One of the biggest debates every MLB season comes when the All-Star Game rosters are announced and a handful of deserving players are inevitably snubbed. Those snubs are especially controversial when it’s a player vying for his first career All-Star selection.

By the time rosters were announced and injured players were replaced, there were a whopping 37 first-time All-Stars in 2022, including Alejandro Kirk (TOR) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (MIA) who were voted as starters by the fans.

So who might follow suit next season?

Ahead we’ve selected 15 players with the best chances of becoming first-time All-Stars in 2023, based on their previous track record and future outlook.

Let’s start with an honorable-mention list of 15 others who were considered.

 

15 Others with All-Star Potential

These 15 players didn’t quite crack our final list, but they are more than capable of punching their ticket to the Midsummer Classic for the first time in 2023:

  • LF Randy Arozarena, Tampa Bay Rays
  • RP Alexis Díaz, Cincinnati Reds
  • 2B/SS Tommy Edman, St. Louis Cardinals
  • SP Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners
  • 1B Rhys Hoskins, Philadelphia Phillies
  • RP Raisel Iglesias, Atlanta Braves (How has he never been an All-Star?!)
  • SP Merrill Kelly, Arizona Diamondbacks
  • C Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners
  • CF Luis Robert, Chicago White Sox
  • RP Paul Sewald, Seattle Mariners
  • SP Brady Singer, Kansas City Royals
  • C Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds
  • SP Spencer Strider, Atlanta Braves
  • SP Ranger Suárez, Philadelphia Phillies
  • LF Daulton Varsho, Toronto Blue Jays

 

SS Willy Adames, Milwaukee Brewers

Trying to be a first-time All-Star at shortstop in the National League is no small task, with 2022 All-Stars Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts and Dansby Swanson all vying for a spot—as well as four-time All-Star Francisco Lindor.

Milwaukee Brewers budding star Willy Adames has the tools to join that top-tier group in 2023.

The 27-year-old ranked second among all shortstops with 31 home runs last year, and that power production coupled with his strong defense (9 DRS, 5.4 UZR/150) made him a 4.4-WAR player and one of the faces of the Milwaukee roster.