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Atlanta Braves: Who Makes The All-Star Team?

By John Buhler

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While the Atlanta Braves will certainly have at least one All-Star representing the team in the Mid-Summer Classic in Cincinnati on July 14th, it’s still very much up in the air as to whom and how many Braves make San Francisco Giants Manager Bruce Bochy’s roster.  I wouldn’t say that any Atlanta Brave in particular is a lock to make the team this year, but there are several players that have a case to possibly make the squad.  Who makes the National League All-Star Team from the Atlanta Braves?

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If he didn’t injure his right wrist, I would imagine that 1B Freddie Freeman would have been a lock to make his third consecutive All-Star selection for the Atlanta Braves, even at a very deep position at first base in the National League.  Freeman is the face of our franchise and is a household name for baseball fans all over North America.

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    • I wouldn’t be shocked if he made the team given his lingering wrist injury with these stats over 66 games: .299 AVG, 12 HR’s, 41 RBI’s. The problem I see for Freeman besides being injured is his competition: Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt, Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo, Cincinnati’s Joey Votto, and Los Angeles’ Adrian Gonzalez, to name a few.  The Senior Circuit has some very talented first baseman.

    It would be hard to not include SP Shelby Miller on the NL Roster with his 1.94 ERA and 1.017 WHIP.  Then again Bochy may not come away all that impressed with a 5-3 record midway through the season.  But keep in mind that he usually finds a way to put Ryan Vogelsong on his roster without incredible win totals.  Miller certainly deserves consideration.  Hopefully his fellow National Leaguers or Bochy recognize how dominant he has been thus far this season.

    Could this be the year that Platinum Glove Award Winner SS Andrelton Simmons makes his first All-Star game?  Baseball’s best defensive player is hitting well for the Atlanta Braves this season: .271 AVG, 76 H’s, .329 OBP.  His offensive production is solid for a traditional shortstop and I equate this kind of production to what Ozzie Smith or Omar Vizquel did when they made All-Star teams.

    The issue with Simmons is that Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki is a lock given that he’s healthy and Bochy will likely send his SS Brandon Crawford to his first Mid-Summer Classic.  I don’t have an issue with a Crawford selection because he might be the NL’s most well-rounded shortstop.  St. Louis’ Jhonny Peralta and Miami’s Adeiny Hechavarria certainly have cases to make the team as well.

    You could argue that 2B Jace Peterson, CF Cameron Maybin, and even RP Jason Grilli deserve some consideration.  But Peterson doesn’t have the name recognition of Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips or San Francisco’s Joe Panik at second base.  Maybin doesn’t have the home run power to stand out in an always deep NL Outfield.  And even with 21 saves on the year, I don’t feel that Grilli is consistent enough to merit another All-Star selection.  He’s has to start pitching clean innings for me to believe that he is one of the best closers in the National League.

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    I think the Atlanta Braves get anywhere from one to three All-Star selections.  The safest bet at this point is probably Shelby Miller.  You can’t deny a sub-2.00 ERA.  If Freeman’s healthy enough to play, he could be in The Queen City, too on July 14th.  And given Peralta’s previous PED usage and Hechavarria’s lackluster team in Miami, I think Simmons makes the NL squad as the third shortstop behind Tulo and Crawford.  The Mid-Summer Classic is still over two weeks away and there is still plenty of opportunities for each candidate to bolster their respective resumes.

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