Ranking the Minnesota Twins Most Likely All-Stars in 2024

[Matthew Taylor]

Voting for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game opened on Tuesday, and the Minnesota Twins have several players making a strong case for a spot on the roster. Among the impressive performances this season, who stands out the most? Let's dive into which Twins players have the best shot at earning All-Star honors this season

 

While the MLB All-Star Game might not have implications for the season, it remains a crucial benchmark for evaluating players in a historical context. Earning an All-Star nod is often referenced when discussing careers and legacies. Plus, it's a fun topic for discussion, allowing fans to celebrate their favorite players and debate who truly deserves the honor. So, even if the game itself is just an exhibition, the conversation it sparks is always worth having.

Before we dive into the countdown, a quick refresher on the All-Star selection process, given that the process just changed in 2022.

The All-Star Game starters, except for pitchers, are chosen through a fan vote divided into two phases. In Phase 1, fans vote for players at each position, including the designated hitter for both leagues. The top overall vote-getter in each league automatically earns a starting spot. The top two players at each position (and top six outfielders) move on to Phase 2, where fans select from these finalists. The winners in Phase 2, plus the top vote-getters from Phase 1, become the All-Star starters.

For the rest of the roster, a combination of Player Ballot selections and the Commissioner's Office picks the pitchers and reserve position players. Each league has 32 spots (20 position players and 12 pitchers), ensuring every team is represented. 

Let’s count down the five Minnesota Twins players with the best chance to earn a spot in the Mid-Summer Classic in Arlington next month.

5. Max Kepler

After a brief stint on the injured list in the middle of April, Kepler has been one of the best hitters on the Minnesota Twins this season with a 121 OPS+ on the season. Kepler has built upon the breakout second half of the season that he had in 2023 and is setting himself up for a hefty payday as he approaches free agency following the season.

Barring a hot streak over the next month, it’s hard to see Kepler cracking the All-Star team, though he may not be as far off as you may think. Among American League outfielders, Kepler ranks 18th in wRC+ (122), 9th in WPA (0.96) and 21st in fWAR. Still a ways out, but a hot streak could put him in the top-10 in each of those categories.

4. Carlos Correa

Carlos Correa brings the name value that will always put him in the All-Star conversation. He has been a top-five shortstop this season in the American League by most metrics, and has hit much better this season than he did last season now that he is healthy.

Holding Correa back is how stacked the shortstop position is in the American League this year. Both Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson are playing like MVP candidates along with other big names like Corey Seager and Gunnar Henderson. Correa also lags behind other shortstops in games played due to his intercostal strain earlier this season.

 

3. Griffin Jax

Griffin Jax has been the star of the excellent Minnesota Twins bullpen this season. Among American League relievers who have thrown at least 25 innings this season, Jax is 12th in ERA (2.13), 9th in K/9 (11.72), 7th in WHIP (0.87). 

The Minnesota Twins own a top-five bullpen by just about any metric this season and Griffin Jax has been the star of the show. Giving the best player on a top bullpen gives Jax a case for making his first career all-star game. Holding Jax back, of course, is that he is not a traditional closer and only has five saves, but with how the conversation around bullpens and saves has changed, that shouldn’t preclude Jax from a selection.

 

2. Joe Ryan

Though he is coming off of his worst start of the 2024 season, Joe Ryan still has a case to make for being an All-Star this season. Ryan is entering this week with a 3.38 ERA (17th best among American League starters), 9.63 K/9 (8th best), 1.01 WHIP (8th best), and 1.5 fWAR (13th best). 

With his next three starts lined up against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Colorado Rockies and Oakland Athletics, Ryan has plenty of opportunity to improve his numbers, pad his stats and come into the All-Star break with enough momentum to earn a selection.

 

1. Ryan Jeffers

Without a doubt, Minnesota’s most likely all-star this season is Ryan Jeffers. Jeffers ranks top-3 among American League catchers in OPS (.858), fWAR (1.8), RBI (36) and WPA (1.24). He is tied for first with 12 home runs.

Jeffers has a decent shot at not only making the All-Star game, but starting the All-Star game for the American League. He will have to fend off some big names in Salvador Perez and Adley Rutschman, but given his statistical profile, he definitely has a case to make. It’s up to Twins fans to get him there.

 

Who do you think is the most likely Twin to make the all-star game? Were any names missed in the above countdown? Leave a comment below and start the conversation!

 

View full article

[Karbo]

I could see Jeffers make it if he starts hitting again. Ryan probably deserves to go and may end up the lone Twins rep, unless Jeffers can get out of his slump.

[Whitey333]

I would probably go with Ryan.  With the constant platooning of many twins players making them essentially part timers it's hard to build up stats.  Correa has been good but certainly not great, more pedestrian.  Jeffers is very streaky and only plays half the games.  Hardly worthy of an all star selection much less start.  He would need to get very hot plus Rocco would have to let him play more.  Not likely to happen.  

 

 

 

[old nurse]

The percent chance of a Twin making the All Star team by voting is slim. The only hope would be the fans of the other AL East teams wanting to spite Rutchman. From there it would depend on what they think the All Star team needs and whatever they have to pick from the dreg teams. I am not sure what the other teams have that would have to be placed on an All Star team. What do the White Sox have Crocket or Sheets? Oakland Rooker or the reliever?  The Angels Anderson or Trout. The Royals Perez on reputation? Those decisions would impact wh they would select from the Twins. 

[ToddlerHarmon]

If the Twins manage to provide some save situations, Duran has time to build a case, and the rep and resume.

[thelanges5]

Jeffers would need to return to his early season form. From Gleeman:

Ryan Jeffers hit .290/.368/.629 with 10 homers through the #MNTwins first 41 games, leading the American League in OPS after a quarter of the season. Jeffers has hit .125 in 20 games since then. And during that same period, Twins co-catcher Christian Vázquez has hit .158.

[bean5302]

31 minutes ago, thelanges5 said:

Jeffers would need to return to his early season form. From Gleeman:

Ryan Jeffers hit .290/.368/.629 with 10 homers through the #MNTwins first 41 games, leading the American League in OPS after a quarter of the season. Jeffers has hit .125 in 20 games since then. And during that same period, Twins co-catcher Christian Vázquez has hit .158.

Ryan Jeffers is just regressing to the mean a bit. His wOBA was like .425 while his xwOBA was like .360. Over his past 20 games, Jeffers is .125/.233/.250 OPS .483 wRC+ 46.
Vazquez is .113/.138/.194 OPS .332 wRC+ (9). Yeah. Negative 9.

Overall, Jeffers has a wOBA of .355 vs. an xwOBA of .332 this year. Much more in line with who he's been across his career.

[strumdatjag]

Joe Ryan had another good start yesterday against the Pirates.   He is deserving.   Jeffers should probably go too.   That’s it realistically. 

[Linus]

Not sure any Twin has performed at that level. Jeffers for a while but that’s about it. 

[Joey P]

Uh, #1 Jhoan Duran...

[RpR]

All Star - Carlos Santana

[Greggory Masterson]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

All Star - Carlos Santana

No I think it was by Smashmouth

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, Joey P said:

Uh, #1 Jhoan Duran...

Not sure what Duran has done to deserve it? I mean, he does throw hard, not that he's been All-Star level effective in his limited sample size this year. Generally, there are 5-6 relief pitchers per league who make the All Star teams.

Taking the list down to relievers with more than 10 innings (Duran's been hurt so he only has 15), here are Duran's ranks of the 136 guys who meet the criteria.
Fastball velo = 100.2 #2
ERA = 3.00 #46
FIP = 5.27 #116
xFIP = 3.52 #37
Saves = 10 #9
K/9 = 8.40 #74

Clase, Holmes, Miller, Kimbrel, and half a dozen other relievers have a more deserving case.

Honestly, I'm not sure who the Twins will send as their default guy. None of our guys is likely to get voted in. Jeffers is the strongest candidate right now for a vote-in, but he's going to be way behind Salvador Perez, David Fry, Connor Wong, and Adley Rutschman for popularity and/or performance at this point.

The Rocco Baldelli Ultra Platoon mode doesn't help our guys accumulate stats which voters look at.

[Mark G]

CC doesn't stand a chance, because MN won't have enough people voting, and the rest of the league still hates him from his Houston days.

Ryan?  The next 2 starts will determine a lot; let's hope for the best.  

Jax?  Could be, depending, again, on the next few outings and finishing the stretch strong.

Jeffers?  My bet is he is going to go.  Hopefully, not as a solo.

Notice I haven't mentioned Kepler at all, and I will leave it at that.  😏

[tony&rodney]

I'm guessing that Joe Ryan is the only player in the running at this moment in time.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Mark G said:

Notice I haven't mentioned Kepler at all, and I will leave it at that.  😏

Why?

Jeffers

Kepler

Not a lot of difference

[Mark G]

8 minutes ago, RpR said:

Why?

Jeffers

Kepler

Not a lot of difference

Sure there is; the position.  How many possible all stars in the outfield is Kepler competing with, vs. how many catchers of all star caliber is Jeffers competing against?  I guess I see that as a pretty big difference.  But that's just me.  

[Doctor Wu]

12 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

I'm guessing that Joe Ryan is the only player in the running at this moment in time.

Yep, Joe Ryan has been the most consistent starter for the team. Okay, Jax has pitched well in the bullpen too, and he would deserve a spot, but I think if the teams were picked today, Ryan would be our lone All-Star rep. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Revisiting:

If Joe Ryan can close strong and get his ERA in the 2’s, then I think it’s Ryan.

If Jeffers rebounds he might also go, depending on the AL catcher situation or if one of the top ones bows out. So that might be two Twins.

If neither of those guys are named, the default would probably be Jax.

However, the real wild card possibility is Royce Lewis. If Royce keeps being Royce, I could see him being named as a backup, easily.