Toronto Blue Jays’ Guerrero Jr. and Clement lead American League All-Star voting
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Blue Jays 1B Guerrero Jr. ‘surprised’ by first-place position in All-Star voting
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has expressed surprise at his leading position in the American League All-Star Game voting, especially given what he describes as one of the most challenging offensive seasons of his career. Despite his current performance, Guerrero Jr. has garnered significant fan support, placing him at the top of the first base category.
Guerrero Jr. secured 603,014 votes in the initial phase of American League voting. This total places him ahead of New York Yankees slugger Ben Rice, who received 509,830 votes. The All-Star Game, scheduled for July 14 in Philadelphia, relies on fan voting to determine its starting lineups.
“I was surprised that I’m in first,” Guerrero Jr. stated, acknowledging that other first basemen are having stronger seasons. He added, “There’s a lot of first basemen doing a better job than me. But I don’t control the fans, I don’t control the vote.”
Voting and Player Performance
The voting results highlight a contrast between fan popularity and current statistics. Rice, in his third Major League season, has posted a .292 batting average, with 20 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a 1.007 OPS. This OPS figure is noted as the second-best in the MLB, trailing only Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez.
In comparison, Guerrero Jr.’s season has seen him hit just three home runs across 69 games, with no home runs recorded at home this season. His batting average stands at .276, accompanied by 27 RBIs and a .726 OPS, which marks a career low for the player. He is currently in the first season of a 14-year, $500 million contract.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider commented on Guerrero Jr.’s enduring appeal, suggesting that his global popularity, which was further boosted by Toronto’s postseason run last October, plays a significant role in the voting. Schneider noted, “If numbers aren’t on the scoreboard, who are you paying to come watch? He’s one of those guys. So I think that plays into it.”
Guerrero Jr. is a familiar face at the Midsummer Classic, having earned a spot in the game in each of the previous five seasons. He has been selected as an American League starter in four of those five campaigns. Despite his current offensive struggles, he has indicated his commitment to participate if voted in. “If they vote for me, I gotta go,” Guerrero Jr. affirmed. “If I’m voted first, I’m going.”
Other Blue Jays in All-Star Consideration
Guerrero Jr. is not the only Blue Jays player leading his position in the American League All-Star voting. Second baseman Ernie Clement is also at the forefront of his category, having received 904,702 votes. This places him significantly ahead of Texas Rangers infielder Ezequiel Duran, who has 287,996 votes.
Clement, who is looking for his first appearance at the Midsummer Classic, has been performing strongly this season. He holds a .304 batting average, with seven home runs, a .784 OPS, and leads the American League with 20 doubles. The difference in votes between Clement and Duran is more than 600,000.
Several other Blue Jays players are also positioned well in the voting for their respective positions. Catcher Alejandro Kirk, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto, shortstop Andres Gimenez, and designated hitter George Springer are all currently ranked second in voting for their positions. The leading vote-getter in the American League overall is Yordan Alvarez of the Houston Astros, with 1,015,768 votes, while Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani leads the National League with 1,165,133 votes.
The Blue Jays currently hold a 35-38 record, placing them one game behind the Athletics for the third and final Wild Card spot in the American League. This standing was recorded prior to their recent game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
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Source: tsn.ca
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