The All-Star game is still a month away, but it could be a historic occasion for the defending American League champions.
As of last Monday, the Kansas City Royals had seven players on track to start this year’s game in Cincinnati on July 14. Kansas City’s dominance in the online vote has gotten plenty of attention. Some view it as a mockery of the process, while others offer a tip of the hat to what is clearly an energized fan base.
The Royals in line to start were catcher Salvador Perez, first baseman Eric Hosmer, shortstop Alcides Escobar, third baseman Mike Moustakas, designated hitter Kendrys Morales and outfielders Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon. Where the voting has been a bit extreme is at second base. In baseball’s version of the coattail effect, Kansas City’s Omar Infante was in second place, just 150,000 votes behind Jose Altuve of Houston.
Infante is hitting .204 with an OPS of .496. If he starts the All-Star game with numbers like that, it would be unprecedented.
Here are the six lowest-rated hitters in terms of OPS to start an All-Star game, according to STATS. Each player’s All-Star break OPS is in parentheses.