Hey Now, You’re an All-Star!

On Sunday, MLB announced the full rosters for the upcoming All-Star Game in Atlanta. Among those selected were Toronto representatives Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alejandro Kirk. Vladdy will be the starting first baseman, and Kirk was selected as a reserve catcher. 

Guerrero and Kirk were All-Star teammates in 2022 as well. That season, the Jays sent six players to the ASG (George Springer, Alek Manoah, Jordan Romano and Santiago Espinal being the others), the second-most in franchise history. The seven sent in 1993 stands as the team record, plus, as a bonus, Cito Gaston was the manager that year (ask Mike Mussina if he remembers this one). While there is still time for Springer, Ernie Clement or Addison Barger to find their way in as injury replacements, for now, it is just Kirk and Vladdy. 

Their All-Star selections aren’t the only thing these two have in common. Both are 26 years old, and both signed with Toronto as amateur free agents (Guerrero in 2015, Kirk in 2016). The two have both seen their share of rumours and debate about their respective futures with the club. For Kirk, it was in 2022, when the organization seemed to have a logjam at catcher (ultimately resulting in the trade that brought Daulton Varsho to town). For Guerrero, it was through spring training this year while his contract status was in flux. Both players, of course, went on to sign extensions this year: a five-year deal for Kirk and a 14-year contract for Guerrero. 

Those extensions have positioned both Kirk and Guerrero to climb the Jays' all-time All-Star appearance list too. This is Guerrero’s fifth time making the All-Star team, putting him in a tie with two other five-time position players, Roberto Alomar and Joe Carter, and only one behind the franchise leader, José Bautista, who was selected six times. As a two-timer, Kirk is tied with six former Jays and one current player (Bo Bichette), with Edwin Encarnación and Vernon Wells (three times each) within reach as soon as next season. Not wanting to completely exclude the pitchers, Roy Halladay is tied with Bautista at six All-Star appearances, and Dave Stieb is the franchise leader at seven. Guerrero also ties Bautista and Alomar with his fourth start in the ASG.

Given Guerrero’s popularity, not just with the Toronto fanbase, but globally, he’s well-positioned to make future starts too. Under the current system, MLB breaks All-Star voting into phases, where the top two fan-voted players at each position go head-to-head in a second phase of voting. Guerrero came out on top over New York Yankee Paul Goldschmidt to earn the starting position. Interestingly, Tampa Bay first baseman Jonathan Aranda received the most votes from fellow players and might be a statistically more deserving choice (he finished third in fan voting in Phase 1). That’s not to take anything away from Vladdy, who leads all AL first basemen in FanGraphs WAR, but simply to illustrate how Vladdy’s popularity could lead to future starts even when other options may be available.

Kirk, of course, never really had a chance to start this year; Cal Raleigh led both fan and player votes amidst his otherworldly campaign. However, Kirk and his team-leading fWAR were second on both ballots, and he is certainly a deserving reserve. His bat caught fire and caught up with his elite defense, and was our Hitter of the Month in June. Regardless of who else in the league is having a big season, Kirk forced the All-Star selection, and people have noticed.

It is still to be seen if there will be any other Jays making their way to Atlanta next week, but without worry about the snubs, we can feel secure knowing that Toronto is sending two of its best.