With the All-Star game fast approaching on July 16th in Arlington, the Dodgers are poised to have several of their stars shine in the event, according to early voting results.
Notably, Freddie Freeman is hot on the heels of Bryce Harper for the first base slot, while Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani are dominating the ballots for shortstop and designated hitter, respectively.
Teoscar Hernández is also making a strong case for himself in the outfielder category, setting the stage for an exciting round of voting ahead.
While these names were perhaps expected to feature prominently in All-Star discussions, with Hernández’s outstanding season being a delightful surprise for many, there’s a pressing debate surrounding a key Dodgers player who might not make the cut.
Catcher Will Smith finds himself in third place in the voting for his position, trailing William Contreras of the Brewers and JT Realmuto of the Phillies by a significant margin, despite leading in several key statistical categories.
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His first-place rankings in FanGraphs and Baseball Reference WAR among NL catchers with over 200 plate appearances, as well as his leading home run and OPS stats, make a compelling case for his inclusion.
This discrepancy raises the question of whether an anti-Dodger sentiment is influencing the voting, potentially costing Smith his second consecutive All-Star appearance despite a season performance that many argue makes him the league’s top catcher.
Moreover, the voting reveals other curious trends, such as Alec Bohm outpacing Ohtani by nearly 200,000 votes, despite Ohtani’s superior stats.
This suggests that factors like fan loyalty and recent performance slumps, like Smith’s downturn in June, could be swaying public opinion more than the season-long data.
Despite a challenging June where Smith’s batting average dipped, his overall statistics remain impressive, and a recent homer indicates he might be finding his rhythm again just in time.
Given the evidence of Smith’s All-Star-worthy performance, fans are encouraged to support him in the voting process.
With the Dodgers players possibly facing an uphill battle due to perceived biases or recent form, casting a vote for Smith — advocating for due recognition of his achievements — is a chance for fans to make their voices heard in what promises to be an exciting buildup to the All-Star game.
