The St. Louis Cardinals have defied early expectations with a strong start to the season, largely fueled by exceptional individual performances. Leading their offensive charge has been infielder Brendan Donovan, who has emerged as the team’s best player, but surprisingly, this hasn’t translated into All-Star voting success.
Donovan boasts an impressive slash line of .313/.381/.440, complemented by 20 doubles and a handful of home runs. He leads the Cardinals in multiple offensive categories and is consistently showcasing solid defense, positioning himself as a clear candidate for his first career All-Star nod, potentially even as a starter at second base.
However, the initial National League All-Star voting results released on Monday paint a perplexing picture for the young infielder. Donovan currently sits in fourth place among NL second basemen, trailing Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs, Tommy Edman of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Ketel Marte of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The voting gap is substantial, with Donovan over 500,000 votes behind Marte for the top spot. More strikingly, the fact that he trails Tommy Edman – a player the Cardinals traded last year – has become a point of contention and embarrassment for many Cardinals fans. While Donovan’s performance this season demonstrably surpasses Edman’s, the Dodgers’ more robust backing for their infielder appears to overshadow the Cardinals’ support for their own breakout star.
With only a few weeks remaining in the voting period, Cardinals fans face a critical push. The race is on to rally behind Brendan Donovan and ensure his deserving spot at the All-Star Game, preventing him from watching from home while others with less compelling numbers potentially get the nod.