The National League is set to host the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star game as the mid summer classic rolls into Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati, Ohio. One thing for fans entering this game we should all expect to see some firepower at the plate as the All-Star game will be taking place in one of the more hitter friendly ballparks in all of baseball.
Currently, the Reds home field is ranked second in home runs, seventh in run and eighth in runs according to ESPN MLB Park factors. That being said the idea of some of the games top power hitters taking part in this game in this ballpark has us sitting on the end of our chairs. Three players we are looking forward to watching in this game in this ballpark are Bryce Harper, Giancarlo Stanton and Todd Frazier.
Stanton currently leads all of baseball with 24 home runs while Harper sits in at 22 and Frazier at 20. For the home fans of the Reds the team will get to root on Frazier who is having the best season of his career and should start for the National League All-Star team in 2015.
Here is what we think the 2015 National League All-Star team should look like.
National League Catchers
Buster Posey, Starting Catcher: The San Francisco Giants catcher takes home the starting job for the National League All-Star team in 2015. Posey is putting together a solid season behind the plate ranking near the top in every offensive category among National League catchers including wins above replacements at nearly three. On the season, Posey is hitting .294 with 10 doubles, nine home runs, 36 runs batted in and 29 runs scored.
Miguel Montero, Reserve Catcher
Derek Norris, Reserve Catcher
National League First Baseman
Paul Goldschmidt, Starting First Baseman: If it wasn’t for the Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman, Joey Votto would be starting at the position in his home field. That being said, Goldschmidt is hitting .364 on the season with 49 runs scored, 15 doubles, one triple, 18 home runs and 53 runs batted in. The Diamondbacks first baseman ranks near the top in every offensive category in the National League locking up his spot on the team.
Joey Votto, Reserve First Baseman
Freddi Freeman, Reserve First Baseman
National League Second Baseman
Dee Gordon, Starting Second Baseman: Looking back at the time the Los Angeles Dodgers elected to trade away Gordon and then eventually replace him with a much older Howie Kendrick had us shaking our heads. In the end the Dodgers have gotten some production out of Kendrick but Gordon is been spectacular for the Marlins this year. Gordon is hitting .357 with 35 runs scored to go with 13 doubles, 17 runs batted in and 22 stolen bases.
Kolten Wong, Reserve Second Baseman
DJ LeMahieu, Reserve Second Baseman
National League Third Baseman
Todd Frazier, Starting Third Baseman: We won’t lie as we would have loved to see Kris Bryant come up and put up even bigger numbers than he already has to earn the starting spot. That being said, Frazier has put together the best season among all third baseman in the National League. Frazier is hitting .293 with 46 runs scored, 19 doubles, one triple, 20 home runs and 20 runs batted in. This lands Frazier just above Nolan Arenado on the list with a little extra push since the game will be played at his own ballpark.
Nolan Arenado, Reserve Third Baseman
Matt Carpenter, Reserve Third Baseman
National League Short Stops
Jhonny Peralta, Starting Short Stop: The list of National League snubs will be long just at the short stop position. That being said we have to go with the St. Louis Cardinals short stop who is having one of the best seasons of his career. Peralta is hitting .312 on the season with 30 runs scored, 16 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 runs batted in. Following him up on the board include Wilmer Flores, Brandon Crawford, Jimmy Rollins and Troy Tulowitzki.
Wilmer Flores, Reserve Short Stop
National League Outfielders
Giancarlo Stanton, Starting Outfielder: The Marlins outfielder is putting together an MVP performance for the first half of the season. Stanton who has been known to be one of the bigger power hitters in the game currently leads all of baseball with 24 home runs just ahead of Bryce Harper who sits in second with 22 home runs. To go with the home runs, Stanton has scored 43 runs while picking up 12 doubles, one triple and 62 runs batted in.
Bryce Harper, Starting Outfielder: All I can think about is how a bunch of baseball fans have been calling this guy a bust the past few seasons. Wonder if they are saying this now about one of the best hitters in all of baseball? Harper has put to bed all of that talk with his play this year as he has 22 home runs to go with 52 runs batted in and 49 runs scored.
Joc Pederson, Starting Outfielder: The Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder is looking to run away with the National League Rookie of the Year award. Pederson hit the ground running this year as he is hitting .253 with nine doubles, one triple and 17 home runs earning him the final starting spot among the National League All-Star team.
Ryan Braun, Reserve Outfielder
Starling Marte, Reserve Outfielder
Andrew McCutchen, Reserve Outfielder
National League Starting Pitchers
Gerrit Cole, Starting Pitcher: Cole takes home the nod over some of the games top starters including Max Scherzer, Michael Wacha, Clayton Kershaw and even Matt Harvey. Cole is putting together an unbelievable season pitching to a 1.71 earned run average while posting a 10-2 record for the Pittsburgh Pirates this season.
Michael Wacha, Reserve Starter
Max Scherzer, Reserve Starter
A.J. Burnett, Reserve Starter
Shelby Miller, Reserve Starter
National League Relief Pitchers
Trevor Rosenthal, Closer: Rosenthal takes home the honor of the main closer if the game would come down to a save position. The Cardinals closer is 1-0 this season with 21 saves while pitching to a .59 earned run average. Honestly the entire Cardinals bullpen could have made this list of relievers for the 2015 MLB All-Star game.
Jonathan Papelbon, Reserve Bullpen
Mark Melancon, Reserve Bullpen
Jeurys Familia, Reserve Bullpen
Francisco Rodriguez, Reserve Bullpen
John Axford, Reserve Bullpen
Drew Storen, Reserve Bullpen
A.J. Ramos, Reserve Bullpen