SEATTLE — You must remember that the All-Star Game is just a promotional vehicle for MLB. Mainly, it is a TV show to build interest in the sport.
So how is it possible that the game at T-Mobile Park on Tuesday night will not include the game’s most electrifying, most interesting player not named Shohei Ohtani? How did MLB come up with so many mechanisms and so many different entities having a hand in picking a team and yet not find a way to include Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz, who has built a YouTube reel for a lifetime in a month of major league service?
If you are caught up on the fact he has only played 30 games and made his debut a day before Game 3 of the NBA Finals, then I ask you to revisit the first paragraph of this piece where we mention that the All-Star Game is not a religiously sanctioned event but basically a three-hour advertisement for the sport.
It hasn’t taken long for De La Cruz to drop jaws and raise possibilities with — pick it — his overwhelming speed, power, arm and enthusiasm. On Saturday, for example, he went viral by stealing second, third and home within the same plate appearance (Jake Fraley) — making him the first player in more than half a century to do that. De La Cruz is a uniformed billboard for what is possible on the field. He fits the very mission statement for who should be at the All-Star Game. It is a way to introduce this kind of talent more widely.
And I think I have a way to make sure that this kind of player never is left out again:
Make the All-Star Game 25-and-under versus 26-and-over.
For those “traditionalists” who are about to faint or write the nastiest social media post in recorded history, then understand that the All-Star Game has been tinkered with in large and small ways throughout its history, including — but not limited to — that there used to be two per year, that it used to “count” and determine home field for the World Series and it used to be the only time you could get to see the American League versus the National League on the field at the same time besides the World Series.
But there were five interleague series on the final weekend of this first half alone. So there goes that purity. And the players stopped caring about league identity/pride long ago. So if AL vs. NL no longer holds even nostalgic appeal, why not find something that will be alluring? I have seen a lot of U.S. versus the world stuff and that would be better than the current setup.
However, I believe that begins to infringe a bit on the World Baseball Classic’s appeal and I am not sure how, say, bunching players from Latin America and Asia is a proper way to go about this.
I think 25-and-under versus older would accomplish this key goal: It would highlight what good hands the sport is in moving forward due to the youthful talent. It would be the real Futures Game. We can call back to the classic league versus league All-Star Games by calling the teams the Junior Circuit and the Senior Circuit. You might even get some passion back in the game if the older group gets all “get off my lawn” cranky about who rules the sport and the youngsters are not in a “wait our turn” mindset.
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Just to exhibit how much Generation Z talent there is in the sport, here is what the 25-and-under team would look like (age is what the player was through June 30):
Catcher: Adley Rutschman, Orioles. The tentpole of the Orioles’ turn toward contention. A switch-hitting, defensively sound leader. Backup: Take your pick of Francisco Alvarez, Milwaukee’s William Contreras or San Francisco’s Patrick Bailey.
First Base: Vladimir Guerrero, Blue Jays. Even in a down season, Guerrero has an .801 OPS. Backup: Spencer Steer, Reds.
Second Base: Bo Bichette, Blue Jays. I am cheating and putting a shortstop here so that both Bichette and Tampa Bay’s Wander Franco are in the starting lineup. Backup: Andres Gimenez, Guardians.
Shortstop: Franco. Backup: Geraldo Perdomo, Diamondbacks — with Anthony Volpe, Cincinnati’s Matt McLain, Kansas City’s Bobby Witt Jr. and Houston’s Jeremy Pena in the wings.
Third Base: De La Cruz. Look, there are lots of young alternatives, including Texas’ Josh Jung, Tampa Bay’s Isaac Paredes and Baltimore’s Gunnar Henderson. But this game is being played with the scintillating De La Cruz being shown off to a large TV audience. Period. Backup: Jung.
Outfield: Ronaldo Acuna Jr., Braves; Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks; Juan Soto, Padres. That means not Luis Roberts Jr., Fernando Tatis Jr. or Jack Suwinski. Or Julio Rodriguez, Josh Lowe or Riley Greene.
Designated Hitter: Someone from the overflow outfield.
Starting Pitcher: Brayan Bello, Red Sox; Josiah Gray, Nationals; Hunter Greene, Reds; George Kirby, Mariners; Spencer Strider, Braves. Next five: Andrew Abbott, Reds; Bryce Elder, Braves; McKenzie Gore, Nationals; Jesus Luzardo, Marlins; Eury Perez, Marlins.
Relievers: The Giants’ Camilo Doval to close, plus Matt Brash, Mariners; Emmanuel Clase, Guardians; Jhoan Duran, Twins; Gregory Santos, White Sox.
