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According to a release by the official MLB Twitter, Los Angeles Dodgers rookie sensation Yasiel Puig has been omitted from the 2013 National League All-Star team. This comes after one of the most impressive beginnings to a career that we’ve ever witnessed.

There may be some opposing his selection, but Puig deserves to be a National League All-Star after his torrid start.

Puig is the latest five-tool player to enter the MLB, displaying elite abilities in every facet of the game. While some believe his numbers have been inflated by a brief career, one thing can quiet the naysayers.

The fans.

I suggest you vote for the phenom to make the All-Star Game.

Puig has been nothing short of remarkable, but that doesn’t always translate to recognition. With just 30 games under his belt, there is reason to believe that he’s yet to prove his worth.

Or has he?

Record-Setting Start

Jonathan Papelbon can debate this all he wants, but few players have ever started a season as well as Puig has. In fact, Puig‘s first 30 games have put him into the exalted company of Joe DiMaggio and Roy Weatherly.

Need we say more?

If we do, we will.

Puig is currently hitting .417 with eight home runs, 19 RBI and 24 runs in just 30 games. This limited playing time may lead to questions of his validity, but the fact that Puig is being mentioned in the same sentence as DiMaggio should tell you something.

So should Puig‘s impact on his team.

Turning a Season Around

Prior to Puig‘s MLB debut, the Los Angeles Dodgers were 23-32 overall and drifting further away from postseason contention. Since he has entered the league, however, the Dodgers have been a different kind of animal.

LA is 18-12 with Puig in the lineup.

Not only has he helped the Dodgers turn their season around, but he’s provided a much-needed five-tool presence with Matt Kemp battling injuries. In a star-studded lineup without consistency, Puig has even emerged as the most productive player on the team.

Last time I checked, a player locks in an All-Star berth when he combines elite production with a powerful impact on his team.

That’s exactly what Puig has given the Dodgers, who have fed off his energy both at the plate and in the field. From a cannon of an arm to an explosive swing, Puig has been a walking highlight reel with a significant team influence to boot.

Someone tell me what isn’t All-Star worthy about that.

The Trout Factor

In 2012, Mike Trout took the world by storm, dominating in every facet of the game and helping the Los Angeles Angels turn their season around. One year later, Puig is following down a similar path with the Dodgers.

So why was Trout an All-Star, and Puig isn’t?

This is not to sell Trout’s stellar play short by any stretch of the imagination, as he’s played elite baseball since he first set foot on an MLB field. With that being said, Trout’s brief career—albeit longer than Puig‘s—was of little influence to voters.

They saw a standout performer and rewarded him with an All-Star Game appearance.

Puig is becoming the face of an injury-plagued season. As many players have looked to get in with strong play, few—if any—have given MLB the popularity boost that Puig has provided.

Both on the field and off it, Puig has been elite. It’s only fair for MLB to reward him.

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The 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game rosters were announced Saturday night, and there are a handful of studs who will stand out on the big stage.

With the stakes high as the winner gets home-field advantage in the 2013 World Series, these world-class players will be giving it their all during the July 16 event despite all of the fanfare and entertainment. 

There’s no shortage of stars in each starting lineup, with some of the game’s best names on the list. However, some up-and-coming guys are sprinkled in. 

Let’s take a look at the players who will shine in Queens, N.Y. at Shea Stadium for the exciting 2013 All-Star Game.

MLB All-Star Game Roster

American League

National League

* = Starter

^ = Injured, will not play

Rosters courtesy of MLB.com

Players Who Will Dominate All-Star Game

David Ortiz, American League

Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz deserves his name to be in the conversation of best designated hitters of all time, and that was solidified after garnering an All-Star starter selection as a 37-year-old.

After slumping in recent seasons with his Sox, Ortiz has been a major cog in their resurgence during this 2013 season. Without him, Boston wouldn’t be five-and-a-half games up on the Yankees for the top spot in the AL East (something almost nobody could’ve predicted three months ago).

A now-nine-time All-Star, Ortiz has had his fair share of experiences with the big-time event and is ready for the moment. In a game that has often relied on offensive firepower, pitching has taken center stage as of late—and it takes an experienced bat like Ortiz’s to put out a hot pitcher. 

The New York crowd may not be huge fans of the Boston slugger, but with the fourth-best batting average and third-best slugging percentage in the AL, that won’t matter. 

With so many first-time All-Stars in the mix (29 of them, to be exact), experience and seasoning is key. Ortiz has plenty of that. 

Mike Trout, American League

The 21-year-old Los Angeles Angels phenom didn’t get off to a high-flying start in 2013, but he turned that around very quickly and has turned this year into another jaw-dropping one.

As if last year’s AL Rookie of the Year could improve at all following an inaugural campaign for the ages, Trout seems dead set on having another great season. He’s batting .314 on the season, with 13 homers and a whopping 55 RBI to go along with it. 

His batting average has slightly dipped but is still very good, and meanwhile, he’s projected to hit the century mark in runs batted in. So, he’s doing more with less hits. 

The fact that a player in his first two seasons in the majors is likely going to surpass 180 hits in each season is absolutely baffling. And now that he’s been selected for his first All-Star starting lineup selection, you can bet he’s even more ready to seize the moment.

The Angels haven’t had a season to remember thus far, but Trout has. And he’ll continue to assume superstar status in baseball by having a big performance against MLB’s best players. 

Carlos Gonzalez, National League 

The only reason that CarGo won’t have a big game on July 16 is if his body simply shuts down from the gaudy production he’s put up through the first half of 2013.

Carlos Gonzalez has his fingerprints all over the National League statistic leaderboards, leading the NL in homers (23), slugging percentage (.605) and tied for the runs lead (65). The 27-year-old has been a huge driving force for the Colorado Rockies’ resurgence, and they’ll need more of the same throughout the latter half of the season as they sit 3.5 games back of Arizona in the NL West. 

The two-time NL Gold Glove winner knows he can help out the cause both offensively and defensively, and that could prove to have an added impact. Although World Series advantages are on the line, it’s still primarily an exhibition where extra effort seems to stick out. That’s definitely the case in the field.

If Gonzalez can continue his all-around effectiveness, big hitting numbers and huge-play potential, he’s a lock to have a solid All-Star Game.

David Wright, National League

Every All-Star Game has its hometown hero, and David Wright will assume that role in 2013 (along with Matt Harvey).

The New York Mets’ only starter in the spectacle, Wright is sure to be a fan favorite—and he won’t let down a packed house in Shea Stadium.

Wright hasn’t topped the stat sheets like so many of his counterparts and his numbers won’t overwhelm you, but he has efficiency and leadership written all over him. That’s exactly what the Mets need.

Also, that’s a big boost in an All-Star Game if you have a player the fans love with leadership potential on your side.

The 30-year-old is also entering his seventh Midsummer Classic, which further proves that he’s experienced enough for the moment and will be able to have a positive impact on incoming All-Stars who will need guidance and some tips.

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The 2013 MLB All-Star rosters have been announced and that means it’s time to judge the selections. Obviously there are plenty of players who deserve the honor, but some names deserve it more than others. Here are the best and worst selections to this year’s all-star game.

Best Choices

Chris Davis

No surprise here. The guy dubbed “Crush” Davis has been on an absolute tear this entire season. He has 33 home runs and over 80 RBIs before the mid-season mark.

Not known for his average over his six seasons in the bigs, Davis is also hitting .325 right now. He’s never finished a season with an average over .300.

There was no doubt that Davis was going to make this year’s American League team considering his start to this season. He garnered over 8 million votes. Barring any injury between now and July 16, Davis will suit up at Citi Field and maybe even knock another few homers out of the park.

Matt Harvey

He’s started just 28 games in his MLB career but make no mistake: Matt Harvey deserves to take the mound first for the National League.

So far this season, the Mets ace has already struck out 141 batters and owns a 2.27 ERA through 123 innings of work.

Those numbers are good no matter what team you play for but it’s not like Harvey has had that much help. The Mets are currently ranked 20th in runs and 29th in batting average in the league. Harvey has had to earn each of those seven wins currently on his 7-2 record the hard way.

If his club allows it, Harvey should take the mound for the NL at Citi Field and not just to make the home fans happy. He has earned the right to take the ball first.

Worst Choices

Adam Jones

Adam Jones deserves to make the American League roster but doesn’t deserve to start. Jones does have 15 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .287 average. Those numbers are impressive but others are right there with him statistically.

AL reserve player Nelson Cruz has a lower batting average at .268 but has six more homers and just four fewer RBIs. Boston outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who didn’t make the roster, has a .302 average with 34 steals and 30 RBIs. 

There will always be people looking to nitpick all-star rosters but four Orioles made the American League team. Considering how many Baltimore players will be in the AL dugout, it would’ve been appropriate to see Cruz or fellow reserve Alex Gordon get the starting nod.

Justin Masterson

Justin Masterson must be ecstatic about his first all-star selection but hearing his name called was puzzling. The Indians hurler has surrendered six earned runs in two of his last three outings. His ERA has gone from 3.48 to 3.78 over that time span.

Kansas City’s Ervin Santana owns a 2.84 ERA with 89 strikeouts and a misleading 5-5 record. That win-loss record is more due to Santana’s 41-43 record team than his own failures. He wasn’t even named to the American League roster.

Masterson is an interesting and new name to see named to the all-star game. That being said, as good a season he’s had, he didn’t deserve the selection this year.

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Contrary to popular opinion, the fan-voting portion of filling out MLB All-Star rosters isn’t the only part of the process that falls victim to popularity contests and the numbers a player has put up in the past.

Sometimes, even those players selected by their peers and each All-Star team’s respective manager raise an eyebrow or two.

It happens each and every year, and 2013 is no different, though I must admit that there are very few selections I’d consider to be egregious errors.

Here’s a look at those few players who simply haven’t performed well enough to take part in this year’s Midsummer Classic at Citi Field on July 16—but will.

*Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and are current through games of July 5.

Begin Slideshow

The question of whether or not Yasiel Puig will be in the All-Star Game was finally answered on Saturday—no.

OK, maybe it’s premature to say that Puig won’t play in the Midsummer Classic, but he needs your help. He was named to the Final Vote for the NL reserves, and it’s up to the fans to decide if he makes it or not.

The 22-year-old Los Angeles Dodgers phenom out of Cuba took MLB by storm when he made his debut on June 3, and just over a month later, he was snubbed from making his first All-Star Game.

The debate about whether he deserved a spot in the All-Star Game has been one of sports’ hottest topics over the last couple of weeks, and the simple truth is that he deserved it more than almost any other player in the league.

Through the first 30 games of his MLB career, Puig is batting .420 with eight home runs and 19 RBI.

He has been the best player in MLB since he joined the Dodgers, as evidenced by this fact: He was the first player in history to win Rookie of the Month and Player of the Month in his first month in the majors.

Yasiel Puig is the first to win a Player of the Month Award in his first month in the big leagues since the award was instituted in 1958.

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 3, 2013

Puig is arguably the best five-tool player in the game today, and he has shown it in all 30 games he’s played.

In his first game, Puig demonstrated his cannon of an arm. He rifled a throw from right to first with pinpoint accuracy to complete a game-ending double play against the San Diego Padres.

This kid is also one of the fastest players in the game, as seen in this hustle double against the New York Yankees. He smacked a hit up the middle that would have been a single for anyone else, but he is so fast that he stretched it into a double with ease.

We can’t forget about Puig’s power either.

In just his second game, Puig blasted a three-run home run to tie the game for the first dinger of his MLB career. He then came right back and hit a two-run shot in the next inning to extend the Dodgers’ lead to 9-6.

Oh, and did I mention that he hit his first career grand slam just two days later?

Finally, let’s take a look at Puig’s play in right field.

The 6’3″, 245-pound powerhouse isn’t afraid to crash into walls if it’ll help him make a catch, and this play against the Colorado Rockies shows just how good he is with the glove.

With so many tools, how could this guy fail to make the All-Star Game?

The Midsummer Classic isn’t about who’s had the best first half of the season; it’s about who the best players are—and Puig is among MLB’s best.

Because the All-Star Game influences home-field advantage in the World Series, it is much more important than any other All-Star Game in pro sports. Because of that, the game shouldn’t feature players solely because of their production throughout the year, but also for what they can do for their respective leagues.

Puig had opposition when it came to making the All-Star Game, namely Los Angeles Angels manager Mike Scioscia and Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon.

Neither of their arguments against Puig made sense.

Scioscia was one of the first people in baseball to openly oppose Puig, saying he “needs to go a little farther to earn it,” according to Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. He added:

There’s a pull to bring the best players to the game because of the bearing it has on home-field advantage in the World Series. That’s going to give him a deeper look than maybe it would have in any other situation. 

Scioscia later called Puig “as dynamic a player as you’re going to see in the major leagues.”

Therefore, by Scioscia’s definition of the All-Star Game and of Puig, the Cuban phenom should be in the game, right?

Papelbon strongly opposed Puig’s inclusion in the Midsummer Classic, saying it would be an “injustice” and a “joke” if he were to make the roster in an interview with MLB Network Radio (via Mike Oz of Yahoo! Sports).

It’s easy for Papelbon to say that Puig shouldn’t be an All-Star because he hasn’t had the misfortune of pitching against him.

Puig leads all MLB hitters with at least 15 at-bats in batting average and is second in OPS behind only Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles, who led all All-Star candidates in votes.

He is one of the most feared hitters in the game right now, and any pitcher who has faced him would likely contend that Puig should not only play in the game but start in it.

He’s that good.

At this point, it’s up to the fans to decide whether Puig will take part in the festivities or watch from home.

To have one of the most gifted players in decades sit on the couch during the game is unacceptable, and it’s up to you to vote for him to go to Flushing.

Follow @JoshSchoch

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Selection for the MLB All-Star Game is always a somewhat contentious affair, and this year was no different.

Since the starters are completely left up to the fans, there are always some picks that raise a few eyebrows. For the most part, though, the fans did a pretty good job.

Here are the starters for both teams, per MLB Public Relations.

MLB also announced the reserves and pitchers for each team.

Here’s a quick roundup of what some experts had to say about some of the biggest snubs and surprises.

MLB’s PR account announced that Chris Davis was the biggest vote-getter, which will likely be a bit of a surprise to some.

Although some might take umbrage with Bryce Harper starting, ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark thought it was the correct decision.

According to Dan Kolko of MASN, Harper is the fourth-youngest All-Star starter ever and the youngest National League starter.

The New York Times‘ Tyler Kepner covered what he believed to be the biggest snubs of the selection process.

Stark was surprised that, despite being second in the AL West, the Oakland Athletics didn’t have a position player named to the team.

Grant Balfour was also one of the players who had a strong argument to be on the team. According to the San Francisco Chronicle‘s Susan Slusser, he’s completely dumbfounded.

The San Francisco Chronicle‘s John Shea thought it was odd the San Francisco Giants got more All-Stars than the A’s.

Although Edward Mujica was left off, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch‘s Derrick Goold thinks another St. Louis Cardinals pitcher could still make Mujica an All-Star.

Stark also had a problem with how the players in the Final Vote were decided.

CBSSports.com’s Danny Knobler tried to explain how the American League’s Final Vote candidates were selected.

Quite a bit of the discussion about the All-Star Game centered on whether or not Yasiel Puig would be chosen as a starter, or at least a reserve. He was neither and instead will contend for a spot in the Final Vote.

According to MLB Public Relations, Puig had the most write-in votes since 2006.

MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian said he talked to some players, and the majority felt Puig doesn’t deserve an All-Star spot.

Knobler understood why Puig has been left off the roster to this point.

CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman does not envy those up against Puig in the Final Vote.

You can catch the 2013 All-Star Game on July 16 at 8 p.m. ET.

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The 2013 MLB All-Star rosters have been unveiled, as the league’s biggest stars are set to descend upon Citi Field in New York for the upcoming All-Star break. 

The American League team will look to score a victory behind the hot bat of Baltimore Orioles slugger Chris Davis, who leads the league in home runs with 33. Davis will be joined by some of the biggest stars in the game as both sides try to earn a victory for home-field advantage in the World Series. 

Davis led all players in voting in a historic showing for the Orioles, according to MLB Public Relations:

Here’s a full rundown of who the fans selected to represent each league, including starting lineups and the group for the final vote.

Information courtesy of the official Twitter account for Major League Baseball.

American League Starters

National League Starters

American League Reserves

National League Reserves

American League Pitchers

National League Pitchers

American League Final Vote Candidates

National League Final Vote Candidates

Notable Storylines

Marco Scutaro‘s Inclusion

Because these rosters are voted on by the fans, there are always some dubious additions to the roster that will leave some scratching their heads. This year, that addition is Marco Scutaro. 

The San Francisco Giants second baseman was voted onto the National League team as a reserve despite numbers that wouldn’t necessarily indicate that he’s having an All-Star-caliber season. Through 72 games, he’s hitting .313 with an on-base percentage of .367, but he has just two home runs and 19 RBI on the season. 

Considering there are second basemen with much better numbers at the plate this season—including the surging Dan Uggla and San Diego’s Jedd Gyorko—Scutaro‘s inclusion should raise some eyebrows.

Yasiel Puig Down—But Not Out

Perhaps the most notable exclusion from the National League roster was burgeoning Los Angeles Dodgers star Yasiel Puig. 

The 22-year-old outfielder has played in just 39 games this season, but it’s been one of the most productive first 30 games a player has had. According to ESPN Stats & Info, he’s joined Joe DiMaggio and Roy Weatherly as the only players to register 50 hits in their first 30 games, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since 1936. 

Puig’s All-Star door hasn’t been shut quite yet, though. He’s part of the National League’s group of players that are eligible to make the game in the final vote on Twitter:

Puig’s amazing production can’t be denied, but it will be up to the fans to determine if that outweighs his short time in the league. 

American League Final Vote Comes Down to Relievers

Unless you’re a middle reliever in the American League, your door to get into the All-Star Game is officially closed. The Final Group vote in the American League is comprised entirely of such pitchers.

That means bad news for some bats in the league that many wfeel are deserving to appear in the game, such as the Tampa Bay Rays’ Evan Longoria and the Oakland Athletics’ Josh Donaldson. 

Donaldson leads the A’s in just about every offensive category including home runs (15), RBI (57), average (.317) and on-base percentage (.385). Longoria leads the Rays with 17 home runs and 49 RBI, but neither will have a shot to make the final roster. 

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The 2013 MLB All-Star Game starting lineup revealing is set for 6:30 ET on Saturday. Some of the races are very close until the end, including the battle between Carlos Gonzalez, Justin Upton and Bryce Harper for two National League outfield spots. Gonzalez and Upton are two similar talents, and here we’re going to take a look at what makes them tick.

Batting

At the plate, both of these players instill some serious fear in opposing pitchers. Though he started off the season on a torrid pace, Upton has fallen off considerably since then, as Yankeesource explained the ugly truth:

Still, he remains an imposing figure in the batter’s box, and he has an impressive 48 walks to his credit.

When he was drafted first overall in the 2005 MLB draft, Upton was touted as a five-tool player. But at age 25, it seems that he is only scratching the surface of his potential. Through 81 games, he is batting only .248 with 38 RBI.

Gonzalez, on the other hand, has been a consistent performer at the plate throughout his tenure with the Rockies. For many years now, his critics have been sure to point out that Coors Field has been friendly to his statistics. However, this year is different.

Surprisingly enough, Gonzalez has hit .312 with 13 home runs on the road to his .280 and 11 homers at home. ESPN Stats & Info points out how impressive he has been this year:

Fielding

Though it’s often overlooked outside of the SportsCenter “Top 10 Plays,” fielding is a big part of baseball. Neither of these two players is a stranger to the highlight reel, though.

Statistically, Upton has made four errors this year and carries a DWAR of -1.0. Obviously, that doesn’t speak too highly of his defensive abilities, but he has some serious range and athleticism.

Here, Upton robs Pedro Alvarez of what could have been a home run:

And here, he makes a phenomenal diving catch to save multiple runs:

Gonzalez might not have the sheer athleticism of Upton, but he has some serious speed and two Gold Gloves to his name. So, despite what seems to be an advantage for Upton, Gonzalez only has three errors and a DWAR of 0.5.

Below, you can see him make a veteran’s play, in which he perfectly tracks the baseball to its landing point and makes a great leaping catch. It may not look as tough as Upton’s catches above, but it showcases his experience and instincts.

Baserunning

Both of these players are very quick on their feet, but that doesn’t necessarily translate to stolen bases. Upton may very well be the faster of the two, but he only has six steals on seven attempts. Gonzalez, however, has 15 steals and has only been caught once. 

These kind of little things are what separates a great player from a good player, and in the end that could be why Gonzalez edges out Upton on his way to another All-Star appearance.

Going in to the final week of voting, both had starting spots. But it is clear that “CarGo” is the more deserving of the two.

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With the All-Star rosters to be announced on Saturday evening at 6:30 EDT, I decided to take a look at three of the closest races in the National League and pick who I believe deserve to earn the starting spot. 

Via Major League Baseball’s voting distribution maps of the online ballots only (and Mark Townsend of Big League Stew), I was able to break down three of the closest races: Buster Posey versus Yadier Molina at catcher, Matt Carpenter versus Brandon Phillips at second base and David Wright versus Pablo Sandoval at third base.

Let’s see who truly deserves to win the vote. 

 Buster Posey (San Francisco Giants) vs. Yadier Molina (St. Louis Cardinals)

I’ve got to give Molina the edge here.

His batting average is insane. Posey really only holds a major advantage in home runs and Molina is the more impressive defensive catcher.  Though Posey has just one error to Molina’s three, the Cardinals catcher has thrown out 13 of 29 base stealers, while Posey has tossed out 11 of 54. 

Few position players are more valuable for the defense they provide than Molina. And when you add in his offense, it’s tough to argue that Posey is the better choice to start at catcher in the National League. 

It’s a good debate, but Molina’s my man. 

Matt Carpenter (St. Louis Cardinals) vs. Brandon Phillips (Cincinnati Reds)

Well, this one comes down to preference, I suppose.

Carpenter puts himself in a better position to cross the plate with an excellent .393 on-base percentage and has scored an impressive 64 runs. Phillips, meanwhile, has been driving a lot of runs in with 12 homers and 63 RBI. 

Phillips is the better fielder, no doubt, with just six errors on the year, though Carpenter has started at five different positions for the Cardinals this season. 

When in doubt, turn to wins above replacement—according to Baseball Reference, Carpenter comes in at a 3.6, while Phillips only registers a 1.8. Thus, I give the nod to Carpenter. 

David Wright (New York Mets) vs. Pablo Sandoval (San Francisco Giants)

This is a joke, right? You All-Star voters out there don’t actually think Sandoval deserves to be the National League starter at third base, right?

I know Sandoval has missed some time due to injury, but c’mon. Wright is a better fielder, has much better offensive numbers and is producing despite being surrounded by a really poor Mets linuep. 

This one is a no-brainer—Wright deserves the start.

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The rosters for the 2013 MLB All-Star Game will be announced Saturday evening, and one of the big questions on everyone’s mind going into the selection show is the status of Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig. Is the 22-year-old worthy of an All-Star bid or not?

Entering Saturday’s game against the Giants, Puig has only played in 30 games for the Dodgers. That number right there would disqualify almost any player from the All-Star team. After all, how can a player who has only played a third of the first half be considered for an All-Star spot?

If you look at what Puig has done offensively and defensively for the Dodgers during that time, it is hard to imagine that there is a player who has had more of an impact on his team over the last month of the season than Puig has had on Los Angeles.

Puig is currently batting .420 with eight home runs, 19 RBI, an on base percentage of .449 and a slugging percentage of .706. The numbers he has put up are absolutely mind-boggling. Now remember that this is only his first month and a half as a major league player and these statistics are even more impressive.

During the month of June, Puig led all major league hitters with 44 hits, he had the highest batting average for any player who had over 61 at bats. Puig had the top slugging percentage among players with at least 50 at bats, while his on base percentage and OPS were both ranked inside the top-five for players with at least 50 at bats, as well.

Sabermetric statistics also show how great of a player Puig has been. Throughout the month of June, Puig trailed only Jason Kipnis of the Cleveland Indians for the most runs created at 29.6.

Not only has Puig been great offensively, but it is obvious to those who watch him play on a regular basis that he is a great all-around player. Puig has displayed an exceptional arm in right field numerous times already, and shows great speed and awareness when he is on the bases.

There is no question that when the All-Star rosters come out on Saturday night that Yasiel Puig should be included. So what if he has only played in 30 games? He already has more innings than every pitcher who will be in the All-Star Game, and he has had the single-greatest impact of any player on his team throughout the last month and a half of the season.

The MLB is all about showcasing its young talent. Well, here is the opportunity.

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