3 Blue Jays who should receive All-Star Game considerations, but may not make it

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With the second round of voting for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game concluding Thursday, the starters have been selected for both the American and National Leagues. To the unfortunate luck of the Toronto Blue Jays, all five of their finalists (Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette, Whit Merrifield, Matt Chapman, and Kevin Kiermaier) were denied a starting spot for the Midsummer Classic. This marks the first time in three years that the Jays will not feature a positional starter that was voted in by the fans.

Despite that, both Guerrero and Bichette appear to still have a decent shot at getting into the game as a reserve. In addition, the announcement for the All-Star Game’s pitchers, who are not part of the fan voting process, has yet to be made, making Jays’ ace Kevin Gausman as one of the favourites to potentially make the squad, perhaps even as the All-Star Game starter for the American League.

In addition to the aforementioned trio, many other Blue Jays have had strong productive seasons so far and are more than deserving to be part of the conversation for the final spots on the All-Star roster. However, with the massive competition from their fellow players around the league this year, they may all fall victim to the numbers game and unfortunately may not make it in the end.

Here, we take a look at three Blue Jays’ players that have been dominant this year and that probably would have made the All-Star Game under normal circumstances, but will most likely be getting a well-deserved break instead for this year festivities.

OF George Springer

For someone that has always brought their A-game each time out and has proven to be as consistent as one could be over the years, George Springer uncharacteristically came out of the gate struggling for the start of the 2023 season. Up until May 13th, in a span of 37 games, Springer hit only .219, with a .591 OPS, 18 runs scored, one double, four home runs, 14 RBI, 12 walk and 28 strikeouts, Despite the struggles, he was still able to maintain some positive impact on the game with his speed, with six stolen bases, and with his defense. Adding to his woes included a bout against a viral illness that practically sapped all of his power and energy for a couple weeks near the beginning of May.

However, since then, Springer was back to being his prolific self again and has been tearing up the league like he used to in the following month and a half, hitting .304, with an OPS close to .875, with 28 runs scored, 10 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, 20 RBI, 17 walks, 29 strikeouts, and another six stolen bases (bringing to a total of 12 on the season) in the next 44 games. In doing so, as he had done many times in the past, he has helped brought the Jays back to life, after a miserable May, putting them directly in the thick of things for the playoff chase.

His overall cumulative stats and numbers may not be up to the level produced by his main competition up until now, which include the likes of Adolis García, Yordan Alvarez, Luis Robert Jr. and others, likely leading to his omission from the event this year, but his recent significant impact on the ballclub has proven once again that his veteran leadership can work wonders for a young team with lofty aspirations.

RP Jordan Romano

Many may not have realized, given the amount of stress and tense moments he usually brought when taking the mound in a tight game, but Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano has quietly been producing quite the solid season to date. He holds a record of 3-3, with a 2.94 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 140 ERA+, only 11 earned runs and nine walks, with 41 punchouts over 33.2 innings pitched.

In addition, he has converted 24 of 27 save opportunities, which feels like a lot of blown saves, but if one took a careful look at the current closer leaders in the American League, Romano is actually among the top three in save conversion % for those that have pitched at least 30 games with at least 15 save opportunities encountered. Even the top closers in the league in Emmanuel Clase of the Cleveland Guardians and Felix Bautista of the Baltimore Orioles, who typically seemed invincible, has actually blown six and five saves respectively already this season.

However, Romano is still up against stiff competition in Carlos Estévez of the Los Angeles Angels, who has yet to blow a single save all season and has been key in keeping the Angels in the playoff hunt, as well as Will Smith of the Texas Rangers, who has also played a huge part in putting the Rangers atop the AL West, along with notable veterans in Kenley Jansen, Ryan Pressly, and Paul Sewald. But even if Romano doesn’t make it to the All-Star Game, at least it will be comforting for the Jays to know that they will have a well-rested star closer all geared up and ready for the stretch run.

SP José Berríos

After having a horrendous season in 2022, among the worst of his career outside of his debut season, Jays starter José Berríos has definitely rebounded with a strong bounce back season for 2023. For someone who had struggled mightily with inconsistency all of last season, with flashes of brilliance mixed with an abundance of mediocrity, Berríos actually began the season on a similar note, leading to many people beginning to lose hope with the once-upon-a-time former ace.

However, maybe the timing happened to be just right, or maybe things was just meant to be, but after a strong message was sent by the legendary Pedro Martinez to Berríos amid his struggles, Berríos has regained his dominant form he has demonstrated since his sophomore season. In his 15 games since, Berríos is an outstanding 8-4, with a 2.96 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, giving up only 30 earned runs, with 25 walks and 83 strikeouts over 91.1 innings pitched.

Unfortunately for Berríos, he has tough competition not only against pitchers from opposing teams, but even his own teammates Gausman and Chris Bassitt for a spot on the All-Star roster. He may have to patiently wait for another season to get back into the Midsummer Classic, something he has not been a part of since his 2019 season. Nevertheless, without his turnaround season, along with the renaissance season produced by Yusei Kikuchi so far, the Jays definitely wouldn’t have survived the loss of their starter Alek Manoah to the minors.

While it is highly unlikely any of Springer, Romano, or Berríos will make the All-Star Game for 2023, with certain players already out due to injuries, along with the usual group of players that end up deciding to skip the event to maintain their health for the second half, it may be highly improbable, but not impossible that we may see one of them managing to sneak into the game by luck. If not, at least we know they will be healthy and hungry for the stretch run, something the Jays will be more than welcome to have.

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