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4 AL Players Who Will Be First-Time MLB All-Stars in 2020

By Scott Rogust

Toronto Blue Jays phenom Vlad Guerrero Jr. is on the fast track to stardom.
Toronto Blue Jays phenom Vlad Guerrero Jr. is on the fast track to stardom. / Mark Brown/Getty Images

The MLB regular season is just a couple of weeks away, which means it's time for wall-to-wall predictions regarding which teams are going all the way this year and which players are due to make the leap. In the American League, there is a handful names that you expect to automatically compete for top honors, such as Mike Trout and Aaron Judge, but how about some new names that have never made it to their first Midsummer Classic?

With that in mind, let's identify four AL players who will be first-time All-Stars this season.

4. Blue Jays 3B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will receive plenty of All-Star votes this season.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will receive plenty of All-Star votes this season. / Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finally made his MLB debut last season, and although he didn't put forth a truly historic rookie campaign, he still put up respectable numbers for such a young operator. In 123 games, Vlad Jr. hit 15 homers and 69 RBI to go along with a .272 batting average and .772 OPS. Entering his first full season, Guerrero has gotten the groove of the majors, and will likely improve those numbers this year. And given how popular he is on social media, don't be shocked to see Vlad Jr. earning an All-Star nod in 2020.

3. Royals OF Jorge Soler

Jorge Soler led the American League in home runs last season.
Jorge Soler led the American League in home runs last season. / Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Jorge Soler has had issues with injuries over the course of his career, but that all came to an end in 2019. The Kansas City Royals outfielder played in all 162 games last tme around,, and he made the most of it by hitting an AL-best 48 homers and 117 RBI. If Soler can mash the baseball like he did last season, he'll be named to his first All Star Game as a slam dunk pick.

2. White Sox SS Tim Anderson

Tim Anderson is the face of the White Sox, and is one of the better shortstops in the game today.
Tim Anderson is the face of the White Sox, and is one of the better shortstops in the game today. / Ron Vesely/Getty Images

It's uncommon to see a Chicago White Sox player not named Jose Abreu make the All-Star Game these days. 2020 will be different, however, as Tim Anderson has made his presence felt in the South Side of the Windy City. Last season, Anderson led the American League in batting average (.335), recorded a .865 OPS, and hit 18 home runs and 56 RBI. If Anderson continues on a torrid pace during the first half of the season, he will become a first-time All-Star. If he does make it, expect to see him flip a bat or two in celebration.

1. Indians SP Mike Clevinger

Mike Clevinger, shockingly, has never made it to the All-Star Game.
Mike Clevinger, shockingly, has never made it to the All-Star Game. / G Fiume/Getty Images

Corey Kluber is no longer the No. 1 starter in the Cleveland Indians pitching rotation after his trade to the Texas Rangers. Even though "Klu-bot" is gone, the Tribe is still left in good hands with Mike Clevinger. The long-haired ace was kept off the All-Star ballot last year due to an injury, but he proved his worth later on in the season. In 21 games, Clevinger posted a 2.71 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, plus a 13-4 overall record. While he may miss the first couple of weeks of the regular season due to knee surgery, Clevinger still has every chance to solidify his ace status and secure All-Star paydirt.