MLB All-Star Game: Most deserving starters based on a full year's worth of stats

This season’s All-Star rosters have been revealed, and while all participants are deserving in their own way of representing their teams in Seattle, a select few stand above the rest.

Choosing the participants for MLB’s midsummer classic isn’t an exact science – especially when most people only look at stats from the 2023 season. That’s why we like to expand our horizon every year and highlight the best players at each position over the past full year – combining stats from the second half of last season and the first half of this one.

One thing you’ll notice this year is that the overall totals may seem a bit higher than usual. That’s because the 2022 regular season ended on Oct. 5 and the 2023 season began on March 30. So there were more than 162 games included in our traditional one-year span -- with Rangers shortstop Marcus Semien leading the way with a whopping 170.

So let’s dig in and see what other interesting nuggets we might find.

With some major assistance from BaseballHQ.com, here are the statistical leaders at each position over the second half of last season and the first half of this one – from July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023. (Minimum 20 games at a position in either 2022 or 2023 to qualify. Our selections for AL and NL starters are in bold. Click on each position title to get the full list)

CATCHER

Splitting seasons between the AL and NL, Atlanta’s Sean Murphy has become a true superstar. His outstanding defense isn’t measured in the five major statistical categories, but he tops all catchers in batting average and he rivals the Dodgers’ Will Smith in run production. For overall excellence though, J.T. Realmuto of the Phillies gets the nod on the strength of his 21 stolen bases.

In the AL, two players stand out above the others. Salvador Perez has been the clear choice each of the past two years, but it’s Adley Rutschman’s time now. When combining runs scored and RBI, the Orioles backstop has a 160-139 advantage, which more than offsets Perez’s slight edge in batting average and homers.

FIRST BASE

Freddie Freeman is still king of the hill in the NL, although Matt Olson’s power numbers give him strong consideration. Olson leads everyone in RBI over the past full season and his 50 homers are second only to a certain record-breaking Yankee. (More on him later.) However, the ultra-consistent Freeman has hit .332, scored more runs than anyone else in the majors and also stolen 17 bases during that span.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is the AL choice, though his numbers (.281, 26 HR, 102 RBI) aren’t as dominating as they have been in the past. The Rangers’ Nate Lowe is a sneaky runner-up.

SECOND BASE

Fantasy managers know volume is king, which is why Marcus Semien is the runaway choice in the AL. He leads the league in homers, runs scored and RBI, while also stealing 20 bases and hitting a respectable .271.

Max Muncy has yet to appear in a game at second base this season, but his power numbers and his work there last year give him the edge over Arizona’s Ketel Marte.

SHORTSTOP

Francisco Lindor is the majors’ lone shortstop (and one of four players, total) with at least 30 home runs, 100 RBI and 100 runs scored over the past full season. NL runner-up Trea Turner led the position with 106 runs and ranks in the top 10 in all five major categories.

In the AL, Bo Bichette edged out hard-charging Corey Seager thanks to a 27-point advantage in batting average and 10 additional steals. Otherwise, their counting stats were almost identical.

THIRD BASE

Jose Ramirez of the Guardians is a true all-around contributor, leading both leagues in RBI and ranking in the position’s top 10 in all five categories. Alex Bregman topped the century mark in both runs and RBI.

In the NL, Atlanta’s Austin Riley leads all third basemen in home runs and runs scored, giving him a slight edge over Nolan Arenado.

OUTFIELD

If not for a toe injury that cost him nearly all of June, Aaron Judge would be lapping the field. As it stands, five months of Judge are still better than almost anyone else anyway. He leads the majors in home runs, tops all outfielders in batting average and is third overall in runs scored. Joining him on the AL squad is the Rangers’ Adolis Garcia – the only other outfielder with 100 runs and 100 RBI – and the Rays’ Randy Arozarena, who makes the top 15 in four categories.

In the NL, Ronald Acuña Jr. is making a strong case for MVP. He hit just under .300 with plenty of power, while ranking second in runs and stealing a major league-leading 53 bases. Mookie Betts (top five in homers, RBI and runs) has seen most of his action in the outfield, so he gets the nod here. The Mets’ Brandon Nimmo doesn’t steal many bases, but he does have over 100 runs scored with a surprising 22 homers and 79 RBI out of the leadoff spot.

PITCHER

The best statistical case for the National League’s top pitcher over the past calendar year belongs to Arizona’s Zac Gallen. His 18 wins are more than anyone else, he racked up an impressive 227 strikeouts and he posted elite ratios. Clayton Kershaw was great as well, but overall strikeout leader Spencer Strider matched Kershaw’s 17 wins and was close enough in ERA and WHIP to get the second pitching slot. Also of note: the best ERA of any starter for the past full season belonged to the Cubs’ Justin Steele at 2.07.

It’s a bit tougher to define elite pitching in the American League. Gerrit Cole’s 3.36 ERA is a bit high, but he led the league in strikeouts and posted a solid 1.07 WHIP. And how can we have an All-Star team without Shohei Ohtani? He ranked among the top 12 in all four starting pitching categories … in addition to ranking among the top 15 overall hitters in batting average (.296), home runs (47), RBI (113) and runs scored (104).

Among closers, the Orioles’ Felix Bautista didn’t have quite as many saves as Emmanuel Clase, but he led all relievers with 130 strikeouts and posted a 1.96 ERA. The NL nod goes to San Francisco’s Camilo Doval with a league-best 39 saves and a 1.99 ERA.

Note: Minimum 300 AB to qualify for BA; Minimum 100 IP to qualify for ERA and WHIP.

Contributing: Matt Cederholm, BaseballHQ.com.

Follow Gardner on Twitter @SteveAGardner

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB All-Stars, based on a full year's worth of stats