3 Up, 3 Down: Three Blue Jays Players Who Could Make the All-Star Game

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Bo Bichette

In the midst of a career-year, Bo Bichette is the No. 1 All-Star choice for the Blue Jays, according to Gibbons.

“He’s had a tremendous year, he really has. He’s one of the top hitters in the game and he keeps getting better and better.”

The numbers back up Gibbons’ claim. Through 81 games, Bichette leads the American League in both hits (110) and batting average (.319). He has 14 home runs, 20 doubles and 48 RBIs. Among other qualified AL shortstops, Bichette is first in home runs, RBIs, batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

Bichette has also made massive strides in his defensive game. Last season, he was arguably one of the worst defensive players in baseball. This season, Bichette has more than doubled his Outs Above Average and Defensive Wins Above Replacement compared to one year ago.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Already announced as a home run derby participant, you always need to look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as a potential All-Star Game participant, Gibbons said.

“In people’s eyes, you know, he’s had an off-year, but when you compare him to the rest of the league, he’s actually done some pretty good things.”

In 79 games, Guerrero has 12 home runs, 18 doubles, 51 RBIs and a .281 batting average. That isn’t the level he was playing at in 2021 when he finished runner-up in AL MVP voting, but it’s still elite. Among eligible first basemen, Guerrero is tied for second in homers, second in RBIs, third in batting average, fifth in on-base percentage and fourth in slugging percentage.

Guerrero is also heating up at the right time, hitting his first two homers at the Rogers Centre this season in last weekend’s series against the Oakland A’s. At home this year, Guerrero is batting .256 with 21 RBIs and a 90 OPS+. He’s boosted those numbers on the road with a .299 batting average and 144 OPS+ outside of Toronto.

Gibbons says despite Guerrero setting the standard so high for himself, he’ll always been in the All-Star conversation.

“He’s gonna be in the talk of All-Stars his whole career, he’s just one of those players.”

Kevin Gausman

Gausman is another player who belongs in the All-Star conversation in Gibbons’ mind.

“He’s had a tremendous year. He’s leading the league [AL] in strikeouts and really had some great performances.”

Through 17 games in 2023, Gausman is 7-4 with 3.01 ERA, MLB-best 2.54 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) and as Gibby mentioned, his 139 strikeouts leads the American League.

Gausman sits in the 93rd percentile in strikeout percentage and 82nd in walk percentage, while his splitter is allowing a batting average of just .184.

You don’t always know what will happen with fan voting, but Gibbons says Bichette, Guerrero and Gausman are all worthy of making the All-Star Game.

“Hopefully a few of them [Blue Jays players] get there, you know, because it’s a great way to salute Canada.”