Milwaukee Brewers: Jesus Aguilar vs. Paul Goldschmidt, All Star comparison

Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt was named as a reserve for the National League All Star team. Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar can still become an All Star, but only if he wins the Final Vote. Is this the right choice?

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Jesus Aguilar was never going to start at first base for the National League in the All Star game. He wasn’t even on the ballot, and could only earn votes as a write-in candidate. His best chance to make it to the All Star game was as a reserve. Paul Goldschmidt and Joey Votto were selected ahead of Aguilar. Votto has to go because he’s one of the few Cincinnati Reds worthy of selection. But why is Goldschmidt going ahead of Aguilar?

What do the raw offensive numbers say?

They say that Aguilar has enjoyed a better first half.

Aguilar has 22 homers, while Goldscmidt has 20. Aguilar also leads in RBIs with 63 over Goldschmidt’s 51. There’s also a difference in total production. Aguilar owns a 1.001 OPS, while Goldschmidt only has a .928 OPS. Keep in mind that Aguilar has done this in only 280 plate appearances. Goldschmidt has 394 plate appearances through Sunday.

What about in the field?

Goldschmidt is a three-time Gold Glove winner. Aguilar…doesn’t have that kind of a defensive pedigree, but he plays a competent first base. Goldschmidt has the clear advantage here.

Who has the better story?

Aguilar worked his way into a starting role thanks, in part, to an injury to Eric Thames. After getting a full-time job, Aguilar has absolutely carried the offense from May through, well, yesterday.

Goldschmidt had an awful May, but rebounded with a fantastic June. In May, Goldschmidt posted a .144/.252/.278 slash line. He rebounded with an all-world June, but he only had seven homers through the first two months of the season.

Next: Which Brewers are heading to the All Star game?

Aguilar started really far under the radar this year. He was so far under the radar that he didn’t even have a starting job or a spot on the ballot. If Aguilar was a starter from day one and had his name on the ballot, Goldschmidt could have ended up on the Final Vote instead of Aguilar. The Milwaukee Brewers first baseman has enjoyed the better first half, and should have been included on the roster. He wasn’t, but we still have a chance to get him to Washington D.C. on July 17th with the Final Vote. Vote early and vote often.