A look at Box-Toppers’ All-Star teams as 1st phase of voting concludes this week

Here are Box-Toppers points leaders by position and by league for the current season (2024) and for this season and last season (2023-24) as of June 25. The top three outfielders and top four starting pitchers (SP) in each league over both time periods are shown. Also shown is closing pitcher (CP) with the most Box-Toppers points in each league over both time periods.  

2024 leaders 2023-24 leaders
Pos American League Team BTP Pos American League Team BTP
1B Josh Naylor Guardians 5.5 1B Josh Naylor Guardians 12.5
2B Jordan Westburg Orioles 4.5 2B Jose Altuve Astros 9.5
SS Bobby Witt Jr. Royals 4.2 SS Bobby Witt Jr. Royals 11.9
3B Jose Ramirez Guardians 3.4 3B Rafael Devers Red Sox 10.0
CA Adley Rutschman Orioles 3.5 CA Adley Rutschman Orioles 8.5
OF Aaron Judge Yankees 8.5 OF Aaron Judge Yankees 20.5
OF Juan Soto Yankees 7.0 OF Juan Soto Yankees 16.0
OF Daulton Varsho Blue Jays 3.5 OF Kyle Tucker Astros 15.5
DH Yordan Alvarez Astros 4.5 DH Yordan Alvarez Astros 11.0
SP Luis Gil Yankees 13.4 SP Chris Bassitt Blue Jays 25.1
SP Tarik Skubal Tigers 11.4 SP Kevin Gausman Blue Jays 23.7
SP Tanner Bibee Guardians 10.0 SP Logan Gilbert Mariners 23.4
SP Logan Gilbert Mariners 10.0 SP George Kirby Mariners 23.4
CP Josh Hader Astros 5.0 CP Felix Bautista Orioles 11.0
Pos National League Team BTP Pos National League Team BTP
1B Bryce Harper Phillies 6.7 1B Pete Alonso Mets 14.0
2B Bryson Stott Phillies 4.5 2B Nolan Gorman Cardinals 11.5
SS Francisco Lindor Mets 6.4 SS Francisco Lindor Mets 10.4
3B Matt Chapman Giants 5.5 3B Matt Chapman Giants 9.0
CA William Contreras Brewers 3.2 CA Keibert Ruiz Nationals 7.2
OF Brenton Doyle Rockies 5.2 OF Christian Yelich Brewers 11.7
OF Jesús Sánchez Marlins 4.5 OF Mookie Betts Dodgers 11.0
OF Brendan Donovan Cardinals 4.2 OF Ronald Acuña Jr. Braves 10.7
DH Marcell Ozuna Braves 4.5 DH Shohei Ohtani Dodgers 21.4
SP Zack Wheeler Phillies 10.7 SP Zack Wheeler Phillies 25.4
SP Tyler Glasnow Dodgers 10.7 SP Freddy Peralta Brewers 24.7
SP Chris Sale Braves 10.7 SP Tyler Glasnow Dodgers 23.1
SP Shota Imanaga Cubs 10.7 SP Spencer Strider Braves 22.1
CP Ryan Helsley Cardinals 8.0 CP Ryan Helsley Cardinals 12.0

With the first phase of voting wrapping up this week for the 2024 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, here’s a look at Box-Toppers points leaders at each position in both leagues, through the games of Tuesday, June 25.

I cast a single All-Star ballot mainly to ensure Box-Toppers leaders were represented (they were). The only difference between the Box-Toppers 2024 All-Star team and this ballot is that Jordan Westburg of the Orioles is at third base here rather than second base on the Box-Toppers ballot. That move required removing Jose Ramirez of the Guardians from third base and adding Jose Altuve of the Astros to my ballot at second base.

The first phase of fan All-Star voting closes Thursday at noon (Eastern time) and the second phase, with finalist voting only, runs from June 30 to July 3. Here is more information about how that works. The All-Star Game is Tuesday, July 16, in Arlington, Texas.

Box-Toppers offers two perspectives on All-Star teams—the first includes the Box-Toppers points leaders at each position for the current 2024 season. The second consists of the points leaders at each position for the combined 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Players making 2023-24 and 2024 All-Star teams

The chart shows the leaders at each position in both the American League and National League for 2024 and 2023-24. There are 12 players who make both the 2024 and 2023-24 All-Star teams, including:

Both leagues have 14 spots each on Box-Toppers All-Star team—the customary five infield spots, three for outfield, four for starting pitchers plus one spot for closing pitcher and one spot for designated hitter.

Fans don’t get to pick pitchers for the All-Star Game (which doesn’t make sense), but Box-Toppers lists the top pitchers by league in Box-Toppers points for both 2024 and 2023-24.

Ohtani’s spot

Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers leads NL designated hitters over 2023-24 with 21.4 Box-Toppers points. But it should be noted that he earned 9.7 of those points as a pitcher with the Angels in 2023. If Ohtani’s pitching points were subtracted, he would have 11.7 points, which would put Marcell Ozuna of the Braves in the lead among NL designated hitters over 2023-24 with 12.0 points.

Ohtani is not serving as a pitcher in 2024 as he recovers from elbow surgery. He is expected to return to the mound in 2025. Meanwhile, his 2.0 points earned so far this season solely as a designated hitter is his lowest point total at this point in any regular-length season since his career began in 2018. (The 2020 season did not begin until July 23.)

Positioning Westburg

Jordan Westburg of the Orioles is listed on the AL All-Star ballot at third base. However, under Box-Toppers rules, he qualifies to be ranked at third base and second base—he’s earned Player of the Game honors four times in 2024, twice each at third base and second base. For the Box-Toppers ballot, we placed him at second base. But in making my single vote in official balloting (which I know will probably be a critical, deciding factor), I voted Westburg at third base instead of Jose Ramirez of the Guardians. And I voted Jose Altuve of the Astros in Westburg’s place at second base.

Injured players

There are several notable players among Box-Toppers position leaders who are injured and will be out for the 2024 All-Star Game:

  • Orioles closing pitcher Felix Bautista, who leads AL closers over 2023-24 (11.0 points) had elbow surgery at the end of 2023 and is not expected to pitch until 2025.

  • Mookie Betts of the Dodgers, who ranks second among NL outfielders over 2023-24 (11.0 points) broke his hand when hit by a pitch in mid-June and could miss three months by some estimates. While he had been playing shortstop for the Dodgers, he is still qualified as an outfielder and at second base under Box-Toppers rules.

  • Ronald Acuna Jr. of the Braves, who ranks third among NL outfielders over 2023-24 (10.7 points), tore his left knee ACL in late May and is out for the season. His points are all from 2023; he had yet to earn Player of the Game honors in the 2024 regular season.

  • Braves pitcher Spencer Strider, who ranks fourth among NL pitchers over 2023-24 (22.1 points), underwent elbow surgery in April and will miss the remainder of the season. He led all players in 2023 with 21.1 points and earned 1.0 point in 2024 before his injury.

About Box-Toppers

Box-Toppers tracks who most helps their team win the most games. Using standard box score statistics, Box-Toppers uses a simple formula to determine a Player of the Game for each Major League Baseball game played. That player is the person who contributed most to his team’s win. In regular season games, players earn 1.0 Box-Toppers point for being named Player of the Game and can earn bonus points for being Player of the Day or top player or batter in their league for the day.

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