Way-too-early 2026 MLB All-Stars: AL, NL roster predictions - ESPN

Let's not waste any time here with some fancy introduction, where we evoke the pastoral sights of spring training or the loud crack of a perfectly struck ball during batting practice in a near-empty ballpark. No, let's cut right to the issue at hand: It's time for our annual way-too-early All-Star selections, in which we predict who will be making the trip to Philadelphia for the 2026 Midsummer Classic in 138 days (but who's counting).

As always, we'll fill out the 32-man rosters with 20 position players and 12 pitchers, including three relievers, with each team receiving at least one representative.

C: Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners

What will Raleigh do for an encore after his historic 60-homer season? Here's one way to look at it: 34 players have hit at least 50 home runs in a season, with 23 of those doing it just once. Let's assume Raleigh's true talent level isn't hitting 60 home runs, or even 50, but something less. We don't know that yet, but you probably don't want to bet on a 50-homer season.

Raleigh's difference of 26 home runs to his second-highest season total currently ranks tied for the biggest among those 23 players:

Raleigh: 26 (60 in 2026 to 34 in 2025)

Luis Gonzalez: 26 (57 to 31)

Brady Anderson: 26 (50 to 24)

Barry Bonds: 24 (73 to 49)

Roger Maris: 22 (61 to 39)

While those are the five biggest gaps, the average among the 23 players is 12.7 home runs, so if we use that for Raleigh, we get 47 home runs. That feels attainable, especially if he carries a big workload again like he did in 2025, when he played 159 games between catcher and DH.

1B: Nick Kurtz, Athletics

Kurtz over Vladimir Guerrero Jr.? A tough call for sure, but I just can't ignore Kurtz's rookie slash line: .290/.383/.619, with 36 home