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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
Jun 11, 2016; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) hits a sacrifice RBI during the fourth inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Second Base: Jose Altuve, Houston Astros

We’re used to Jose Altuve being a good player — he’s a three-time All-Star with only four full seasons to his name — but we’re not used to Jose Altuve being one of the game’s biggest sluggers.

Altuve’s big jump with the bat so far in 2016 includes a gain of nearly 100 points of slugging and more than 70 points of on-base percentage. His 161 wRC+ trails only David Ortiz, and his 12 home runs to-date puts him on pace to smash his previous season best of 15.

Oh, and he’s one of only five player in all of the major leagues who has walked (38 times) more than he has struck out (29 times) in 2016.

Next: Shortstop

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