As voting opens for MLB All-Star Game, Royals’ Witt Jr. primed for one of tightest races for starting spot

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Voting for the MLB All-Star Game opened Wednesday online and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is set for one of the fiercest position battles in the American League.
Witt Jr., one of the league’s leaders in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is one of the American League’s brightest stars. So too, is Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, who figures to battle Witt Jr. for the starting spot at shortstop in this year’s Mid-Summer Classic.
Henderson and Witt Jr. are third and fourth in the AL MVP odds at DraftKings and FanDuel, right behind New York Yankees outfielders Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
Witt Jr., who through 62 games this season has 11 home runs, 46 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and a league-leading 54 runs scored. His 3.9 WAR ranks third among all players in the MLB but ranks second in FanGraphs’ version of it at 4.0.
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Henderson is the MLB leader in WAR at 4.3 according to Baseball Reference, but is fourth in the FanGraphs version of the stat at 3.8. The Orioles shortstop is tied for second in home runs in MLB.
Recently, MLB Central’s Mark DeRosa and Dan O’Dowd weighed in on the debate regarding who should start at shortstop in the All-Star Game.
“Based on the homers, right now, would lead me to believe that Gunnar Henderson will win the fan vote,” DeRosa said, “as currently constructed today and start the All-Star Game. But I kind of think for the next 10 years -- this is a dumb question -- but I would probably lean toward B-Witt.”
The MLB Network debate came before Witt Jr. homered twice in a Tuesday night game between the Royals and Cleveland Guardians.
“I would too,” O’Dowd said. “I would think Bobby is the better athlete -- not to say that Gunnar’s not in any way, shape or form. Bobby’s speed and athleticism, I think he’s a more dynamic shortstop. Gunnar I think is always going to hit for more power but Bobby’s going to be the better hitter so it’s pick your poison.”
The 2024 MLB All-Star Game will be held in Arlington at Globe Life Field, the home of the Texas Rangers, on Tuesday, July 16. Despite having the first 30/30 season in Royals history in 2023, Witt Jr. is on track to make the first All-Star Game of his career.
You can vote for the All-Star starters here.
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