But before we put the trio of young superstars in another sentence with the only three players in major league history to be All-Stars 20 or more times, we should probably at least let them make their All-Star Game debuts.
A hard-to-believe eight starting position players — based on fan voting that ended Thursday — will be All-Stars for the first time.
Go ahead and raise that number to nine if you want to include Ohtani, the American League’s starting DH.
After a sensational June in which he hit 16 home runs — 12 of them in a dizzying 10-day span — Schwarber is a Ruthian folk hero again, at least until the power spigot shuts off.
Unless, that is, Rays manager Kevin Cash tabs the Sox’ Carlos Rodon or Lance Lynn — both of them are locks to make the team — to be first to the mound for the AL side.
The player vote will account for eight position players, five starting pitchers and three relievers on each roster, plus another DH for the AL side.
Bryant: Phase 2 of fan voting was unkind to Bryant, who dropped from first to third — behind the Cardinals’ Nolan Arenado and the Dodgers’ Justin Turner, which certainly was fair — at third base.
The Nationals’ Trae Turner — who would add to the first-timers list — probably has been better than both of them.
Kyle Hendricks: His 10 wins led the NL entering Friday, and he sure has been an All-Star if you only look at his numbers from the end of April on.
Abreu: He finished third in the voting at first base and is the reigning MVP, but let’s get real — there are more-deserving options.