Selecting the 2024 All-Star teams won't be quite as difficult as solving The New York Times crossword puzzle, but it might bring a similar sense of exasperation.
For starters, consider what's happened to some of the game's biggest stars: Ronald Acuna Jr. is out for the season after ACL surgery; Spencer Strider is out for the season with Tommy John surgery; and Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II are all off to slow starts
And that's just from the Atlanta Braves. Other position players are scuffling too, such as Corbin Carroll, Julio Rodriguez, Manny Machado, Nolan Arenado, Paul Goldschmidt, Bo Bichette, Adolis Garcia, Randy Arozarena, Xander Bogaerts, Alex Bregman and Yandy Diaz. Players who have appeared on the injured list at some point this season include Gerrit Cole, Mike Trout, Luis Robert Jr., Trea Turner, Edwin Diaz, Justin Verlander, Blake Snell, Max Scherzer and Yu Darvish, among others.
Now throw in that pitchers have dominated -- the leaguewide batting average is just .240 and home runs are down from 2023 -- and it's not easy to fill some of the positions, as players are not putting up what we might usually consider All-Star numbers.
With about a month to go before the All-Star Game in Arlington, Texas, let's see how the All-Star rosters for both leagues are shaping up. The usual rules apply: 32 players per team, broken down into 20 position players and 12 pitchers (at least three relievers), with one representative from each MLB club. Players will be considered for the position they're listed at on the official All-Star ballot.