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MLB All-Star Game: Picking the American League Starters

By Matt Snyder

Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 4, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) in the field during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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MLB All-Star Game
Apr 14, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez (13) smiles after the Houston Astros strike out to end the eighth inning at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /

Catcher: Salvador Perez, Kansas City Royals

Catcher is an incredibly thin offensive position this year in the American League — AL Catchers have combined for a wRC+ of just 78 — but Salvador Perez is having himself a career year at the plate.

After a couple of years of offensive decline it looked like Perez was starting to wilt under a heavy workload in Kansas City, but he’s bounced back (and more) in 2016 to post a career best batting line of .300/.331/.536.

Perez is getting more hits on balls in play than he has in his career to-date (though not at unsustainable levels), but his biggest improvement this year has been in the power department. His isolated power is up 75 points over his career average and his 12 home runs puts him on pace to set a new career best (he hit 21 in 2015).

Next: First Base

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