Friday, June 05

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ST. PETERSBURG -- Major League Baseball unveiled the ballot for this year’s All-Star Game on Wednesday, which got us wondering which Rays might represent the team at Citizens Bank Park on July 14.

• VOTE NOW: 2026 KONAMI eBaseball MLB All-Star Ballot. Watch the All-Star Game presented by Mastercard July 14 on FOX

“I think I could probably rattle off five guys off the top of my head,” starter Drew Rasmussen said. “I think right now we’ve got about five guys -- maybe even six, actually, now that I'm thinking about it -- that are definitely deserving to be there.”

Fans can vote daily during Phase 1 of the balloting, which runs until noon ET on June 25. The top two players at each position (and top six outfielders) per league will advance to the finals to contend for a starting spot.

We’re still a month away from the rosters being set for the main event, but let’s one-up Rasmussen’s second thought by looking at seven Rays -- three hitters and four pitchers, even though they aren’t part of the voting process -- who have established themselves as early candidates for this year’s Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.

DH Yandy Díaz: He entered Thursday’s off-day second in the American League with a .313 average, and his .916 OPS ranked fifth in the AL. Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez may earn the starting DH spot, but one of the game’s most underrated all-around hitters shouldn’t be overlooked, either. Díaz is tied with the next guy on this list for the team lead in extra-base hits and total bases, with 22 and 112, respectively, and the 2023 All-Star just flat-out hits.

3B Junior Caminero: He might not hit 45 home runs or rack up 110 RBIs, like he did as a first-time All-Star last season, and there’s still work to do defensively. But you could make a pretty convincing argument that Caminero is a better all-around hitter than he was last year. He’s upped his average (to .278) and on-base percentage (to .377), and he almost has as many walks (36) as strikeouts (39). That’s pretty special for a 22-year-old with his elite bat speed and power, both of which have shown up plenty in the 14 homers he’s launched. And come on, don’t you want to see him in the Home Run Derby again?

1B Jonathan Aranda: He’s coming off a tough series -- he’s not alone there! -- but Aranda was a worthy candidate for AL Player of the Month in May. He’s driven in 43 runs, still among the league leaders, and he has picked up where he left off last season as one of the game’s most well-balanced hitters. He hits for average, he gets on base, and he can slug when he needs to, which is evident in his .275/.381/.474 slash line. Will it be enough for a second straight trip to the Midsummer Classic?

RHP Nick Martinez: There’s going to be a lot of support for this one from the team, for good reason. The veteran Martinez has never been an All-Star, but he’s building a compelling case to end that streak a few weeks before he turns 36 years old. The right-hander has been the leader of the Rays’ rotation and their clubhouse, providing valuable innings and veteran presence throughout the season. He finally had a subpar start on Wednesday, ending a run of 11 straight outings allowing two or fewer runs, but he still has a 2.29 ERA in 70 2/3 innings and a team-high 2.4 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference.

LHP Shane McClanahan: How cool would this be? Before missing the previous 2 1/2 seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a nerve issue in his triceps, McClanahan made two straight All-Star Games. He was the AL’s starting pitcher in 2022 but couldn’t pitch while injured in '23. What if he gets to make another trip in recognition of his remarkably smooth return to the Rays’ rotation? He’s got the numbers to make a case, with a 2.45 ERA, 1.02 WHIP and 53 strikeouts in 55 innings over 11 starts.

RHP Bryan Baker: As good as Tampa Bay’s bullpen has typically been, the Rays have only sent one reliever to the Midsummer Classic since 2017 -- Andrew Kittredge, who was a late replacement pick in 2021. Could Baker change that? The right-hander has been excellent all season, recording a 2.13 ERA with 29 strikeouts and 16 saves in 27 appearances.

RHP Drew Rasmussen: One of the Majors’ most consistent starters got the recognition he deserved last summer, when he made the AL All-Star team and pitched a perfect inning. He’s probably still underrated on a national level, but he’s equally deserving this year. Rasmussen remains metronomically productive, giving the Rays a chance to win virtually every time he touches the mound, and he’s put together a 3.36 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 12 walks in 59 innings over his first 11 starts.

• In a guest column for MLB.com, Joe Maddon shared a message regarding the Rays’ “Forever Home” ballpark plan: “Finish the job.” Read more >>

• The Rays “got beat in every facet of every possible way” as they were swept by the Tigers, extending their first real slump of the season in alarming fashion. Read more >>

• Steven Matz was searching for answers Tuesday night after a second straight rough start. Read more >>

• Mark Feinsand has 10 big questions about the Trade Deadline, including one related to the Rays’ spot in the standings. Read more >>

The Rays on Thursday named infielder Émilien Pitre their Minor League Player of the Month and right-hander Michael Forret their Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May.

Pitre, a second-round pick in the 2024 Draft, had an absurd month at the plate, posting a .500 on-base percentage in 24 games for High-A Bowling Green due in large part to the fact that he walked 23 times and only had eight strikeouts over 106 plate appearances. Bouncing back from a .513 OPS in April, the second baseman produced a .338/.500/.532 slash line last month.

Forret, the Rays’ No. 8 prospect, had a dominant month for Double-A Montgomery. The right-hander went 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA, a 0.92 WHIP, 36 strikeouts and nine walks in 30 1/3 innings over five starts. He worked at least six innings in four of those outings and held opponents to a .176/.246/.296 slash line.

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