The 2018 MLB All-Star Game is coming up quickly, taking place on July 17 at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C. Voting is now open, so we put together a list of three Colorado Rockies that deserve your vote for the All-Star Game. There is an argument for more Rockies players making the NL roster, but these four players should easily make it to the nation’s capital.
Nolan Arenado:
Is this even a question? A three-time All-Star (2015-2017), five-time Gold Glove recipient (2013-17), and a three-time Silver Slugger (2015-2017), Nolan Arenado is one of the MLB’s elite talents and the Rockies third baseman is once again on pace to post one of the best statistical seasons of his career.
Arenado currently owns a .321 batting average, and is tied for the club lead with 12 home runs. Only short stop Trevor Story (39) has more RBI than Arenado (35) so far this season.
Prior to the start of the 2018 season, Sports Illustrated ranked Arenado as the best defensive infielder in baseball. Arenado is a complete player that ranks among the league’s best hitters and fielders. Arenado should be a no-brainer for baseball fans around the country and should be the starting third basemen for the National League.
Adam Ottavino:
Although currently on the 10-day DL, Adam Ottavino has been lights out for the Rockies in the eights inning, posting an ERA of 0.95 in 28.1 innings pitched. The 32-year old from New York ranks third among Major League relievers with 45 strikeouts and is tied with Seattle’s Edwin Diaz for the third-highest strikeout percentage, fanning 45.5 percent of the hitters he has faced.
Ottavino has not only been the Rockies’ best reliever in 2018, but he has arguably been one of the most dominant pitchers in the MLB this season. If the Rockies hitters are constantly criticized for hitting at Coors Field by the national media, then a pitcher having as much success as Ottavino should be revered as one the game’s elite backend bullpen pitchers.
Wade Davis:
After signing a three-year, $52 million contract in the offseason, Wade Davis has lived up to the big expectations that came with his deal. Davis, now 32 years old, has made a career out of shutting things down in the ninth inning and he certainly has performed well this season.
The first-year Rockies closer currently leads the National League with 18 saves and he is a household name for baseball fans around the country, so it seems likely that he will have a spot on the NL roster this July. But the veteran closer’s success was certainly worth noting.
Trevor Story:
The Rockies young shortstop still strikes out too frequently, but he has produced as he leads the club with 39 RBI and four triples. Story has a slugging percentage of .474 and leads all NL shortstops with 11 home runs.
If he continues to improve his approach at the plate and drive in runs, there is definitely a logical argument that Story deserves a spot on the NL roster. Especially if he continues to plate elite defense in the field.
Go Vote:
These four players have been instrumental to Colorado’s success this season and deserve your vote. Without Ottavino and Davis holding things down in the bull pen, the club would certainly not be in first place in the NL West, and without Arenado, Colorado would only have one hitter who’s currently hitting above .300 AVG.
There is still a lot of time left before the All-Star game, so guys like Charlie Blackmon, D.J. Lemahieu and even Carlos Gonzalez could easily make a strong impression before then. The Rockies sent four players to the All-Star Game in 2017 and could easily match or surpass that total this season.
The mid-summer classic is always a memorable event during the course of a Major League season, so it would be great to see some purple and black representing in Washington D.C.
