Fansided

These 5 guys should absolutely be first time All-Stars

By Joshua Sadlock

DENVER, CO - APRIL 08: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 08: Nick Markakis #22 of the Atlanta Braves circles the bases after hitting a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on April 8, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 11: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds runs home in the third inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Reds defeated the Dodgers 6-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 11: Scooter Gennett #3 of the Cincinnati Reds runs home in the third inning during the MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on May 11, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. The Reds defeated the Dodgers 6-2. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images) /

4. Scooter Gennett, Cincinnati Reds

There may not be a more improbable star in baseball right now than Cincinnati Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett. He was cast aside by the Milwaukee Brewers before last year and scooped up by the Reds to provide some support to young infielder Jose Peraza. Instead, Gennett has turned into an MVP candidate.

Last year’s four-home game for Gennett was viewed as a fun fluke in a season with juiced baseballs inflating longball totals all over the league. In his first season with the Reds, the 28-year-old hit .295/.342/.531 with 27 home runs and 97 RBI. He had only 35 home runs in his first four seasons in the league.

If last year was a breakout performance for Gennett, this year is something else entirely. He is hitting .341/.378/.550 with 16 doubles, 12 home runs and 47 RBI. It’s a remarkable offensive output for a slight second baseman who was released after posting sub-100 OPS+ two years in a row.

The Reds also have another first-time All-Star candidate in third baseman Eugenio Suarez. After signing a big extension before the season, he missed a few weeks on the DL. Suarez has played in only 51 of the Reds 68 games but still leads the NL with 49 RBI and has a .939 OPS. The Reds are headed to another ugly record, but at least their offense puts up fireworks on a nightly basis.

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