AL Central Representatives’ Path to MLB All-Star Game

Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images

The AL Central is bar none the worst division in Major League Baseball their season, with not one of the five teams boasting a winning record. However, per MLB All-Star Game rules of making everyone feel included, there must be at least one representative from each MLB team in the Midsummer Classic.

Injected with passive-aggressive jabs at the AL Central and their inability to produce a team with a record consistently north of .500, here are the six total representatives for the division flirting with being historically bad that has less than or equal to the number of representatives of two individual teams (Atlanta Braves: 8; Texas Rangers: 6): 

RHP Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins

Notable Stats: 4-2, 93.2 IP, 2.50 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 96 K

According to the metric Wins Above Replacement (WAR), Gray is the best player on the Twins this year (3.3) and will earn his third All-Star invitation. On a roster that leads the MLB in fewest runs allowed, Gray is one of the biggest reasons why the Twins, at 43-43, have a chance to emerge on top of the division. 

The 33-year-old got off to a blistering start to the season. In April, Gray was an early Cy Young Award-favorite with four wins in four games, a 0.77 ERA, 41 strikeouts. Through 140 batters faced, Gray allowed only three runs and zero home runs in 35 innings. Additionally, opponents only batted .197 against Gray.

Since April, Gray has been a different pitcher. He has not tallied a win in two months (and counting) and had ERA’s of 3.91 and 3.95 in May and June, respectively. However, his WAR ranks eighth in the MLB and his ERA on the season fourth. Gray deserves this nod, no questions asked. RHP Joe Ryan and/or RHP Jhoan Duran were deserving of a selection too, but that would only be the case if the Twins’ record was better and is not as much an indictment of their performance this year.

RHP Emmanuel Clase, Cleveland Guardians

Notable Stats: 39.2 IP, 3.40 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 36 K, 24 SV

Clase has not been as sharp as in the previous two years with the Guardians as his ERA, WHIP, K/9 ratio, and K/BB ratio are all down while his blown saves are already a career high. Who cares? Clase has been one of the better closers in baseball this year and earned his second All-Star invitation. 

The 25-year-old had a solid start to the season, racking up 9 saves and a 2.03 ERA in April. In May, he completely fell apart by allowing more hits (16) than innings pitched (12.2) and posted a 4.97 ERA. In June, he steered the ship in the right direction with a 0.77 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. 

Despite the ups and downs of being a premier closer in the MLB, Clase is tied for first in the MLB in saves (24). Toronto Blue Jays RHP Jordan Romano should have earned the invitation instead, who is better in nearly all statistical categories and is tied with Clase for saves. But, Clase is the bigger name and he is the choice to represent the AL and the Guardians.

3B Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians

Notable Stats: .290/.360/.506, 91 H, 13 HR, 52 RBI, 9 SB

Joining Clase as the only pair teammates on this list, Ramirez rightfully earned his fifth All-Star selection. His 3.0 WAR leads the team and has been consistently the Guardians’ best player the past half-decade. 

In June, the switch-hitter slashed .330/.400/.630 and struck out only 12 times in 100 at-bats. Ramirez leads all third basemen in hits, batting average, total bases, OPS (on-base percentage + slugging percentage), and WAR. 

It’s worth mentioning that Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco deserved to be selected to the roster, but Ramirez also earned a spot and should not be viewed as a surprise addition. Instead of Ramirez, Blue Jays infielder Whit Merrifield should have been left off the roster to clear space for Franco.

The cherry on top: Ramirez is set to stay in Cleveland as long as he wants. In the 7 year, $141 million contract that he signed last season, there is a full no-trade clause and will be under contract through 2028. An affordable contract for a small-market team is a win for Cleveland.

RHP Michael Lorenzen, Detroit Tigers

Notable Stats: 82.0 IP, 4.28 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 62 K

Lorenzen signed a 1 year, $8.5 million prove-it pact with the Tigers during the offseason and will likely cash in by making his first All-Star appearance this season. The two best players on the Tigers, LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (2.13 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 2.6 WAR) and OF Riley Greene (.296/.362/.443 slash, 1.6 WAR), are both spending time on the injured list. By process of elimination and odd reasoning, the next best option appears to be Lorenzen. 

RHP Alex Lange or RHP Jason Foley were better options to represent the Tigers instead of Lorenzen. Lange leads the team in saves (12), strikeouts per nine innings (11.4), and is tied for first on the team in wins (5). Foley leads the team in holds (13), boasts a 2.17 ERA and 1.04 WHIP, and has yet to allow a home run. Nonetheless, Lorenzen is the pick.

Lorenzen (2-6) is tied for first on the team in quality starts (6), however, his ERA and 6.8 strikeouts per nine innings are not elite numbers for a player going to the All-Star Game. On a positive note, he has been a steady force in the rotation with 82 innings pitched through 14 games.

If the Tigers are unable to get into contention, expect Lorenzen to be moved and play on a different team in August.

OF Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox

Notable Stats: .276/.337/.575, 87 H, 24 HR, 46 RBI, 8 SB

The Chicago White Sox have a record of 37-49, sit fourth in the AL Central, and are [hopefully] trending toward a selloff ahead of the August 1 trade deadline. Robert Jr., a first-time All-Star, has been able to stay healthy so far and has put together an exceptional first half to the season (not including a couple plays that lacked any trace of effort). 

Robert Jr. has already set career highs in home runs and runs, and is on pace to surpass career highs in hits, extra base hits, RBI’s, and stolen bases. He leads his team and is third in the MLB with 4.0 WAR, and is also fourth in home runs. Wow, talk about a career year.

However, while the highs for Robert Jr. have been sky high, the lows have been really low [and have led to a ticket to the bench on occasion]. 

Robert Jr., 25, has the talent to be the franchise cornerstone for the ChiSox and one of the premier stars in baseball for the next decade if he continues to stay healthy. Stay tuned.

C Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Notable Stats: .253/.290/.451, 75 H, 15 HR, 40 RBI, 134 TB

This will be Perez’s eighth All-Star appearance and is the most decorated player on this [brief] list. There is an argument to be made that Perez has not been the best Royals player this season with third baseman Maikel Garcia putting together a breakout campaign. However, Perez is the best catcher in the AL not named Jonah Heim or Adley Rutschman, so he will represent the Royals this summer.

Statistically, Perez leads all catchers in home runs and total bases. In May, Perez caught fire and slashed .302/.337/.635 and launched 9 home runs. 

Unfortunately, Perez is playing on a team that is the second worst in baseball and could sink lower past the Oakland Athletics (yes, they actually could). Fingers are crossed that the Royals hold onto one of their last remaining remnants of their 2015 World Series Champion team rather than moving him to a contender.