Extremely Early Look at Preseason MLB All-Star Starter Picks

The first spring training game of 2012 is next Wednesday between the Florida State Seminoles and the Philadelphia Phillies. Does that mean it's too early to predict the All-Star starters for this year's mid-summer classic in Kansas City? I don't think so.

As we all know, Major League Baseball is the lone professional sport that makes it's All-Star game count. The winner of the star-dominated game gets home-field advantage in the World Series. Now some agree with this rule, and some don't, but that's not what we're discussing here. We're discussing who will represent each league in the All-Star game.

This offseason has been full of surprises and it will be exciting to see who performs up to the expectations and who doesn't.

In regards to the All-Star game, which newly acquired slugger with represent the AL at first base? Albert Pujols? Prince Fielder? Neither?

Will Miami's left side of the infield in Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez both start for the NL?

Can Miguel Cabrera make a smooth transition from first base and represent the AL as the starting third baseman?

Will Ryan Braun be the starting right fielder for the NL even after possibly serving a 50-game suspension?

Let's take a glance.

How the Teams Faired

Each position has a favorite as well as two honorable mention players, not listed in order, that are All-Star worthy. Below is the breakdown of how each team fared in the picks.

American League:

5 - Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees

3 - Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Tampa Bay Rays, Texas Rangers

2 - Kansas City Royals

1 - Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays

National League:

5 - Philadelphia Phillies

4 - Miami Marlins

3 - Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers, St. Louis Cardinals

2 - Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, San Francisco Giants

1 - Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, Pittsburgh Pirates, Washington Nationals

*Note that not every team had a player, as required in the actual All-Star game, including the Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Minnesota Twins, and San Diego Padres.

American League Starting Pitcher

Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

What can you say about the 2011 season that the Tigers' ace had? After winning a league-leading 24 games and also leading the league in ERA, strikeouts, innings pitched and WHIP, Verlander was named the American League's Cy Young and Most Valuable Player.

He is the only the second player in history to win both awards and the Rookie of the Year award in a career (Don Newcombe). With Prince Fielder signing with Detroit, you can expect just as much run support and just as much dominance from Justin Verlander.

Honorable Mention: Jered Weaver, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Weaver had another great season, finishing just behind Verlander in the Cy Young voting, the second year in a row that he's finished in the top five. He won 18 games and posted a 2.41 ERA in 235.2 innings during the 2011 season, but unfortunately the Angels didn't qualify for the playoffs. Don't be surprised if Weaver posts another Cy Young-caliber season in 2012, leading the Angels to a playoff berth and possibly a World Series.

Honorable Mention: David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

After winning 19 games in 2010 that left him in second place in the AL Cy Young voting, David Price only won 12 games in 2011 and his ERA went up almost a run higher than in the previous year. He did have career-highs in innings pitched and strikeouts, which makes him a contender for an All-Star game start. The left-handed flame-thrower has been selected to the last two mid-summer classics and making a third in a row wouldn't be crazy.

National League Starting Pitcher

Roy Halladay, Philadelphia Phillies

Has anyone been more dominant over the last 10 years than Roy Halladay? Hard to argue against him. Last season he won 19 games, the sixth consecutive season of winning at least 16 games. He's been to the last four All-Star games and has finished in the top five of the Cy Young voting in each of the last six years, winning it twice. His 220 strikeouts last season were a new career-high and has reached the 200 strikeouts plateau the last four years. 

Honorable Mention: Clayton Kershaw, Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw was the best pitcher in the NL in 2011, winning the Cy Young after winning the Triple Crown in pitching, leading the league in wins, ERA and strikeouts. Kershaw also showed his ability to field from the mound, winning a Gold Glove. He appeared in his first All-Star game last season, pitching a perfect fifth inning where he struck out David Ortiz and retired Robinson Cano and Alex Avila in order.

Honorable Mention: Tim Lincecum, San Francisco Giants

Tim Lincecum only won 13 games in 2011 but still finished sixth in the Cy Young voting. He posted a sub-3.00 ERA for the third time in the last four years, pitched in over 200 innings and had over 200 strikeouts. Lincecum should be a Cy Young contender consistently after winning the award in back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009. "The Freak" is always an interesting All-Star candidate as he's a big fan favorite out West. 

American League Catcher

Mike Napoli, Texas Rangers

We all know about the postseason that Mike Napoli had in the postseason last year with the Texas Rangers, but he also had a great regular season. In 2011, Napoli hit a career-high .320, also setting career highs in RBI and home runs. His 30 bombs led all catchers last season and if he can keep up that pace, it makes him one of the most feared catchers in the league. He's never been selected to an All-Star game but 2012 will be his year.

Honorable Mention: Russell Martin, New York Yankees

The Yankees catcher made the AL All-Star squad in his first season in New York, his third overall selection. Overall, his 2011 season didn't turn out to be as impressive as some would think. Despite slugging 18 home runs and driving in 65 RBI, Russell Martin only hit .237 in 125 games. Playing in New York will help anyone's statistics but his ability behind the plate is what makes him so special. He threw out 30 percent of potential base-stealers and only allowed four passed balls. 

Honorable Mention: Alex Avila, Detroit Tigers

Alex Avila had a break-out year behind the plate for the Detroit Tigers in 2011, starting the All-Star for the AL and also winning the Silver Slugger award for AL catcher. He set career highs in almost every offensive category including batting average, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, home runs, RBI and much more. The addition of Prince Fielder to the Detroit lineup will make Avila's job that much easier as he now will hit behind Prince and Miguel Cabrera. 

National League Catcher

Buster Posey, San Francisco Giants

Despite only playing in 45 games during 2011 due to a broken leg after a home plate collision, Buster Posey is still one of the top catchers in all of baseball. Winning the NL Rookie of the Year the year before, the injury to Posey destroyed San Francisco's hopes in 2012. During his rookie year he hit .305 with 18 home runs and 65 RBI. In his injury-shortened 2011 campaign, he hit .284 with four home runs and 21 RBI. If he is fully recovered from surgery he should continue to be a force in the NL. 

Honorable Mention: Brian McCann, Atlanta Braves

Brian McCann was the starting catcher in the All-Star game for the NL last season, and has now represented the Atlanta Braves in the mid-summer classic over the last six seasons. He's one of the best offensive catchers in baseball, winning the NL Silver Slugger for catchers in five of the last six seasons. In 2011, he hit .270 with 24 home runs and 71 RBI in the heart of the Braves lineup. 

Honorable Mention: Yadier Molina, St. Louis Cardinals

The Molina family is a great baseball family, and each of the three Molina brothers is unbelievable defensively. Overall, Yadier Molina is clearly the best. He's been to the last three All-Star games, and has won the NL Gold Glove for catchers the last four seasons. In 2011, he set career highs in batting average, home runs and RBI for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. 

American League First Baseman

Albert Pujols, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

One of the biggest story lines of the offseason was the Angels' signing of Albert Pujols to a 10-year, $240 million contract after he won another World Series ring with the St. Louis Cardinals last season. The slugging first baseman is a Rookie of the Year winner, a three-time MVP, a six-time Silver Slugger and a nine-time All-Star. Need I say more? Unless an injury keeps him out of All-Star weekend, like it did last season, Albert Pujols will be in Kansas City in mid-July.  

Honorable Mention: Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers

Here's the second biggest headline of the offseason. Who would've thought that Prince Fielder would sign with the Detroit? Regardless, he'll force Miguel Cabrera to make a positional change to third base and contend for the AL MVP this season. After hitting 28 home runs in his rookie campaign, Prince has hit at least 30 dingers in each of the five seasons since. He got the start for the NL last season in the All-Star game at first base, his third overall selection, and was named the MVP after a three-run home run that secured the victory for the NL.

Honorable Mention: Adrian Gonzalez, Boston Red Sox

Adrian Gonzalez is arguably the best first baseman in the AL who played in the AL last season. In his first season with Boston he hit .338 with 27 home runs and 117 RBI, winning the Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. He was also selected to represent the AL in the All-Star game, starting at first base and hitting a solo home run against Cliff Lee. Getting the nod at first this season will be a stretch with tough competition along side of him but it's still a possibility. 

National League First Baseman

Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

The departure of Pujols and Prince from the NL leaves the door open for Joey Votto to start in the All-Star for pretty much the rest of his career. The 2011 All-Star reserve hit .309 with 29 home runs, 103 RBI and won a Gold Glove last season. After winning the 2010 NL MVP, Votto set new career-highs while leading the league in doubles with 40 and walks with 110. At just 27 years old, Votto could become on of the most feared hitters in baseball, that is, if he isn't already.

Honorable Mention: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies

A torn Achilles towards the end of the 2011 kept Ryan Howard rehabbing over the winter and will continue to rehab for most of spring training, hoping to return in time for Opening Day. The departure of the two sluggers also favors Howard, not only in the All-Star voting but in the MVP race. After winning the 2006 NL MVP, Howard has finished behind either Fielder of Pujols ever since. If he can come into Opening Day completely healthy, he'll be an MVP contender.  

Honorable Mention: Gaby Sanchez, Miami Marlins

This young Marlin was voted onto the All-Star game for the first time in his short four-year career last season. In 2011, Gaby Sanchez hit .266 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI while playing in 159 games. He's just one of many talented players on the revamped Miami Marlins team that now features Jose Reyes. Hitting in the middle of the Miami lineup will only help Sanchez going forward, getting plenty of opportunities to drive in Reyes and Hanley Ramirez.

American League Second Baseman

Robinson Cano, New York Yankees

Can anyone stop the New York second baseman? He continued his success last season with another year of hitting over .300, slugging more than 25 home runs and driving in over 100 RBI. Cano has been the starting second baseman for the AL for the last two seasons and doesn't seem to be relinquishing that duty anytime soon. It's only a matter of time before we're talking about Cano's legitimate chance at a Triple Crown.

Honorable Mention: Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

In a close second place is Dustin Pedroia, the little, yet powerful second baseman for the Boston Red Sox. Pedroia already has a Rookie of the Year award, two Golden Gloves, a Silver Slugger and an MVP on his mantle at home and is looking to add that collection. Pedroia has been to the All-Star game three times in his six-year career, most recently in 2010, but hasn't played in the game since 2008 when he was voted as the starter. Last season he hit .307 with 21 home runs and 91 RBI for Boston.

Honorable Mention: Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners

I'm going out on a limb here to project that Dustin Ackley is a serious contender for an All-Star selection in 2012. He hit .273 with six homers and 36 RBI in 90 games for the weak Seattle Mariners in his rookie campaign, finishing sixth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting. The addition of Jesus Montero to the Mariners lineup should help Ackley but overall, don't look for Seattle to do anything special this season. There is always the possibility of a sophomore slump for Ackley, but I see him overcoming that myth. 

National League Second Baseman

Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies

Despite a rough 2011 season where he only played in 103 games, Chase Utley is still the best second baseman in the NL. In his nine-year career, all with the Philadelphia Phillies, Utley has been to five All-Star games, won four Silver Sluggers and finished in the top 15 of the NL MVP voting five times. At age 32, we all know that there's still gas left in the tank for the guy who slugged at least 30 home runs in three of four seasons just a few years ago.

Honorable Mention: Brandon Phillips, Cincinnati Reds

Brandon Phillips pretty much did it all last season at second base for the Reds except start the All-Star game for the NL, winning a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove. It was Phillips' second selection as an All-Star and his third career Gold Glove. During the season he hit .300 with 18 home runs and 82 RBI for Cincinnati. Since coming to the NL from the Indians he's proved himself as an offensive threat with excellent defense skills.

Honorable Mention: Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves

It's surprising that Dan Uggla has only been to two All-Star games in six seasons with the Marlins and Braves despite hitting over 30 home runs in every season since his rookie year where he only hit 27. A career-low .233 batting average last season hurt his selection odds but if he can raise that to around .275, a spot on the team should be his. The Braves will be paying Uggla $13 million in each of the next four seasons, a lot for a guy that can't make the All-Star team.

American League Shortstop

Elvis Andrus, Texas Rangers

It was another disappointing season for Elvis Andrus and the Texas Rangers, as they failed to win a World Series for the second straight year. Andrus is, however, the most versatile shortstop in the AL with a good combination of offense, defense and speed. Last season he hit .279 with only five home runs and 60 RBI, but did steal 37 bases and score 96 runs atop the Texas lineup. A thing to remember about Andrus is that he's only 23 years old and will be a force for many years to come at shortstop. 

Honorable Mention: Derek Jeter, New York Yankees

When you mention AL shortstop, Derek Jeter has to be one of the first names that pops into your head. It seems like forever ago, but the former Rookie of the Year will enter 2012 in his 18th season in a New York uniform. He's been to 12 All-Star games in his 17-year career and will look to make it a lucky 13 in 2012. Last season he just missed hitting .300, but still managed to have a productive season with the Bronx Bombers. In a few years we'll be talking about voting that's a little more important than who goes to the All-Star game.

Honorable Mention: Asdrubal Cabrera, Cleveland Indians

You may have forgotten this, but Asdrubal Cabrera was actually the starting shortstop for the AL in last year's All-Star game, due to an injury. We knew of his defensive skills, but his offense really came into focus last season with 25 home runs and 92 RBI while hitting .273 for the Cleveland Indians. He is also young, at 25 years old, and will be an All-Star for the next few years if he can keep his offense at the level we saw last year.

National League Shortstop

Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

The Colorado shortstop has been just as about as good as you can ask over the past couple of seasons, winning two Silver Sluggers and Gold Gloves, appearing in two All-Star games and finishing in the top 10 in each of the last three MVP votes. Last season he hit .302 with 30 home runs and 105 RBI and was the starting shortstop for the NL in the All-Star game, going 1-2 with a hit off of Angels reliever Jordan Walden. The NL starting job is all his as long as he can out-play the NL East contenders.

Honorable Mention: Jose Reyes, Miami Marlins

The newest Miami Marlin will now get to play with former Marlin shortstop Hanley Ramirez, who'll move to third base with the addition of Reyes. The former New York Met hit a league-leading .337 in 2011, in addition to 16 triples that also lead the league. Hamstring injuries limited him to only playing in 126 games but that didn't stop him from his fourth All-Star appearance or finishing eleventh in the MVP voting.

Honorable Mention: Jimmy Rollins, Philadelphia Phillies

Jimmy Rollins returned with the Phillies this offseason, signing a three-year deal keeping him in the "City of Brotherly Love." He hasn't really been anything special over the last two seasons but should make a big push towards a solid 2012 season. Last year he hit .268 with 16 home runs and 63 RBI atop the Phillies lineup. The former MVP has only been to three All-Star games in his career, none since 2005. 

American League Third Baseman

Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers

The transition from first base to third base due to the addition of Prince Fielder will definitely be something to keep an eye on, but it should affect Miguel Cabrera's offensive numbers. Even though Cabrera's main position was first base, he has played nearly 400 games in his career at third.

If he can continue to hit in the mid-.300s, 30-plus home runs and 100-plus RBI, without making a fool of himself at third, he's easily the favorite for the third base starting job. He's been to six All-Star games in his nine-year career, and 2012 should just be another selection that he can put on his resume.

Honorable Mention: Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays

The highlight of Evan Longoria's 2011 season was hitting the walk-off home run in the final game of the season that propelled the Tampa Bay Rays into the playoffs, eliminating the Boston Red Sox in doing so. Longoria only played in 133 games in 2011 and posted a career-low in batting average at .244 but still managed to hit 31 home runs and collected 99 RBI. The former Rookie of the Year has been the three of the last four All-Star games.

Honorable Mention: Alex Rodriguez, New York Yankees

You know what's crazy? Alex Rodriguez has been selected to 14 of the last 16 All-Star games. Struggling with injuries last season kept him out of playing in the mid-summer classic, and limited him to just 99 games in total, the first time since 1995 that he's appeared in less than 100 games. A-Rod still hit .276 over the course of the season, hit 16 home runs and had 62 RBI in the middle of the powerful New York lineup. If he can stay healthy in 2012, we could see A-Rod selected to the All-Star game for the 15th time.

National League Third Baseman

Hanley Ramirez, Miami Marlins

Speaking of transitioning to a new position, here's Hanley Ramirez who'll move from shortstop to third base this year after the addition of Jose Reyes. Something to think about when discussing this position change, A-Rod had virtually the same numbers fielding-wise when making the same move Hanley will make. Ramirez had injury issues in 2011 that only allowed him to play in 92 and it was only the second time in seven seasons that hit didn't .300. A full 2012 season should allow him to prove himself as one of the elite players in baseball.

Honorable Mention: David Wright, New York Mets

Unfortunately for David Wright, and Mets fans worldwide, there isn't much to look forward in 2012 as they really don't have a lot talent to work with. It would be a bright spot, however, if Wright could earn the starting job in the All-Star game. Last season, Wright hit a career-low .254 and only managed to slug 14 home runs and have 61 RBI in 102 games. Before last season, Wright had been selected to the previous five All-Star games. Someone has to represent the Mets right?

Honorable Mention: Ryan Zimmerman, Washington Nationals

If there's one thing in common with all three of these selections it's that none of them played a full season in 2011 and that goes for Ryan Zimmerman as well, only playing in 101. The Nationals' third baseman did hit .289 with 12 home runs and 49 RBI, but couldn't stay healthy enough to help Washington with a potential playoff run. This year should be completely different as the Nats have revamped their roster and Zimmerman should be a force in the heart of their lineup. 

American League Left Fielder

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

The relapse of Josh Hamilton's sobriety should not affect his performance for the upcoming 2012 season. This is a contract year for the Ranger outfielder so we should be seeing his best. After winning the AL MVP in 2010, 2011 was a bit of a slump year for Hamilton as he only hit .298 with 25 home runs and 94 RBI, which are lower than his numbers from the previous year. As long as he stays on track this year, left field come mid-July is all his.

Honorable Mention: Carl Crawford, Boston Red Sox

I shouldn't have to harp on the 2011 performance of Carl Crawford. It happened and now it's over, giving Crawford a fresh 2012 to work with. Crawford will bounce back from the year he had in 2011 and show Red Sox Nation that signing him to a mega-deal wasn't a huge mistake. He should be able to hit over .300 and steal 40-plus bases in the stacked Boston lineup. All the fans want to see him do is replicate what he did in Tampa, in Boston. Easy right?

Honorable Mention: Alex Gordon, Kansas City Royals

After four fairly disappointing seasons with the Royals to start his career, Alex Gordon finally showed us what all the hype was about when he was a top prospect. In 2011, Gordon played in 151 games, hitting .303 with 23 home runs and 87 RBI, while winning a Gold Glove in left field. If he can keep up those kind of numbers, he'll be a very successful, and wealthy, player once he hits the free agent market in two years. An All-Star start could prove that Gordon has finally arrived, and he's here to stay.

National League Left Fielder

Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers*

Yes, that asterisk is there for a reason. IF Ryan Braun can prove that he didn't take performance-enhancing drugs and doesn't get suspended then he should be the favorite to start in left field for the NL. IF Braun is suspended, well then there goes his chance at ever winning his reputation back.

Last season he played in 150 games and hitting .332 with 33 home runs and 111 RBI, while leading the league in slugging percentage and OPS. Oh yeah, he won the NL MVP too over Dodger outfielder Matt Kemp. The former Rookie of the Year has won a Silver Slugger and been selected to the All-Star game in each of the last four years. There's a 50/50 chance that he ever makes the All-Star team again.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

After an impressive 2010 season, Carlos Gonzalez dropped off a little bit in 2011, hitting under .300 with less than 30 home runs, collecting less than 100 RBI and scoring less than 100 runs. He still is a force in Colorado and should rack up some All-Star votes in 2012. The addition of Marco Scutaro should help his numbers this season as he and Troy Tulowitzki will be on base often for Cargo to drive in.

Honorable Mention: Matt Holliday, St. Louis Cardinals

On to the former Colorado left fielder and more recent World Champion Matt Holliday of the St. Louis Cardinals. An All-Star in the last two seasons, five overall, Holliday has been good since coming to the Cardinals mid-season in 2009. Last year he hit .296, the lowest since his rookie season, with 22 home runs and 75 RBI. The loss of Albert Pujols will be detrimental to Holliday but should still be one of the more feared hitters in the NL if he's healthy.

American League Center Fielder

Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox

Last season Jacoby Ellsbury was slated as the reserve behind Yankees center fielder Curtis Granderson as the starter in the All-Star game last season but this season Ellsbury will overtake that spot. It was evident earlier that Ellsbury was a great fielder and that his speed was a huge part of his game, but 2011 showed the kind of power that he has. After missing almost all of 2010 with injuries, Ellsbury hit .321 with 32 home runs and 105 RBI as well as 39 stolen bases for Boston. If Ellsbury can keep those offensive numbers up, he should be the starter in Kansas City come July.

Honorable Mention: Curtis Granderson, New York Yankees

2011 was also a season where Curtis Granderson showed off his power, slugging 41 home runs and driving in a league-leading 119 RBI. What hurt Granderson in the MVP voting, in which he finished fourth, was his poor fielding and the fact that he only hit .262 throughout the season. Granderson also led the league with 136 runs scored for the AL East Champion Yankees, securing the first Silver Slugger award of his career. He got the start for the AL last season, but as I said earlier, Ellsbury will be the favorite going into this season.

Honorable Mention: Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

This is my boldest selection by far. Trout, who only has 40 games of big league experience, is expected to play a full season with the Angels this season. Whether it will be a starting role or a spot on the bench is still to be determined. He didn't do as well as many would've hoped in the short stint last season but a full season in the majors should show what he's capable of.

He wasn't a No. 1 overall prospect for nothing. In three full seasons between Rookie ball and Double-A, Trout has hit .338 in 266 career games with 22 home runs, 102 RBI, 218 runs and 102 stolen bases. Let's see what he can do.

National League Center Fielder

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Matt Kemp had an outstanding 2011 campaign, finishing second in the NL MVP voting behind Ryan Braun and taking home the Silver Slugger and Gold Glove. He went 1-2 with a run in the All-Star game last season, hitting third for the NL. Playing in all but one game last season, Kemp hit .324 while leading the league in runs, home runs and RBI. It's debatable of whether he should've taken home the MVP but Kemp will be back in 2012 with a vengeance for sure. 

Honorable Mention: Andrew McCutchen, Pittsburgh Pirates

It seemed as if Andrew McCutchen tried to become more of a power hitter, instead of a contact hitter in 2011 and it paid off for the most part. In just his third season in the big leagues, McCutchen hit .259 with 23 home runs and 89 RBI. Despite the power increase, he was still able to steal at least 20 bases for the third consecutive year. 2011 was also McCutchen's first selection to the All-Star game, replacing the guy above and failing to get a hit in his only plate appearance. 

Honorable Mention: Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

After playing 2011 with the New York Mets and the San Francisco Giants, Carlos Beltran decided that he now is going to play for the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals, signing a two-year deal with them this offseason. In 142 games last season, the 1999 AL Rookie of the Year hit .300 with 22 home runs and 84 RBI at 34 years old. Beltran will try and fill an offensive void left by Albert Pujols but clearly won't be able too fill those huge shoes. If he does play well, however, Beltran could earn a start in his seventh career All-Star game.

American League Right Fielder

Jose Bautista, Toronto Blue Jays

This is an obvious choice as Joey Bats is clearly the best right fielder in the AL. In the last two seasons he's hit a combined 97 home runs, been to both All-Star games, won two Silver Sluggers and finished in the top five of the MVP voting twice. Last season he hit a career-best .302 while leading the league in home runs with 43, walks with 132, slugging percentage at .608 and OPS at 1.056. He will be the starting right fielder for the AL in 2012.

Honorable Mention: Yoenis Cespedes, Oakland Athletics

In just 90 games last year in Cuba, the newest member of the Oakland Athletics hit .333 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI. He'll have to transition from Cuban baseball to MLB, but hopefully that doesn't take long and he can start smacking baseballs again. If he can make the transition in a fashionable manner, an All-Star appearance would be in the works. Still don't think so? Ask B/R writer Joel Reuter.

Honorable Mention: Brennan Boesch, Detroit Tigers

This may also a little bit of a stretch but I think that if he gets the constant playing time, and can hit successfully in the middle of the Tigers' lineup, Brennan Boesch does have All-Star potential. After finishing fifth in the Rookie of the Year voting in 2010 after hitting .256 with 14 home runs and 67 RBI in 133 games, Boesch had another somewhat productive season.

Last year he hit .283 with 16 home runs and 54 RBI in 115 games. This guy could turn out to be one of many powerful hitters in the Detroit scorecard.

National League Right Fielder

Justin Upton, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Diamondback right fielder is one of few five-tool players in MLB. In 2011 he hit .289 with 105 runs, 31 home runs, 88 RBI and 21 stolen bases. He was selected to the NL All-Star team as a reserve and went 0-2 in two plate appearance after replacing Lance Berkman. This year, Upton gets the start in right field. He's shown over the last three seasons that he's a legitimate threat in the NL and continues to impress those who watch him play. 

Honorable Mention: Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers

Andre Ethier also made the 2011 NL All-Star squad, but as an injury replacement, and went 1-1 with an RBI in his lone plate appearance. 2011 was his second All-Star selection and also he won a Gold Glove, adding to the Silver Slugger trophy he was awarded after his 2009 season.

Last year, Ethier hit .292 in 135 games for the Dodgers, also hitting 11 home runs which was a career-low as well as 62 RBI. His power has dropped off over the past two seasons but his defense has still kept him somewhat valuable.

Honorable Mention: Hunter Pence, Philadelphia Phillies

The former Astros' outfielder was very impressive during the second half of the season after being traded to the Phillies. He hit .308 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI in 100 games with Houston and then hit .324 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 54 games with Philadelphia.

Once Pence plays a full year in the Phillies' impressive lineup, he could turn into a MVP-candidate. He went to the All-Star game last season for the second time in his career, going 1-2 with a run scored after replacing Matt Holliday in left field.

American League Designated Hitter

David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox

David Ortiz is the best DH in the business. Hands down. Since coming to Boston from Minnesota, Ortiz has been selected to seven of a possible nine All-Star games. He's also won the Silver Slugger five times and finished in the top five in the MVP voting five times.

Last season he continued his success in a Red Sox uniform, hitting .309 with 29 home runs and 96 RBI. The years of leading the league in home runs or RBI are probably over, but that doesn't mean that Big Papi still can't make a huge impact on the game.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Pena, Tampa Bay Rays

After playing with Tampa Bay from 2007 through 2010, Carlos Pena went to the Chicago Cubs for a season before deciding that he would return to the Rays in 2012. He's consistently hit either close to, or more than, 30 home runs in each of the last five seasons. In his four seasons with the Rays he surpassed 100 RBI three times. Pena has been to the All-Star game only once in his career but if he can out-slug Ortiz, he will get the nod in Kansas City.

Honorable Mention: Billy Butler, Kansas City Royals

After playing majority of the previous two seasons at first base, Billy Butler made the switch to DH in 2011. An interesting candidate for a DH start in the All-Star as he hit .291 last year with 19 home runs and 95 RBI for the Royals. It's also important to consider that Kansas City is the home site for the All-Star game so maybe the fans will try and get more than one representative, but I wouldn't weigh that too highly. Butler is a good player but is he worthy of an All-Star start? Probably not.

National League Designated Hitter

Mike Stanton, Miami Marlins

Since the game will be played on AL turf, the NL will get to supply a DH and one player that jumps out would be Mike Stanton. Yes, Stanton could make the team as a starting outfielder but winning the DH spot would make more sense. The Marlins outfielder hit .262 last year with 34 home runs and 87 RBI. He'll have more help this upcoming season with the addition of Jose Reyes and, at only 22 years old, it's safe to say that this guy will make plenty of All-Star teams by the time he retires.

Honorable Mention: Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

Jay Bruce is another interesting candidate for the DH role as he probably won't get voted in as an outfielder. Hitting in the heart of the lineup for the Reds, Bruce hit .256 with 32 home runs and 97 RBI last season. He's hit at least 20 home runs in each of his four seasons. He was selected to the All-Star team last season as a reserve and went hitless in his one at-bat. He is also very young at just 24 and with more experience, Bruce should become a very powerful hitter.

Honorable Mention: Carlos Lee, Houston Astros

Houston will have to have someone representing them and if it isn't Wandy Rodriguez, there's a good chance that it's Carlos Lee. He will only get into the All-Star game as a DH. He crushed the ball at times in Houston but has gotten little support over the last few seasons.

Last season he hit .275 with only 18 home runs and 94 RBI. It was the first season since his rookie year that he didn't hit at least 20 home runs. He will have to improve those numbers in 2012 if he wants a decent contract after the year's end.