Not only has Major League Baseball welcomed wave after wave of young, exciting players in recent seasons, but science and technology advances -- combined with testing conventional thinking -- are allowing more veteran players to remake and improve themselves. What all that means is there could be some deserving players left off All-Star rosters, particularly those with lesser brand-name recognition.
With that in mind, ESPN Insider takes a look at 10 players who ought to be first-time All-Stars, a fascinating list of breakout stars and successful reclamation projects (statistics are through games on May 30).
Ozzie Albies, 2B, Braves
Perhaps we should have seen this coming. As Mike Petriello noted before the season, players who debut at 20 or younger and post a wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) of 110 or better over at least 240 plate appearances, as Albies did a year ago, tend to become excellent players, often Hall of Famers. Albies has only improved as a 21-year-old, slashing .273/.316/.529 with 14 home runs and a 127 wRC+. The Braves entered the season with the game's top position-prospect, Ronald Acuna, who has lived up to the hype following his call-up, and Albies might as valuable an asset. The Braves are loaded.
Trevor Bauer, SP, Indians
Guess who leads Cleveland pitchers in wins above replacement (2.3 FanGraphs WAR), strikeouts rate (10.7 K's per nine) and FIP (2.66) at the close of May? It's not reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, it's Bauer, who ranks sixth among all pitchers in WAR. The polarizing Bauer has been at the cutting edge of science and technology in the sport, and it has allowed him to maximize his natural abilities. He has improved his command and curveball in past seasons, and this year he added a slider. His fastball velocity has bumped up to a career-best 95.5 mph.
Andrew Benintendi, OF, Red Sox
One of the most talented young hitters in the game, Benintendi is putting it all together this season with a .294/.376/.517 slash line and 137 wRC+. He can play all three outfield positions, and as a hitter, he consistently barrels balls and is increasingly improving his command of the strike zone.
Josh Hader, RP, Brewers
The game keeps adding more and more swing and miss, so it takes a lot to grab our attention when it comes to strikeout numbers. Hader is grabbing our attention. As of May 30, Hader is striking out two batters per inning (66 K's in 33 innings). That's absurd dominance. The MLB record for strikeouts per nine innings was set by Aroldis Chapman in 2014 (17.67). Hader's dominant fastball, and deception from a low arm angle, can perhaps challenge that mark.
Charlie Morton, SP, Astros
Just over 18 months ago, the public was perplexed about why the Astros would give Morton a multiyear deal. A little less than a year after signing that deal, Morton won Game 7 of the World Series. It was the cap to a second-half breakout fueled by a dramatic velocity bump and greater reliance on his big breaking curveball. This season Morton has built upon that success and ranks ninth in baseball in ERA- (55), which takes into account park and run-scoring environments. He'll be a fascinating free agent this coming offseason.
Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies
Nola has officially reached ace-hood. He entered the season with two plus pitches -- his two-seam fastball and a Rich Hill-like curve -- and he has again found trust in his changeup, which was a standout pitch for him as a collegian at LSU. Nola ranks seventh in baseball with 2.1 WAR and he also has a 2.27 ERA.
Shohei Ohtani, SP/DH, Angels
Ohtani has been as advertised on the mound with a fastball that averages 95 mph, a fall-off-the table splitter and a plus breaking ball. He has given the Angels an ace. But he has exceeded expectations as a hitter with a wRC+ of 154. He has as much pitching WAR (0.9) as hitting WAR (0.9) to date this season. It would be a lot of fun to see Ohtani pitch in the All-Star Game and hit in the home run derby.
Adam Ottavino, RP, Rockies
Ottavino entered 2018, his eighth major league seasons, at a crossroads. He was coming off disastrous 2017 when he was left of the Rockies' roster for their wild-card game and he was entering the final year of his contract. His future was in doubt. What did Ottavino do? He went to Driveline Baseball in Seattle to reinvent himself and try to add a cutter and improve his command. His father-in-law let him turn a vacant Manhattan storefront he owned into an offseason bullpen. The result? Ottavino went from a pitcher with an unsightly 9.9 percent K-BB percentage and 5.06 ERA to one enjoying a 35.3 percent K-BB mark and 0.95 ERA.
Tommy Pham, OF, Cardinals
One of the most analytically minded players in the game, Pham actually broke out in the second half last season, finishing 11th in NL MVP voting. He did not make the All-Star Game, though. That should change as he's proving his breakout was not fluke with a 134 wRC+.
Trea Turner, SS Nationals
Turner's blend of speed, pop, bat-to-ball skills and defensive acumen is reason that there is hope for D.C. baseball, no matter what Bryce Harper decides to do in this coming winter. Turner has already showcased star-level ability, but injuries have gotten in the way in past seasons. This year he's healthy and he's neck-and-neck with Paul DeJong atop the WAR leaderboard for NL shortstops.