4 Brewers who deserve to be voted in as starters for the 2024 All Star Game

The Brewers currently hold the 3rd best record in the NL and are off to a really good start in 2024. This success is even in spite of losing so many key players as they continue to deal with injuries. They've had 11 different starting pitchers, which is tied for most in baseball to this point. The key to success has been riding the hot bats of position players to start the year.

As a team, the Brewers are near the top of the National League in a number of offensive categories. They've gotten increased success from just about every position compared to their 2023 roster. A couple of these players even top their position in a number of statistics in the National League.

The All Star Game is set for July 16th, in Arlington, Texas. So there is still plenty of time for change, but fan-voting for the game has begun. For the first time since 2021, the Brewers should almost certainly have at least one position player in the starting lineup. Here is a case for four different Brewers to make the team and be in the starting lineup.

1. William Contreras

The only time a Milwaukee Brewers catcher won the fan vote to start the All-Star Game was back in 1983, when Ted Simmons did it for the American League. They did have another catcher start the game back in 2014, but Jonathon Lucroy was selected as a replacement. William Contreras looks to join this elite company as he definitely has put together a season worth being selected for these honors. Contreras has played in all 62 games this year for the Brewers, and has fantastic stats to back up his amazing play. He is currently batting .313/.382/.482 at the plate, while leading National League catchers in average, on-base percentage, runs, runs-batted-in, and stolen bases. The only other catcher with a valid argument thus far is Will Smith, who leads in OPS, SLG, and Homers. It's safe to say that Contreras has made himself a should-be starter in the 2024 All-Star Game if he doesn't drastically drop off within the next couple of weeks.

2. Christian Yelich

Christian Yelich is no stranger to the Mid-Summer Classic, however there's been a drought that he hopes to break in 2024. Yelich was selected to the ASG in both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. He even started for the National League in Cleveland back in the 2019 season. With a mid-career resurgence, Yelich has managed to put up All Star numbers once again this season. It's going to be tough to make the top three outfielders in the NL, but Yelich has been fantastic since coming back from injury. He missed about a month on the IL with a back issue, but luckily since returning, he's played about every day. In 36 games this year, Yelich is batting .309/.390/.515 with six homers, 42 runs scored, and 27 RBI's. Yelich has a 1.2 WAR and an even better 162 OPS+, which helps bolster his All Star status in 2024. With a thin outfield in the NL, Yelich should find himself pushing for a starting nod. The name recognition definitely helps in fan voting and Yelich's strong play could boost him further.

3. Joey Ortiz

Joey Ortiz received some national media love this past week as he was honored as the National League Rookie of the Month for his performance in May. It could be possible that this is just the first of his recognitions as a premier player in the league. Ortiz is slashing .288/.389/.487 to start his rookie campaign. He's truly been spectacular and a major factor for the Brewers in 2024. He has become the everyday third baseman and settled in well defensively. Ortiz has an .876 OPS which leads amongst qualified hitters. His strikeout and walk percentages are in the 88th and 93rd percentile respectively. His biggest competition at the hot corner is a player the Brewers just faced this past series in the form of Alec Bohm. Bohm has a WAR of 1.9, while Ortiz slightly edges that with 2.0 Wins Above Replacement this season. In typical Brewers fashion, it wouldn't be shocking if Ortiz is snubbed, but his numbers don't lie and he is very much deserving of an All Star Game appearance and start. It'll take outvoting Phillies fans to get him in that lineup.

4. Brice Turang

If you had said "Brice Turang" and "All Star" in the same sentence last year, I'd have called you delusional. But Turang has been outstanding this year, despite cooling down in recent weeks. Turang still flashes the leather nightly, and holds a very respectable two outs-above-average. He has also been extremely good on the base paths. His specialty comes in swiping bags, as he has stolen 21 bases in 22 attempts in 2024. He's in the 89th percentile of base-running according to Savant's metrics, and is in the 95th percentile of sprint speed at just over 29 MPH. When you pair his exceptional base-running with an on-base percentage of .356, all of a sudden you find yourself a top 20 player in the National League in terms of WAR, coming in at 1.9. The path for Turang is difficult due to the likes of Ketel Marte, Nolan Gorman, and Ozzie Albies, but it's definitely possible that Turang sneaks his way into the game with enough support from Brewers fans voting and he's certainly deserving.

The Brewers have been a top three offensive team in the National League in 2024, and deserve to have their fair share of representation at the All Star Game. It will be fun to see how it all shakes out, and as always to root on the Brewers in the Mid-Summer Classic. With fan voting now open, it is easy to play your part by voting here.