To say that the 2015 MLB All-Star Game is shaping up as sort of a changing-of-the-guard in terms of which generation now most dominates the game would be an understatement. It’s almost like saying there will only be a bit of talent on display come Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Of course, there will be a ton of talent involved in this year’s event, both young and old, and it’s why tickets to this year’s MLB All-Star game are averaging $684.74 on the secondary market, while the get-in price is as high as $243. All-Star game tickets, as they do every year, have been going quickly, as fans eagerly await the 2015 version of the Midsummer Classic.
According to MLB.com, this year’s rosters feature 35 players that are 27-years-old or younger, 28 first-time All-Stars, 16 foreign-born players, and two rookies (Kris Bryant, of the Chicago Cubs and Joc Pederson of the Los Angeles Dodgers).
But even in the face of such distinguished company, Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim) and Bryce Harper (Washington Nationals) stand out as two of the game’s most glowing talents. The 23-year-old Trout is currently fifth in the American League in hitting (.314), tied with teammate Albert Pujols for first in home runs (26), and tied for ninth in RBI (54).
In the National League, coming face-to-face with Harper has come to conjure up just as much fear for hurlers across the board. The 22-year-old veteran outfielder is second in the league in hitting (.339), second in homers (26), and fourth in RBI (61).
Either way you look at it, though, both lineups are composed of dangerous hitters in every facet of the game, making this affair pretty much a complete toss-up. Just look at the AL lineup, which also boasts the likes of Pujols (.256, 16 HRs, 56 RBI), Texas’ Prince Fielder (.339, 14 HRs, 54 RBI), Seattle’s Nelson Cruz (.308, 21 HRs, 53 RBI), Toronto’s Josh Donaldson (.293, 21 HRs, 60 RBI), and New York’s Mark Teixeira (.240, 22 HRs, 62 RBI).
On the NL side, there is an equally-potent offense spearheaded by Arizona’s Paul Goldschmidt (.340, 21 HRs, 70 RBI), San Francisco’s Buster Posey (.314, 14 HRs, 58 RBI), Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo (.298, 16 HRs, 48 RBI), and Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen (.300, 12 HRs, 56 RBI).
It all shapes up to be one of the more intriguing All-Star games in recent memory, with so many young stars on the rise being showcased here as well. And with home field advantage in the World Series determined from this very game, it’s certainly an affair that cannot be missed.
