The All-Star game is over a month away, but with the news coming out last week that Atlanta will be hosting the 2021 All-Star Game and the voting for this year’s game officially open, there isn’t a better time to start talking about potential Braves All-Stars. Last year, Atlanta sent four players – Mike Foltynewicz, Ozzie Albies, Freddie Freeman, and Nick Markakis. It was a first time the Braves had that many All-Stars since 2012. This year, they could be sending even more.
Freddie Freeman
We will start with the obvious one. The Braves star first baseman is doing it again, hitting his typical .300 with an OPS of over .900. Freeman already has 14 bombs on the season, and we have yet to hit game 60. There’s a fantastic chance that he sets a new personal best for home runs in a season. He hit 34 taters in 2016. Regardless, Freeman will be representing the Braves in the All-Star game, and he should be starting.
Ronald Acuña Jr.Â
Acuña hasn’t gotten off to the MVP-caliber start that Braves’ fans were expecting, but he’s still been really damn good. His WAR is tied with Freeman’s this year, and you just get the feeling that a scorching hot streak is waiting around the corner. Let’s hope it happens soon, so he cements himself in his first All-Star game. Although, I think Acuña is deserving of the recognition at his current pace.
Dansby Swanson
Swanson is going to have a challenging time making it because the shortstop position is loaded in today’s MLB, but he’s deserving of the opportunity. Out of nowhere, the former #1 overall pick has found a second gear of power in his third full MLB season, smashing 12 home runs in 59 games. He’s already two off of his career high, and we are barely a third of the way through the season. Not to mention, Swanson is among the most clutch players on the team and plays stout defense at short. You’re going to have a tough time convincing me there have been three better shortstops in the NL than Dansby. Get your votes in for the hometown kid.
Mike Soroka
Soroka is another player who has already done enough to clinch his spot in the All-Star Game. The 21-year-old came back from injury in mid-April and has lit up the league since. His last seven starts have been marked quality starts, and Saturday’s win over the Tigers was the first time Soroka allowed more than one earned run in an outing. Because of that, he leads the entire MLB in ERA with a 1.41 mark. He’s also 6-1 with a WHIP well below one. The All-Star Game is just the beginning for this youngster.
Max Fried
Fried hasn’t quite locked it up as Soroka has, but he’s been equally as impressive. The southpaw has trusted his stuff all season and attacked batters from the opening frame. As a result, he has already racked up seven wins, which is tied for second in the National League. His 3.19 ERA is also more than respectable. If Fried can string together a couple of more good outings down the stretch, he should have done more than enough to earn his way to the MidSummer Classic.
Luke Jackson
I don’t really care what anyone says, and I highly doubt it ends up happening, but Luke Jackson deserves to be an All-Star as much as anyone else on this list. As has been well-documented, the bullpen has been a dumpster fire all season. It would have been an oil spill had Luke Jackson not consistently saved the Braves’ butts every night. Take out two bad outings (Opening Day against Philadephia and the debacle a couple of weeks ago versus the Giants), and Jackon has allowed three earned runs in 28 innings while striking out 41. He’s been as reliable as any reliever in baseball and deserves to be in this year’s All-Star game, especially if he keeps this up.
For those of you looking to vote for your Braves to make the All-Star Game, Follow the Link here.
And buy and Ozzie Shirt!