White Sox could have more than one representative at All-Star Game despite record. Which players should represent South Siders in Miami?
For those who haven’t been keeping up to date on Chicago White Sox baseball, the first half of the season has been flying by. With that said, it is about time to discuss the Sox potential All-Star selections. While the amount of South Siders heading to Miami could be limited, who should they be? Here are some candidates to represent your favorite team at the midsummer classic:
Avisail Garcia (OF)
Over the past several years, Sox fans have been wondering if their gifted outfielder would ever break out. With a new manager (Rick Renteria) guiding the club this season, Garcia broke out in a big way. Through June 8, he is hitting .327 with nine homers and 39 RBIs. Those aren’t his only stellar statistics, as Garcia’s OPS is nearly 1.000 (sits at .906) not to mention he is currently slugging .540. If the player performing best goes to Miami, Garcia is the man to do so without a doubt.
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Tommy Kahnle (RHP)
While this may seem a bit out of left field to some, Kahnle is another South Sider who broke out in a big way this season. He is among the dominant setup men in the game right now, fanning 41 batters in 23.2 innings pitched. That is over 1.5 strikeouts per inning (1.77 to be exact), which is only topped by a miniscule walk total (six) and an ERA that would make 90 percent of baseball jealous (1.52). One of the best indicators of a good reliever is their WHIP, and by looking at Kahnle’s you would be impressed. Currently under one (0.803), very few men are reaching base, meaning he has dominated throughout the first half. Even though he has been just as impressive as Garcia, he is less likely to make it to Miami due to less name recognition and that fewer setup men end up on the roster. Regardless, Kahnle has been dominant so far.
Yolmer Sanchez (2B)
Would anyone have thought of him as an All-Star candidate this season? Me neither, and it is highly unlikely he heads to South Florida. However, his .300 average is worth noting, along with a good OBP (.350). Sanchez has always been a solid defender (+0.5 DWAR at second base in 2017), but his bat has made him a complete player this season. Once you get this far down in regards to potential choices for Miami, it gets a bit tricky with this current team, yet this made sense due to lackluster first halves by Jose Quintana and other veterans.
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All in all, the Sox will most likely have one player represent them in Miami. Who that is in unknown at the moment, but Garcia is currently the odds on favorite. Much of the selection process has to do with fan voting for starters and making sure all 30 teams are represented, hence the reason for Kahnle and Sanchez’s inclusion in this article.
Wish you were spending more time at Guaranteed Rate Field, Sox fans? Don’t worry, plenty of home games in the second half!