David Wright, Josh Hamilton and MLB's Quarter-Pole All-Star Team

It's hard to believe, but the 2012 MLB season is already roughly a quarter of the way over, and it has already been a great one.

From surprise teams winning, to future stars debuting, to historic performances, there have already been plenty of memorable moments this season.

The All-Star Game is still a ways off, but as we reach the quarter mark, here is my quarter-pole All-Star team.

Catcher

Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies

Stats: .363/.405/.619, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 19 R

The Phillies have struggled mightily on offense this season, but that has nothing to do with the season that Ruiz is putting together.

He currently leads all catchers in batting average, slugging and RBI and has been the unquestioned leader of the Phillies' offense.

First Base

Paul Konerko, Chicago White Sox

Stats: .362/.447/.580, 7 HR, 21 RBI, 20 R

Bad seasons in 2008 and 2009 looked like the end for Konerko, but he bounced back with .300 BA, 30 HR, 100 RBI lines in each of the past two seasons, and he is well on his way to a third.

He was beaned in the head Friday against the Cubs and could miss time, but for now, he has been the most productive first baseman in the AL without a doubt.

Second Base

Dan Uggla, Atlanta Braves

Stats: .277/.365/.432, 5 HR, 24 RBI, 29 R

After a disastrous first half to the 2011 season in which he hit just .185, Uggla turned things around with a great second half, and that has carried over to start the 2012 season.

He has power that few second basemen possess, and while a number of guys have better averages than him, none have been as consistent in their production across the board.

Shortstop

Rafael Furcal, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats: .367/.430/.497, 2 HR, 17 RBI, 28 R, 7 SB

This was a tough choice between Furcal and Derek Jeter, and you really can't go wrong with either, but Furcal has Jeter topped in BA, OBP, RBI, R and SB, so he gets the nod.

Coming off a season in which he hit just .231, many thought the Cardinals overpaid when they gave the 34-year-old a two-year, $14 million contract, but he has been a steal at that price thus far.

Third Base

David Wright, New York Mets

Stats: .411/.513/.621, 4 HR, 22 RBI, 28 R

Moving the fences in at Citi Field has not resulted in a power boost for Wright to this point, but really, who cares when the guy is hitting .411 to lead all of baseball?

He could not have picked a better time for a monster season, as he's in a breakout year, and it will be interesting to see how the Mets handle him after letting Jose Reyes walk last season and receiving nothing (aside from compensatory picks) in return.

Left Field

Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers

Stats: .399/.452/.826, 18 HR, 45 RBI, 32 R

Who else but Hamilton, as he has been the game's top player so far this season and has no doubt left the Rangers regretting not locking him up this offseason.

He put together one of the greatest weeks in baseball history from May 7 to May 13, as he compiled a line of .467 BA, 9 HR and 18 RBI and made history with a four-home-run game that included 18 total bases.

Center Field

Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers

Stats: .359/.446/.726, 12 HR, 28 RBI, 29 R

He's tailed off considerably after a torrid start, but Kemp's numbers speak for themselves and show just how otherworldly good he was to open the season.

He could get hot again at any time, and as long as he stays healthy and the Dodgers remain competitive, he has to be considered the NL MVP front-runner.

Right Field

Carlos Beltran, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats: .293/.404/.642, 13 HR, 32 RBI, 28 R

In the final season of his seven-year, $119 million contract last season, Beltran had a nice rebound, and the Cardinals gave him a two-year, $26 million deal to help replace some of Albert Pujols' production.

So far, he has been better than expected, as he currently leads the NL in home runs and has been a driving force in the middle of a lineup riddled with injuries.

Starting Pitcher

Brandon Beachy, Atlanta Braves

Stats: 8 GS, 5-1, 1.33 ERA, 39 Ks, 54 IP

With a five-hit shutout in his last start, Beachy became the MLB leader in ERA and picked up his fifth win in the process.

After a solid season last year (25 GS, 7-3, 3.68 ERA), he has taken the next step this season, and with other members of the Braves' rotation struggling, he has been huge for Atlanta.

Starting Pitcher

Gio Gonzalez, Washington Nationals

Stats: 8 GS, 5-1, 2.22 ERA, 60 Ks, 48.2 IP

The Nationals gave up a boatload to acquire the 26-year-old Gonzalez from the A's this offseason, but he has been well worth it thus far.

Only a part of the Nationals' phenomenal starting staff, Gonzalez gets the nod here thanks to a league-leading 11.1 K/9, as he has absolutely dominated National League hitters.

Starting Pitcher

Derek Lowe, Cleveland Indians

Stats: 8 GS, 6-1, 2.05 ERA, 13 Ks, 52.2 IP

Simply looking to unload his $15 million contract, the Braves sent Lowe and $10 million to the Indians for a low-level prospect this offseason.

Looking for a veteran innings-eater to help stabilize their young staff, the Indians have instead gotten a bona fide ace. In his last start, he became the first pitcher since 2002 (Scott Erickson) to throw a shutout without a strikeout, as his sinker is as good now as it has ever been.

Starting Pitcher

Lance Lynn, St. Louis Cardinals

Stats: 7 GS, 6-1, 1.81 ERA, 44 Ks, 44.2 IP

Used primarily as a reliever in his first taste of big-league action last year, Lynn has been nothing short of phenomenal as a starter for the Cardinals this season.

Forced into the rotation out of spring training following the Chris Carpenter injury, he has been the Cardinals' best pitcher so far. Still just 25 years old, he has the stuff to be the future ace of the staff.

Starting Pitcher

Yu Darvish, Texas Rangers

Stats: 8 GS, 6-1, 2.60 ERA, 58 Ks, 52 IP

The baseball world was cautiously optimistic about how Darvish would make the transition to the MLB after watching "Dice-K" disappoint in Boston.

However, he has been every bit as good as advertised to this point, and at least for now, it looks like he could be the missing piece to push the Rangers over the top and finally take home a World Series title.

Closer

Jim Johnson, Baltimore Orioles

Stats: 18 G, 14-of-14 Saves, 0.48 ERA, 13 Ks, 18.2 IP

Johnson has been the Orioles' most reliable setup man over the past four seasons, posting a 3.02 ERA over 213 appearances totaling 256 innings. 

That was enough to earn him the closer's role out of spring training, and he has been perfect thus far. Not only has he converted saves, but he has dominated hitters, as his 0.804 WHIP shows.