Jacob deGrom, Wyatt Langford headline our American League West All-Star squad
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Jacob deGrom, Wyatt Langford headline our American League West All-Star squad originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Not to be confused with last July’s Midsummer Classic, which at times felt like a gathering of Yankees and Tigers and Blue Jays, oh my, we’re unveiling our All-Star squad from the American League West with Opening Day rapidly approaching.
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This group definitely covers the full spectrum of the division. There are generational superstars like Mike Trout, whose résumé already includes 11 All-Star appearances. There are also players who appear poised for breakout seasons, including Wyatt Langford, who will patrol left field at Globe Life Field in Arlington for the Rangers and could soon become one of the sport’s brightest young stars.
And like any All-Star roster, a little creative positioning helps bring the best lineup together.
For the sake of building the strongest possible roster, a couple of players slide into slightly different roles. Zach Neto moves from his natural shortstop spot to second base, while Trout lands at designated hitter even though the Angels expect him to begin the season in center field.
C — Cal Raleigh, Mariners
1B — Nick Kurtz, Athletics
2B — Zach Neto, Angels
SS — Jeremy Peña, Astros
3B — Carlos Correa, Astros
RF — Jo Adell, Angels
CF — Julio Rodríguez, Mariners
LF — Wyatt Langford, Rangers
DH — Mike Trout, Angels
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On the mound we’re selecting five arms, beginning with a familiar ace. Jacob deGrom gets the starting nod as he closes in on another milestone. If healthy, the Rangers star should surpass 100 career wins this season, a number that once felt inevitable and then uncertain before his return to the mound.
Behind him is a bullpen filled with power and promise. Nathan Eovaldi brings veteran reliability, Bryan Woo continues to develop into one of Seattle’s most intriguing arms and Houston’s Hunter Brown looks like a pitcher who could very well hear his name mentioned in future Cy Young conversations.
When the ninth inning arrives, the ball goes to Andrés Muñoz. The Mariners closer has quietly become one of baseball’s most dominant finishers, pairing triple-digit velocity with a slider that can make the final three outs feel inevitable.
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SP — Jacob deGrom, Rangers (Starter)
RP — Nathan Eovaldi, Rangers (Bullpen)
RP — Hunter Brown, Astros (Bullpen)
RP — Bryan Woo, Mariners (Bullpen)
RP — Andrés Muñoz, Mariners (Closer)
In a division packed with stars, rising talent and familiar faces still performing at elite levels, the American League West once again reminds us that baseball’s next All-Star moment may not be far away.