Fan voting is underway for this year's MLB All-Star Game, but you won't find any Tigers near the top of the ballots. The club's representative will almost surely be elected by the players and the commissioner's office who together name pitchers and reserves.
So we're here to offer a little advice. When the stars take the field in Denver July 13, one of these five players should represent Detroit:
Casey Mize
If you're going for star power, Mize is your best choice from the Tigers. He's a former first overall pick and a future face of the game, and what better way to introduce him to the fans than at the Midsummer Classic? He's been Detroit's best pitcher after a rocky start, posting a 2.45 ERA since May. He's also its leader in WAR, according to baseball-reference. This is what the Tigers have been waiting for.
Akil Baddoo
There wasn't a better story in baseball the first two weeks of the season than Akil Baddoo, the Rule-5 pick slamming his way into the record books without a lick of experience beyond Single-A. He predictably cooled off, but he's back to hitting .321 over his last 24 games. He plays with flair, with a smile and without a helmet when he's racing around the bases. He's a good fit for the bright lights.
Eric Haase
There hasn't been a better story in Detroit the past month than Eric Haase, the hometown kid drilling homers as a 28-year-old rookie. He's one of only five big-leaguers this season with three multi-homer games, and he wasn't even in the big leagues when the season began. Through 100 plate appearances, he ranks first among AL catchers in slugging (.581) and OPS (.881).
Gregory Soto
Pitchers have been the norm for the Tigers in recent All-Star Games, including Shane Greene in 2019 and Joe Jimenez in 2018. After last year's game was cancelled, Soto could make it three relievers in a row. He boasts a 2.70 ERA with more than a strikeout per inning. And he's a fun pitcher to watch, with big celebrations and bright red hair that matches his electric arm.
Robbie Grossman
Were it not for injuries, this list might include Spencer Turnbull and/or Matthew Boyd. But we'd be remiss if we left off Detroit's most valuable player. Grossman has been everything the Tigers were hoping for, an everyday professional who seizes every at-bat. The power's starting to pop, and he ranks second among AL outfielders in walks.
