10 potential first-time MLB All-Stars: Cubs star helps case with Saturday home run

It was Crow-Armstrong's 17th home run this season. 

The third-year pro entered 2025 with a .227 batting average and 10 home runs in 136 games but has blossomed into one of the game's best all-around outfielders.

Crow-Armstrong has a .278/.313/.563 slash line, 21 stolen bases in 24 attempts and leads the NL in wins above replacement (3.9). Per MLB's social media account, on June 3, he became the fourth-fastest player to reach 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases since 1900 after just 60 games.

Crow-Armstrong also has a case to be known as the NL's best fielding centerfielder, leading the majors in putouts (172) and ranking in the 99th percentile in Baseball Savant's outs above average.

St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan

Donovan went 1-for-3 with a walk in Saturday's 2-1 walk-off win over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The four-year veteran has reached base in 11 of his past 12 games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.315), on-base percentage (.384) and slugging percentage (.447). 

Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh

Raleigh, not Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani or Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, sits atop the home run leaderboard. 

The third-round 2018 MLB Draft pick averaged 30.3 home runs per season from 2022-24, but he's unlocked another gear in 2025, hitting 24 long balls through 61 games this year. He's one of four players win an OPS above 1.000, joining Judge, Ohtani and Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman.

San Francisco Giants relief pitcher Randy Rodriguez

Rodriguez hasn't allowed a run since April and has a 0.60 ERA overall in 27 appearances. Per Baseball Savant, he ranks in the top one percent in strikeout rate (40.2 percent) and walk rate (2.9 percent). Since May 1, the 2024 rookie has pitched 15.2 innings, facing 54 batters, and allowed six hits and three walks with 25 strikeouts.

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Shane Smith

Let's give credit where it's due. The White Sox aren't celebrated often, but they aced their pick at the top of the 2024 Rule 5 Draft when adding Smith from the Milwaukee Brewers. The rookie right-hander has been one of the only bright spots for Chicago through his first 12 starts, posting a 2.45 ERA with 60 strikeouts in 62.1 innings, allowing 46 hits and 25 walks in 262 batters faced.

Smith's changeup has been borderline unhittable. Per Baseball Savant, hitters have a .111 batting average against his off-speed pitch, which accounts for 21.9 percent of his pitches thrown, with six hits and 16 strikeouts in 63 plate appearances (54 at-bats).

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson

Wilson, the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 MLB Draft, has given the Athletics something to build around thanks to his outstanding 2025. Through 60 games, Wilson has an eye-popping .363/.402/.523 slash line. What he lacks in power he makes up for with an incredible eye, striking out just 16 times in 255 plate appearances.

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto

The Dodgers ace was excellent in Saturday's loss to the Cardinals, pitching six shutout innings.

Yamamoto, not known as a strikeout pitcher, fanned nine of the 24 batters he faced.

Here is he using his splitter to get Cardinals left fielder Lars Nootbaar out on three consecutive swinging strikes.

Yamamoto got out of a fifth-inning jam by striking out centerfielder Victor Scott II looking with a 95 mph four-seam fastball on the outside corner of the strike zone and fooling shortstop Masyn Winn with another splitter.

Yamamoto lowered his ERA to 2.20, remaining the only consistent Dodgers starter this season. He should be rewarded with a trip to Atlanta.