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2025 MLB All-Star Front-Runners: Third Base Edition
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

2025 MLB All-Star Front-Runners: Third Base Edition

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Jason Petrucci  |  Last updated Jun 19, 2025 1:08 AM ET

The best time in all of sports has officially arrived: the summer of baseball. What does that mean exactly? Every other league takes a backseat while Major League Baseball drives through the warm months as the only professional sport with competitive games. And with that comes one of the game’s most beloved traditions: the MLB All-Star Game.

Each year, fans vote for who they think deserves to start—and often, that includes names from their favorite teams or simply the biggest stars in the sport. But as we’ve seen in years past, fan voting can be… complicated. Just ask 2021 Bryce Harper, who posted a .282 average with 15 homers and a .899 OPS by midseason and still didn’t make the cut. In this series, we’ll go position by position, breaking down the players most deserving of MLB All-Star nods—along with a few dark horse names who might sneak in if the stars align–and next up, we have the position of third base. *All stats entering Wednesday, June 18

Frontrunners for 2025 MLB All-Star Game: Third Base

American League

Starter – José Ramírez

It seems every year, the Cleveland Guardians’ superstar third baseman is left out of the spotlight. Like clockwork, José Ramírez is having another outstanding season, good enough to get him to start at third base in the All-Star Game again.

The 32-year-old is currently batting .319 with 13 home runs and 34 RBI, while also ranking top 10 in OPS with a .915 total.

J-Ram has been one of the league’s best for the last five years, truly showcasing how elite his bat can be to his team, one of the best hitters in all of baseball. Without a doubt, Ramirez will be a spotlight starter for the American League team in Atlanta.

Backup – Maikel Garcia

Maikel Garcia has been on an entirely different planet ever since trash-talking the New York Yankees in last season’s ALDS. Garcia is everything, and more, that the Royals hoped for in 2016 when they signed him.

The 25-year-old has produced at high levels offensively, hitting .312 with seven home runs and 32 RBI, while still producing an elite OPS of .849.

This kind of production is exactly what the Royals need right now as their offense still attempts to find its footing.

Dark Horse – Junior Caminero

A 21-year-old, yes, a 21-year-old, has been one of the best hitters in all of baseball. The Rays somehow have done it again: another young prospect with immense amounts of talent already producing at a young age. Now, imagine if they still had Wander Franco?

Junior Caminero has been a must-watch baseball player this season, hitting 17 home runs with 46 RBI. His batting average sits at .254, which is average, but he makes up for it with his .504 slugging. It’s wild that a 21-year-old could be adding an All-Star appearance to their short resumé.

National League

Starter – Manny Machado

Manny Machado has consistently been one of the league’s best for the past 13 years. It’s unbelievable to think about—even at the age of 32, he still shows the flashiness he had back in the late 2010s.

The Padres knew exactly what they were getting when signing Manny to an 11-year, $350 million contract. Machado has shown nothing but loyalty and great baseball to San Diego fans, doing it yet again in 2025.

His .316 batting average and .885 OPS headline all NL third basemen, along with his respectable 11 home runs and 45 RBI. This isn’t a competition with people looming in the background—it’s a full-on Manny show.

(That’s really it on the NL side.)

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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