White Sox: Avisail Garcia Deserves to Start All-Star Game
White Sox outfielder having fantastic first half of season, deserves to start All-Star Game. Fans need to make sure they vote early, often for young player.
Chicago White Sox outfielder Avisail Garcia is having a solid 2017 season thus far. The 26-year-old is leading the White Sox in batting average (.333), runs batted in (48), on-base percentage (.373), slugging percentage (.551) and hits (78). Garcia is tied for second on the White Sox with 10 home runs. After experiencing a frustrating start to his MLB career, it appears Garcia is finally living up to his potential.
With the All-Star break just a month away, Garcia has the chance to reach his first All-Star Game of his career. However, he also has the opportunity to start in the Midsummer Classic on July 11 in Miami. Currently Garcia is sixth among American League outfielders in All-Star voting as reported by MLB.com on Tuesday.
More from White Sox News
- New White Sox comments about the manager situation are baffling
- White Sox elimination number for AL Central entering Tuesday
- This former star would be a great Tony La Russa replacement
- The Chicago White Sox were unable to sweep the Oakland A’s
- White Sox: Tony La Russa gave an update on his medical condition
Garcia (698,876 votes) sits behind outfielders Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees (1,893,260), Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels (1,582,782), George Springer of the Houston Astros (804,826), Michael Brantley of the Cleveland Indians (776,487) and Mookie Betts of the Boston Red Sox (714,185). Although Garcia is sixth among AL outfielders in All-Star voting, he still has time to gain ground with more votes from fans.
Trout could miss the All-Star Game with a thumb injury. However, Garcia needs to get into the top three of AL outfield voting in order to start in the All-Star Game. Garcia needs more votes than Brantley and Betts to have a shot at starting if Trout misses the Midsummer Classic. While Betts and Springer are playing for contenders, they don’t deserve to start over Garcia.
Garcia ranks second among AL outfielders in batting average behind Judge who is leading MLB hitting .341. Betts is currently hitting .269 with nine home runs and 34 RBIs. Springer is hitting .275 with 18 home runs and 41 RBIs, and Brantley is hitting .289 with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Outside of Judge, Springer might be the only other outfielder in the AL that is deserving of starting the All-Star Game over Garcia.
If Garcia is going to have realistic shot at starting the All-Star Game, he will need more support from White Sox fans. Although this season has been tough to watch for many White Sox fans, that shouldn’t be a reason why they can’t support Garcia and vote for him to start the All-Star Game. With how his season is currently going, he could very well be a reserve on the AL team, but wouldn’t it be better if he was starting?
Next: White Sox Draft Gavin Sheets in 2nd Round
White Sox fans can vote for Garcia up to five times per day for a maximum of 35 votes. The time is now for fans to show support for Garcia and help him start in the All-Star Game. With another lackluster season on the South Side, it would be nice for the White Sox to get more national recognition with Garcia starting in the outfield for the AL on July 11 in Miami. This could be the first of many All-Star appearances for Garcia.