kiermaier<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">In recent memory, Kiermaier&#8217;s one-year, $9 million deal is one of the best moves from the Blue Jays. His defense is spectacular, ranking first with a 1.4 defensive bWAR in the AL and tied with Ram\u00f3n Laureano with a 12 Rdrs. However, Kiermaier can change the game, making one of the season&#8217;s plays last week, robbing Andruw Monasterio of extra bases with a diving catch in right-center field.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Another One \ud83d\udd25<\/p>\n<p>For a THIRD TIME, Kevin Kiermaier wins <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MLB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@MLB<\/a>\u2019s Play of the Week! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/et8SQIueeq\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/et8SQIueeq<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BlueJays\/status\/1665822233321766916?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">June 5, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Guerrero Jr. has represented the Blue Jays at the All-Star Game as a starter in the last two seasons. That streak could end as he&#8217;s cooled down a bit since hitting .439\/.510\/.610 in his first ten games of the season. Yandy D\u00edaz leads the AL first baseman in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Anthony Rizzo appears to have regained his All-Star form from years past. However, Guerrero Jr. is hitting a respectable .288\/.354\/.467 with nine home runs and 38 RBI. He&#8217;s just heating up at the right time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong>Chris Bassitt<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Bassitt has turned a corner since his disastrous outing against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/03\/24\/puerto-rico-baseball-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">St. Louis Cardinals<\/a>. The 34-year-old is 6-3 with a 2.42 ERA, 65 strikeouts, and 4.13 FIP, including a complete game against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2023\/05\/27\/top-braves-comebacks\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Atlanta Braves<\/a>. Bassitt pitched 7\/23 shutout innings on Friday against his former team while his wife was back in Toronto in labor. He has four starts of seven-plus shutout innings this season, tied with Eduardo Rodriguez for the most in the majors.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Photo Credit: \u00a9 Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\">Players mentioned:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bichebo01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bo Bichette<\/a>, <\/strong><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gausmke01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Gausman<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/c\/chapmma01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Matt Chapman<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=ramirjo01,ramirjo02,ramire036jos,ramire022jos,ramire034jos,ramire032jos,ramire030jos&amp;search=Jose+Ramirez&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/deverra01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Rafael Devers<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/laurera01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ram\u00f3n Laureano<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/d\/diazya01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Yandy D\u00edaz<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/m\/monasan01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andruw Monasterio<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/k\/kiermke01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Kiermaier<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/guerrvl02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Vladimir Guerrero Jr.<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bassich01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Bassitt<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, <span data-preserver-spaces=\"true\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/search\/search.fcgi?pid=rodried05,rodried01&amp;search=Eduardo+Rodriguez&amp;utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=lastwordonsports.com&amp;utm_campaign=2023-06-06_br\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Eduardo Rodriguez<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The hunt for the Toronto Blue Jays All-Stars will be one to watch. The 93rd edition of the Midsummer Classic takes place in Seattle at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday, July 11. With fan balloting now open, Toronto has had the opportunity to send a combined eight players in the last two All-Star Games. They will [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3686,"featured_media":58663,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,2,1071],"tags":[67,1608,4223,985,596,1331,383,1535,2501,640],"class_list":["post-58653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bluejays","category-featured","category-mlb","tag-anthony-rizzo","tag-bo-bichette","tag-chris-bassitt","tag-eduardo-rodriguez","tag-jose-ramirez","tag-kevin-gausman","tag-kevin-kiermaier","tag-rafael-devers","tag-ramon-laureano","tag-vladimir-guerrero-jr"],"modified_by":"Matt Graves","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3686"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=58653"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/58653\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/58663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=58653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=58653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=58653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}