Chicago White Sox: Three early All-Star Game candidates

BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 4: Carlos Rodon #55 reacts with Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 4, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - AUGUST 4: Carlos Rodon #55 reacts with Jose Abreu #79 of the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of a game against the Boston Red Sox on August 4, 2017 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
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Chicago White Sox, Tim Anderson
(Photo by Ron Vesely/Getty Images)

Tim Anderson looks like he could be an MVP candidate for the Chicago White Sox.

Tim Anderson is already emerging as one of the faces of Major League baseball. He already has his fair share of accolades. In 2016 he finished seventh in the Rookie of the Year race. In 2019 he really came into his own and posted a league-leading .335 batting average, earning him a batting title.

He followed that up in 2020 by .322, with 10 home runs and a league-leading 45 runs scored. His performance earned him a Silver Slugger Award and a seventh-place finish in the MVP race. On top of all of that his defense has steadily improved each season.

It may come as a surprise to people that Tim Anderson has yet to make an All-Star. That could all change this season. Anderson is quietly putting up very solid numbers. He has flown under the radar due to Yermín Mercedes and Carlos Rodón stealing most of the headlines.

Despite missing some time due to injury, Anderson is hitting .301, has 13 RBIs, four home runs, and six stolen bases. He has also been superb defensively with an almost perfect fielding percentage.

Anderson has also served as the vocal leader in the clubhouse and a spark plug at the top of the order. You could make the argument that Anderson was snubbed in 2019. It would not make sense to keep one of the game’s most exciting players on the sideline once again for the Midsummer Classic.

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