In 2024, the Washington Nationals had multiple representatives in the All-Star game for the first time since their rebuild officially kicked off with the trade of Juan Soto in 2022. Both of the players selected, shortstop CJ Abrams, and closer Kyle Finnegan, have both been very good to begin 2025, and could potentially be in line to get back to the midsummer classic in Atlanta in July.
However, if somehow the Nationals are a team that gets a chance to have multiple representatives again this season, and maybe even have a couple of first time representatives, who are the 3 most likely candidates on the team that could make it for the first time?
MacKenzie Gore
I think as of right now, MacKenzie Gore is probably one of two likely All-Stars for the Nationals this season, based on how well of a start he has gotten off to this season. I was big on him finally breaking out this season and finishing in the Top 10 of NL Cy Young voting, and also predicted he would realize his potential and make his first All-Star team.
So far through 8 starts, he has finally begun to put it all together, even with some room for improvement still remaining. He has a 2-3 record with a 3.33 ERA and 1.15 WHIP, both of which would be career best marks. Additionally, he also leads the entire league in strikeouts, as his 68 K's is 11 better than the 2nd place mark of 57, held by Zack Wheeler of the Phillies.
Gore has the name recognition as a former top prospect and one of the headliners in the Juan Soto trade and the numbers this season to justify a first appearance in the All-Star game, as long as he can keep up his success to this point.
James Wood
The other player that I would say is the most likely to earn his first career All-Star selection has to be outfielder James Wood. With all of the hype and attention from the national media he has garnered after his scorching start to this season, it only makes sense that Wood gets the nod for his first career appearance at the midsummer classic.
He has a .273/.381/.545 slash line for a .926 OPS in 35 games so far this season, and has also clubbed 9 homers, 21 RBIs, and even stolen 5 bases. Wood is genuinely one of the most exciting players in the league, and is the exact type of player you would want to see playing in an All-Star game. As the team's face of the franchise who is near the top of the league in many offensive categories, Wood might be joining Gore in Atlanta as first-time selections.
Nathaniel Lowe
This is one that I would consider to be a bit of a dark horse out of the 3 potential first-timers, but it's really hard to ignore what Nathaniel Lowe has done to begin his tenure as a Washington National. In 35 games with his new club, Lowe has a .254/.331/.446 slash line for a .777 OPS to go along with 6 homers and a team-high 27 RBIs. He has been a steadying presence and has provided James Wood with valuable protection since coming over from the Texas Rangers in December, who have sorely missed his bat.
The main issue for Lowe in terms of making an All-Star team is that he likely won't exactly have the popularity to be selected over bigger names in the National League at the position like Pete Alonso, Bryce Harper, and Freddie Freeman, among others. While Lowe's counting numbers are great to this point, it would be pretty difficult to be selected over one of those names, making him the least likely out of the 3 names here to be first-time selections.
What Nationals players do you want to see in the All-Star game? As always, please let me know on X, @DCBerk.