![Matt Carpenter is looking to make his fourth All-Star appearance. [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/7/9/660x290/b_502x220x82/matt-carpenter-is-looking-to-make-his-fourth-all-star-appearance-image-source-flickr-keith-allison_2049727.jpg "Matt Carpenter is looking to make his fourth All-Star appearance. [Image Source: Flickr | Keith Allison]")
On Sunday, Major League Baseball announced their participants for the All-Star Game which will take place on July 17.
Both leagues will have a five-player final vote from the fans to see who will garner the last spot on the team. The final vote includes well-known players such as Giancarlo Stanton and players who have unexpectedly performed at an All-Star level such as Max Muncy.
Here is how the players included in the final vote have fared this season through games played on July 8.
(All stats listed were taken from Baseball-Reference.com.)
American League
- Andrew Benintendi (LF), Red Sox
The runner-up for American League Rookie of the Year last season, Benintendi is once again having a terrific season.
He owns a .293 batting average with 14 homers, 22 doubles, 16 steals, 65 runs, and 55 RBIs.
- Eddie Rosario (LF), Twins
Rosario is having a breakout season thus far. He is hitting .301 with 18 home runs, 23 doubles, six stolen bases, 58 runs, and 53 RBIs. He also has seven assists in left field.
- Jean Segura (SS), Mariners
An All-Star in 2013 with the Brewers, Segura is amongst the MLB leaders with a .330 batting average. He also has tallied seven homers, 24 doubles, seven steals, 61 runs, and 47 RBIs.
- Andrelton Simmons (SS), Angels
An elite defensive shortstop who has previously won three Gold Gloves, Simmons has also become a better-than-adequate hitter. He owns an impressive .307 batting average to go along with six home runs, 16 doubles, five stolen bases, 42 runs, and 39 RBIs.
- Giancarlo Stanton (DH), Yankees
While he isn’t on pace to hit 59 homers like he did last season for the Marlins, Stanton still has been a force in the middle of the lineup for the Yankees. The 2017 National League MVP is batting .267 with 21 home runs, 17 doubles, 52 runs, and 51 RBIs. Just in case someone didn’t realize how hard he can hit a baseball, MLB.com reported that his single in Sunday’s win over the Blue Jays came off his bat at 120.3 miles per hour making it the hardest hit ball this season.
National League
- Jesus Aguilar (1B), Brewers
One of the biggest surprises in baseball right now, Aguilar has been one of the best power sources in the league. He has hit 22 home runs in 245 at-bats. He also is batting an impressive .306 with 14 doubles, 45 runs, and 63 RBIs.
- Brandon Belt (1B), Giants
An All-Star in 2016, Belt is in the midst of his most impressive offensive season.
He is hitting an even .300 with 13 home runs, 16 doubles, 41 runs, and 42 RBIs.
- Matt Carpenter (3B), Cardinals
Carpenter is hoping to make his fourth All-Star appearance if he can win the final vote. His .258 batting average is decent enough, but he also has a .365 on-base percentage. On the year, he has 17 homers, 26 doubles, 53 runs, and 41 RBIs.
- Max Muncy (3B), Dodgers
Muncy did not even play in 2017 and hit .195 in 215 at-bats with the Athletics in 2015-16. This year, he is batting .270 (.407 on-base percentage) with 20 homers in just 200 at-bats. He also has eight doubles, 39 runs, and 38 RBIs. According to Yahoo, there isn’t a single player who has homered at a greater rate this season than Muncy.
- Trea Turner (SS), Nationals
Turner is hoping to make his first All-Star appearance. So far on the season, he is hitting .278 with 11 home runs, 14 doubles, 22 stolen bases, 54 runs, and 37 RBIs.
