Predicting the Blue Jays' All-Stars in 2023

T-Mobile Park in Seattle is a familiar venue for the Toronto Blue Jays. Located less than 200 kilometers from the Canadian border, Blue Jays fans can turn a series there against the Mariners into a de facto home-field advantage. The cheers of Mariners fans are drowned out by the support from those in blue who made the drive down the Pacific Coast.

They’ll get a chance to do it again this summer when Seattle hosts the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Last year’s game in Los Angeles featured six Blue Jays players, including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Alejandro Kirk, George Springer, Santiago Espinal, Alek Manoah, and Jordan Romano. The Blue Jays were tied with the Yankees for most representatives in baseball’s Midsummer Classic.

The Blue Jays had their most All-Stars since their 1993 World Series champion team sent seven representatives. It was recognition that the Jays, who spent the past few years cultivating their home-grown talent while spending liberally in free agency, are now perennial playoff contenders.

Their lineup is deep enough that they can send another large contingent to Seattle this July. Here is a look at some candidates to represent the Blue Jays in front of the bright lights of the All-Star Game.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has taken a firm hold of the starting first baseman selection for the American League team and figures to keep it for years to come.

Guerrero was the MVP of the 2021 All-Star Game in Colorado, when his massive home run into the concourse of the left-field bleachers left even opposing players speechless. It was his coming-out party, a time when he shone brightest among the game’s biggest stars. Guerrero flirted with the Triple Crown that season and led the AL with 48 homers and a 1.002 OPS.

The follow-up didn’t go nearly as smoothly. After Guerrero predicted the 2021 season was only a “trailer” to what was coming next, his colossal numbers fell back down. Despite the down year, though, Guerrero still was sixth in the AL with 32 homers and was one of only four players in the AL with at least 30 homers and a .270 batting average, a group that includes Aaron Judge, Yordan Alvarez, and Shohei Ohtani.

Guerrero’s 2022 season would’ve been a solid year for nearly anyone else. But for someone who seemed on the verge of becoming the most feared slugger in the league a year before, it was a disappointment. Guerrero said last week he’s not focused on matching his 2021 numbers this year as he was in 2022 and will work on his pitch selection.

“This year I’m not going to say anything. You guys will have to watch,” he said. The rest of the baseball world will get to this summer in Seattle.