MLB All-Star Game 2015: Players Who Should Be Going to Cincinnati

The 2015 MLB All-Star Game is almost here, and the voting process is coming to an end this week.

Many of the traditional big names in the game are almost all in good position in the voting, but some of the biggest stars this season are low in the ballots.

These players were considered for this list based on 2015 production combined with where they rank among the league leaders for their respective positions.

Here are four players who should join the American and National League All-Star teams in Cincinnati.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Colorado Rockies

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Nolan Arenado is probably the best player in baseball you’ve never heard of. The starting third baseman for the Rockies has taken the league by storm at the plate and in the field in just his third season.

He leads all MLB third basemen with a .613 slugging percentage and ranks second with 24 home runs. He also has great plate discipline, especially with runners in scoring position with a league-leading 68 RBI.

In the field, Arenado is just as impressive for a player his size. He ranks third in MLB with 56 putouts and has solidified a position the Rockies have been attempting to fill for the past decade.

Arenado ranks fourth among National League third basemen with just under 3 million votes as of Monday. Because of his impressive play at the plate and in the field, he should arguably be among the top vote-getters for the Midsummer Classic.

Joe Panik, 2B, San Francisco Giants

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Joe Panik rose on the scene with an impressive performance in the World Series last season for the Giants. The second baseman has picked up where he left off and is making an impact in a variety of ways.

At the plate, he is a consistent contact hitter. He ranks second among National League second basemen with a .316 batting average and ranks first with a .384 on-base percentage. Panik has also shown to be a reliable big-play hitter with 29 extra-base hits.

While he may not be a top-tier power hitter among second basemen, he has demonstrated great line-drive power with a league-leading .463 slugging percentage.

He is also the best fielding second baseman in the National League. Panik leads the league with a .997 fielding percentage and ranks second with 210 assists.

As of Monday, Panik ranks fourth among National League third basemen with just under 3 million votes. While he may not have the name familiarity that Dee Gordon has, he is just as productive and versatile with his style of play.

J.D. Martinez, OF, Detroit Tigers

Carlos Osorio/Associated Press

J.D. Martinez has arguably been the hottest hitter in baseball in recent weeks. He has demonstrated impressive power and plate discipline with 11 home runs and 26 RBI in June.

He has been the best power hitter for the Tigers outside of Miguel Cabrera. He ranks first among American League outfielders with 21 home runs and ranks third with a .545 slugging percentage. Martinez is also a solid contact hitter with a .281 batting average and 51 RBI.

What makes him so impressive is his ability to rebound after a slow start to the season. All of his major batting statistics have improved since the beginning of the season, and he seems to be getting better every game.

The fans have ignored Martinez’s brilliance at the plate, as he ranks ninth in voting among American League outfielders as of Monday. He is emerging as one of the biggest stars for the Tigers and deserves a legitimate shot to at least make the All-Star roster.

Jimmy Paredes, DH, Baltimore Orioles

Patrick Semansky/Associated Press

Jimmy Paredes has been a journeyman since entering the major leagues in 2008. He has played for the Astros, Royals, Yankees and currently the Orioles, where he has flourished as the team’s designated hitter.

He hasn’t exactly been a great replacement for Nelson Cruz, but he has produced impressive numbers given his small sample size. In his first real big league season, Paredes is among the top designated hitters in the game in almost every statistical category.

He leads all everyday designated hitters with a .315 batting average and a .513 slugging percentage. He has also demonstrated great plate discipline and ranks second with a .346 on-base percentage.

Paredes, along with demonstrating great power, is also a solid contact hitter. He ranks third among designated hitters with 73 hits.

The downside is that he has only played in 60 games this season since being called up early in 2015. However, he has demonstrated production similar to what Yasiel Puig brought to the table when he was called up with the Dodgers in 2013.

Paredes doesn't rank among the top five vote-getters for designated hitters. This is most likely due to his late call-up, but he deserves an All-Star Game shot because of his powerful bat.