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3 possible All Stars for the Oakland A’s

By David Hill

May 30, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports
May 30, 2022; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) pitches during the first inning against the Houston Astros at RingCentral Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports /
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One thing is certain when it comes to the All Star Game – the Oakland A’s will be represented. This is mainly because every team gets a representative in the Mid-Summer Classic, whether they deserve one or not. Regardless, A’s fans will have at least one reason to tune in during the exhibition.

That does not mean that the A’s do not deserve representation. The A’s have several players who have outperformed expectations this year and deserve a trek to Los Angeles.

Three potential All Stars for the Oakland A’s

The Oakland A’s will have at least one player in the 2022 MLB All Star Game. Let’s look at three possible representatives thus far.

Paul Blackburn

Paul Blackburn has gone from a filler piece in Triple-A to a building block for the Oakland A’s.

He had not exactly performed well over parts of five major league seasons prior to 2022. Blackburn had posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.486 WHiP over his 138 innings. However, despite his occasional flashes, Blackburn was not able to consistently produce the results needed to stay in the majors.

That has changed this year. He has posted a 2.15 ERA and a 0.975 WHiP over his 54.1 innings, striking out 41 batters with 12 walks. His 5-1 record is all the more impressive given the A’s struggles in the standings, and he leads the American League in winning percentage. Blackburn’s 2.4 bWAR not only leads the A’s by a wide margin, but is also the best mark for any pitcher in the AL.

This turnaround could not have happened at a better time for Oakland. As they are rebuilding and looking for pieces for the future, they needed some of those players to step up. Blackburn has done just that this season, emerging as either someone who could retrieve a surprisingly solid return in trade or as a piece that the A’s can build around.

It has been a dream season for Paul Blackburn. That dream could continue with an appearance in the All Star Game.