Blue Jays: Which players will make the All-Star team?

It’s that time of year again. Voting for the MLB All-Star game got underway on Wednesday which means you’ve likely put some thought into which Blue Jays make the team.

Some fans vote for the players on their favourite team, while others take a more strategic approach. Whatever your voting style is, this is the time to ponder how many Blue Jays will make the team, and which players will miss the cut?

Last year the Jays had four All-Stars, including three starters, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Marcus Semien, and Teoscar Hernández. Bo Bichette was also named to the team as an alternate. All of those players were making their All-Star game debuts and, you may remember, Guerrero Jr. was named MVP.

Vladdy and Bo have a good chance to be honoured again. Hernández missed some time early on with an oblique injury and, although he’s gotten hot lately, it’s unlikely that he’ll be recognized as one of MLB’s best in just over a month.

This year some new candidates have emerged and the team could actually surpass last season’s total. Santiago Espinal has gone from light-hitting utility guy to one of the most productive second basemen around. Alejandro Kirk has established himself as one of the best catchers in the American League and the power-pitching duo of Kevin Gausman and Alek Manoah have as strong a case as anyone on the team. Oh, and George Springer has been able to stay healthy and is playing the way Jays’ fans hoped he would in 2021.

Jordan Romano has established himself as one of the best closers in the American League. Adam Cimber has been an invaluable member of the bullpen and could get the nod. I’m not suggesting that the Blue Jays will have eight All-Star game participants, but they could have half that or more.