Pete Crow-Armstrong Is MLB's #3 FWAR Player and Fans Are BLOWING IT
Alright, Seattle, listen up! The MLB All-Star Game voting update just dropped, and if you haven't seen it, get ready to throw your rally caps across the room. Fans have the power, right? Mostly a good thing, but based on this first glimpse, we've got some serious "corrections" to suggest before Phase 1 locks in. The league gave us a look on Monday, showing the top players at each position, and honestly, some of these "fan picks" are making me want to scream into a pillow. It's clear that bigger market teams get a boost, and some of the real studs are getting absolutely robbed. We've got just over a week to fix this, people!
The NL Outfield Snub That Is Just Wild
First up, we HAVE to talk about Pete Crow-Armstrong. This dude is sitting at number 14 among NL outfielders in the voting, and it’s a travesty. I mean, what are we even doing here? Yeah, he had a bit of a shaky start to the season, but since he tweaked his stance, he's been absolutely scalding hot in June. We're talking about a guy who has rocketed up to number 3 in all of MLB with a ridiculous 4.0 fWAR! Only Shohei Ohtani (5.1) and Bobby Witt Jr. (4.2) are ahead of him, which should tell you everything you need to know about the company he’s keeping.
Trade on Every Game with Kalshi
Click Here to sign up to Kalshi — Free $10 when you sign up using our link or use code: ONTAPSEA. The only federally regulated prediction market in the US. Trade on real sports outcomes. Available in all 50 states.
And it's not just the bat, either. He’s the best defensive outfielder in the entire league, a fact that always seems to get overlooked in these fan votes. But with his recent offensive surge, his OPS has jumped to .846, and he's on pace to smash 30 home runs! So how in the world is he behind guys like Brandon Marsh, Teoscar Hernández, Kyle Tucker, Mauricio Dubón, Justin Crawford, and Adolis García? Seriously, none of those dudes are producing anywhere near Crow-Armstrong’s level. It’s baffling. Even more baffling? No Cubs player cracked the top five at their position. Cubs fans, are you even trying?
Ben Rice Deserves His Flowers at First Base
Over in the American League, we've got another head-scratcher at first base. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is comfortably leading the vote, nearly 100,000 votes ahead of Yankees breakout star Ben Rice. I get it, Guerrero is a household name, he's super popular, and Blue Jays players are getting a lot of love despite their team's lackluster start. But you guys, you gotta look at the numbers! Rice is having the far better season.
Ben Rice has put up 2.8 fWAR with a whopping 20 home runs, 49 RBIs, and an incredible 174 wRC+. That wRC+ mark ranks second in ALL of MLB, behind only Yordan Alvarez. Meanwhile, Guerrero, on the other hand, has a career-… Well, the numbers speak for themselves. This isn't about popularity contests, it's about who's performing right now. Rice is playing at an elite level, and he’s getting overlooked because of a bigger name.
What's Next for the All-Star Race?
This is what happens when fans get to vote. Sometimes the right guys get pushed to the top, and other times, it feels like reputation trumps reality. We've got a little over a week left in Phase 1 for fans to make these corrections and get the real standouts into the conversation. Let's make sure the actual best players get the recognition they deserve. Don't just click on the biggest names, actually look at the stats! Let's get these true All-Stars to the big stage. Get your votes in, Emerald City, and make some noise!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.