4 Candidates to Represent the Minnesota Twins in the 2021 All-Star Game

MLB all-star voting this season will be handled the same as the past two seasons, where the starters will be voted in via a fan vote over two rounds. The first round of fan voting will decide the top-3 candidates at each position and the second round will consist of voting between the top-3 vote-getters at each position to determine the starters. The all-star reserves will then be selected via player ballots as well as selections by the Commissioner’s office. 

As always, every MLB team must have at least one representative in the MLB all-star game, which means that no matter what the Minnesota Twins will have someone represented in the mid-summer classic. Let’s look at the candidates.

Honorable Mention: Mitch Garver

Mitch Garver was looking like one of the best candidates on the Minnesota Twins to earn a trip to the all-star game prior to his injury and subsequent surgery on Tuesday night. Up to that point Garver had posted a .833 OPS, second best amongst American League catchers, and was playing his best baseball of the young season. While we don’t have an exact timetable for the Twins’ backstop, Rocco Baldelli indicated that it will be “at least a few weeks” for Garver to recover, which all but removes Garver from all-star contention. 

Candidate #1: José Berríos

Résumé:

ERA: 3.36 ERA (10th among AL SPs)

WHIP: 1.09 (11th)

K/9: 9.65 (11th)

fWAR: 1.3 (10th)

While Berríos hasn’t taken that next step forward and broken out for the Minnesota Twins in 2021 like many hoped he would, the Twins’ right-hander has again been putting together a strong and steady season very similar to those of the past 4 years. Berríos’ numbers this year show that he is teetering on the edge of being a top-10 pitcher in the American League, which is right on the cusp of all-star candidacy. Berríos has been elected to the all-star game two years previously, and in a year in which the Minnesota Twins will need to send someone to the game, Berríos could nab his 3rd all-star appearance this year.

Candidate #2: Taylor Rogers

Résumé:

ERA: 2.82 ERA (33rd among AL RPs)

WHIP: 1.16 (35th)

K/9: 12.49 (14th)

fWAR: 0.5 (13th)

In a 2021 season that has been miserable for the Minnesota Twins’ bullpen, Taylor Rogers has been the lone bright spot. After a down season in 2020, Rogers has been extremely effective this year, striking out more batters than ever before in his career. Rogers’ numbers lag behind other relievers in the American League, but in a scenario where the Minnesota Twins need to have one all-star, it’s easy to see a scenario where Rogers gets the nod above lesser known relievers.

Candidate #3: Nelson Cruz

Résumé:

OPS: .849 (7th among AL DHs)

HR: 10 (6th)

RBI: 25 (9th)

fWAR: 0.9 (6th)

Nelson Cruz is having another strong year at the plate with an OPS of .849 and is leading the Minnesota Twins in home runs and RBIs. Because of his strong name recognition, Cruz could earn himself a starting spot via the fan vote, but his most likely path to an all-star berth would be more of a “legacy” nod from the players or Commissioner's office as a reserve with the stiff competition this year at the DH spot.

Candidate #4: Byron Buxton

Résumé:

OPS: 1.180

HR: 9

RBI: 17 

fWAR: 2.6 

Through the first month of the 2021 season, Byron Buxton was playing like a lock to be an all-star starter, as he was pacing the field in just about every offensive metric along with his always-stellar defensive play, en route to capturing the American League Player of the Month award for April. Unfortunately for Buxton, a hamstring injury has kept him off the field since May 6. The question that all-star voters, players, and the Commissioner's office will have to wrestle with is how few games can someone play to still earn an all-star bid. Up to this point, Buxton has appeared in just 24 games with still no rehab assignment having been announced yet. If Buxton can get into games by the middle of June, he would have about 45 games under his belt by the time the all-star game is played. Is 50% of games played at an elite level enough to earn an all-star bid? We will find out.

Which Twin(s) do you think will earn an all-star bid for the Minnesota Twins this summer? Are there any other candidates who weren’t listed? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

To vote your favorite players to the all-star game, click here!

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