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Wilson Ramos is This Year’s Starting All Star Backstop

By Drew McDonald
ST PETERSBURG, FL - MAY 24: Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a three RBI single in the second inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on May 24, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FL - MAY 24: Wilson Ramos #40 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a three RBI single in the second inning during a game against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field on May 24, 2018 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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Earlier this year in Spring Training, Rays fans were  hoping that Wilson Ramos would carry a .260 average, belt 15-20 homers, and be solid behind the plate. Flash forward to today.  Wilson Ramos is the likely favorite to start in the 2018  All Star Game. The sad part is that in the last couple of years, teams with large fan bases end up voting their favorite players who don’t have the stats to start.

Take a look back at the 2016 All Star Game in San Diego. Four Red Sox were in the starting lineup for the American League. Those players were Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, Jr., and David Ortiz. Jackie Bradley, Jr. is a career .235 hitter.  Mark Trumbo was one of the reserves and he ended up hitting 47 dingers that year. JBJ is an excellent defender.  But, he falls into the Kevin Kiermaier category where his bat can’t catch up to his glove.

How many Yankees can we stand in the All-Star game?

This year, Yankee fans are 100% will stuff the ballots to vote guys like Sir Didi and El Gary to start. Gary Sanchez is currently hitting .201 with 12 homers and 35 RBI’s. Wilson Ramos this year has hit .289 with seven home runs, 29 RBI’s and leads American League catchers in OBP (.335). The Yankees will likely have at least three players on the All Star Roster. Right off the bat, Aaron Judge (.274/.401/.967), Giancarlo Stanton (14 HR, .823 OPS), and Gleyber Torres(.294, 10 HR, .905 OPS) will likely be voted in. It will be up to the fans to vote Didi and Gary in. Right now, the front runners for the A.L. starting shortstop are Francisco Lindor (.296, 14 HR, 35 RBI’s) and Carlos Correa (.264, 10 HR, 39 RBI’s).

Next: Rays lead baseball in rookie appearances. That trend should continue.

For the Rays, Blake Snell will be the only player joining Ramos at the Mid-Summer Classic. Snell had dueled on the mound, owning a 7-3 record, 2.36 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. Snellzilla is coming into his own.  For all we know we could see his best friend Odell competing at the Home Run Derby. The buffalo has earned his first career All Star Game start.  It’s time that fans pay attention to small market talent.

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