5 under-the-radar All-Stars in the NL West

Read our FAQ on this year’s revamped balloting format, which includes two phases of fan voting to determine the All-Star starters, and the ability to vote through Google Search.
When you look at the National League West, certain players are obvious choices for next month’s All-Star Game presented by Mastercard. Everyone knows the Dodgers' Cody Bellinger or the Rockies' Nolan Arenado will probably make the team, but who are some of the more under-the-radar All-Star candidates that fans should consider casting votes for?
Here’s a look at one from each team in the NL West:
D-backs: Ketel Marte
Marte put on 12 pounds of muscle during the offseason and it has paid off for him at the plate, as he matched his career high of 14 home runs on June 2. The biggest improvement for the switch-hitting Marte has come from the left side of the plate, where he is no longer just trying to make contact with the ball but is focused on driving it. His average exit velocity from the left side is almost on par with that of teammate David Peralta, and as of Wednesday Marte ranked in the top 30 among those with at least 100 plate appearances hitting as a lefty. His ability to play center field for the first time in his career has been a huge plus for the D-backs.
Dodgers: Joc Pederson
Bellinger deservedly gets a lot of attention, but Pederson is putting together an amazing season in his own right, as he begins to fulfill the potential he has long possessed. Pederson doesn’t start against most left-handers because of the depth the Dodgers have, but he still ranked in the Top 10 in the NL in OPS, slugging, home runs and walks through Tuesday. That’s because he has destroyed right-handed pitching. Heading into Wednesday’s game, all 18 of his homers came against right-handers, which was tops in the Majors. Hitting at the top of the lineup, Pederson has been a catalyst for an offense that leads the league in runs scored and OPS.
Giants: Pablo Sandoval
As a utility player, Sandoval technically isn't even on the All-Star ballot this season, but he's been the Giants' best hitter and has emerged as a constant source of energy and life amidst another tough season for the club. He leads the Majors with 10 pinch-hits, seven of which have gone for extra bases, and even logged a scoreless inning in a relief appearance earlier this year. Sandoval leads the Giants in Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball-Reference.com, further bolstering his case for his third career All-Star selection and his first since 2012.
Padres: Hunter Renfroe
Renfroe wasn’t even an Opening Day starter for the Padres, and he spent most of the first month on the bench. But he’s slugged his way into regular at-bats -- and possibly even into All-Star conversation. The hulking left fielder currently leads the team in OPS, and he’s been arguably the most valuable offensive player on an upstart Padres club. Not only is Renfroe battling for the team lead in home runs, but a number of them have come in crucial moments. His walk-off grand slam against the Dodgers on May 5 is the highlight of the season so far for San Diego. Plus, Renfroe has been stellar in left field, showcasing increased range to go along with his other-worldly arm strength.
Rockies: David Dahl
One reason the Rockies ended up saying goodbye to longtime stalwart Carlos Gonzalez was the anticipation that Dahl could provide star-level production. Well, through Tuesday, Dahl was fifth in the NL with a .330 batting average. He had just five homers, but according to Statcast he led the Majors in batting average on hard-hit balls put in play and was fifth in the Majors in hard-hit rate, which are indicators that a player is not simply benefiting from good luck, but is striking the ball with authority.
Senior Reporter Steve Gilbert has covered the D-backs for MLB.com since 2001.