Devers among top Red Sox All-Star candidates

Devers among top Red Sox All-Star candidates

May 29th, 2019

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.

BOSTON -- Last year, was considered a disappointment. This year, he might be an All-Star.

Big things were expected from Devers after he burst onto the scene in 2017 as a fresh-faced 20-year-old, hitting .284/.338/.482 with 10 homers and 30 RBIs in 58 games. His scintillating start featured several jaw-dropping highlights, including a game-tying home run off a 102.8-mph Aroldis Chapman fastball and an inside-the-park home run during that year's ALDS against the Houston Astros.

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Devers endured his share of ups and downs as a sophomore, however, slumping to .240/.298./.433 at the plate while committing 24 errors in his first season as Boston's regular third baseman. He still showed impressive power with 21 home runs and 24 doubles in 450 at-bats, but it was clear that he needed to sharpen his plate discipline to unlock his full potential.

Now 22, Devers has done just that, improving his walk rate from 7.8 percent to 8.9 percent while cutting his strikeout rate from 24.7 percent to 15.1 percent. This more controlled approach has yielded strong results in the batter's box, as he entered Tuesday batting .327/.388/.505 with seven homers and 31 RBIs through 53 games. He's also been making an impact on the bases with seven steals -- two more than all of 2018. With All-Star voting opening on Tuesday, Devers could find himself in his first All-Star game come July.

Of course, Devers is just one of several Red Sox players with strong All-Star cases. First baseman has been Boston's top power bat so far, which could help him return to the Midsummer Classic after making his first trip last year. Moreland's 13 homers and .550 slugging percentage lead the team, while his 34 RBIs are tied with shortstop for most on the club. Bogaerts is having a fine season as well, slashing .284/.376/.497 with nine home runs and 15 doubles. Meanwhile, second baseman -- Boston's No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline -- could be one of the rare players to make the All-Star team as a rookie. Since debuting on April 20, he's hitting a Devers-esque .280/.379/.536 with 10 home runs and 26 RBIs through his first 33 games.

Boston's top two hitters from last year are building strong cases to be in the game as well. Defending AL MVP Award winner is shooting for his fourth straight All-Star nod. While his overall numbers are down from last year, he currently has more walks (37) than strikeouts (36) and leads the league in runs with 44. Meanwhile, designated hitter is enjoying another well-rounded season at the plate, batting .304/.388/.536 with 11 homers and 31 RBIs.

Fans may vote in "The Primary" at MLB.com and all 30 club sites, the MLB At Bat and MLB Ballpark apps up to five times in any 24-hour period. Fans in the US and Canada can also vote on Google Search for every position, or up to 17 unique players per day, by searching "MLB Vote" or the names of their favorite players. Primary voting ends at 4 p.m. ET on Friday, June 21.

The top three vote-getters at each position (including nine outfielders) per league will move on to "The Starters Election," which begins at noon ET on Wednesday, June 26. The votes will reset for a 28-hour voting window that ends at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27. Starters for the 2019 Midsummer Classic will be unveiled on ESPN that night at 7 ET. The pitchers and reserves will be announced on Sunday, June 30, at 5:30 p.m. ET.

Then on Tuesday, July 9, during the 2019 All-Star Game presented by Mastercard, fans may visit MLB.com and the 30 club sites to submit their choices for the Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet.

The 90th Midsummer Classic, at Progressive Field in Cleveland, will be televised nationally by FOX Sports; in Canada by Rogers Sportsnet and RDS; and worldwide by partners in more than 180 countries. FOX Deportes will provide Spanish-language coverage in the United States, while ESPN Radio and ESPN Radio Deportes will provide exclusive national radio coverage. MLB Network, MLB.com and SiriusXM also will provide comprehensive All-Star Week coverage. For more information about MLB All-Star Week and to purchase tickets, please visit AllStarGame.com and follow @MLB and @AllStarGame on social media.