San Francisco Giants: Ranking the most likely 2019 All-Star candidates

The San Francisco Giants may not have much to look forward to for the remainder of the season, but they will at least have one representative in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game.

It has been a long and ugly season thus far for the San Francisco Giants. And unfortunately, we’re only in early June.

The Giants 2019 season has been characterized by disappointing starting pitching and expected struggles from their hitters. But that hasn’t made any of the latter’s struggles any less painful to watch.

Realistically, the only strength the Giants have had this season has come via the effective play of their bullpen. San Francisco’s bullpen currently ranks fifth in the majors and second in the National League with a solid 3.70 ERA and it’s been the point of emphasis for a lowly Giants team.

But even despite the team’s struggles, MLB rules will force them to send at least one representative to this year’s All-Star game. Who could this fortunate individual be?

Let’s take a look at the top five most likely Giants candidates for the 2019 MLB All-Star game.

5. 2B Joe Panik

The Giants lineup has been mostly a mess throughout the majority of the 2019 season, but second baseman Joe Panik has been the cause of a bit of optimism as of late.

Panik struggled through an injury-riddled 2018 season playing in just over 100 games and his 2019 season didn’t get off to a much better start. Through the first month of the season, Panik struggled to keep his batting average above the dreaded Mendoza Line and he looked to be just another cog in the poor Giants lineup.

But the 28-year-old has started to turn it on as of late and has brought his batting average up to a respectable .242 while his on-base percentage is up to .321. Now those numbers alone won’t earn him an All-Star berth — even with his above-average defense — but a solid June and early July could be enough to push him over the edge.

Fortunately for Panik, the National League is relatively thin at the second base position with the likes of Ketel Marte, Mike Moustakas, and Derek Dietrich reigning at the top of the ballot. But if the Giants need someone to make it, a hot Panik could be the player that gets the nod.

On most other teams, Panik wouldn’t even be a consideration. But we’re scratching the bottom of the barrel here.