Sun Jul 06 15:40:00 UTC 2025: **Sports Illustrated’s Tom Verducci Reveals His Bold All-Star Picks, Snubbing Fan Favorites**

**[City, State] –** With Phase 2 of All-Star voting underway, veteran baseball writer Tom Verducci of Sports Illustrated has unveiled his personal All-Star roster, and it’s sure to spark debate. While acknowledging the efforts of fans in narrowing down the finalists, Verducci bucks the trend, selecting five players who didn’t even make it to the final ballot.

Verducci’s choices are backed by a deep dive into advanced metrics and performance trends, highlighting players excelling beyond traditional statistics. He singles out the American League starting pitcher, and the National and American League shortstops, along with the National League third base selection as the most difficult choices.

**Notable Selections:**

* **AL Catcher:** Cal Raleigh (Mariners) – Lauded for his switch-hitting power and ability to thrive with runners on base.
* **NL Catcher:** Will Smith (Dodgers) – Praised for his high average, ability to hit with runners on, and low strikeout rate.
* **AL First Base:** Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Blue Jays) – Edges out Torkelson due to higher on-base percentage and lower strikeout rate.
* **NL First Base:** Pete Alonso (Mets) – Chosen over Freeman and Busch based on his overall performance increase.
* **AL Second Base:** Gleyber Torres (Yankees) – Leads qualified AL second basemen in important statistics.
* **NL Second Base:** Ketel Marte (Marlins) – Chosen over Donovan due to his 17 home runs and high OPS.
* **AL Shortstop:** Jeremy Peña (Astros) – Leads AL shortstops in many important offensive statistics.
* **NL Shortstop:** Elly De La Cruz (Reds) – Dominates the NL shortstop field in WAR, home runs, stolen bases, and other statistics.
* **AL Third Base:** José Ramírez (Guardians) – Ramirez’s defense, baserunning, and contact skills give him the edge.
* **NL Third Base:** Manny Machado (Padres) – Chosen for his volume and consistency, leading at his position in important offensive statistics.
* **AL Outfield:** Aaron Judge (Yankees), Riley Greene (Tigers), Byron Buxton (Twins)
* **NL Outfield:** Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs), Bryan De La Cruz (Marlins), Kyle Tucker (Astros)
* **AL Designated Hitter:** Brent Rooker (Athletics)
* **NL Designated Hitter:** Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers)
* **AL Starting Pitcher:** Tarik Skubal (Tigers)
* **NL Starting Pitcher:** Paul Skenes (Pirates)
* **AL Closer:** Josh Hader (Astros)
* **NL Closer:** Edwin Díaz (Mets)

Verducci’s article provides a stat-driven rationale for each selection, highlighting impressive metrics and career-best performances. The picks challenge the conventional wisdom of fan voting and offer a compelling alternative lineup based on in-depth analysis.

This announcement is expected to further fuel the All-Star voting process, encouraging fans to consider advanced statistics and overall player value when making their selections.

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