3 surprising Guardians players who deserve serious All-Star consideration

Last year the Cleveland Guardians sent five players to the All-Star Game, marking the most representatives the franchise had sent to the Midsummer Classic since 2016.

It was a list that featured some no-brainers (José Ramírez and Steven Kwan) and some names that would have been a bit of a surprise prior to the season (Josh Naylor and David Fry).

While Ramírez and Kwan both seem like locks to head to Atlanta for this year's All-Star Game, there are a couple of unsung Guardians who could join them this year.

3 surprising Guardians players who deserve serious All-Star consideration

RHP Hunter Gaddis
1.14 ERA in 23 2/3 innings

Gaddis broke out last year by posting a 1.57 ERA in 74 2/3 innings in his first full season in the bullpen, and he's followed that up this year with another electric season.

Gaddis entered play on Monday having allowed just three earned runs on the year. While he's yet to record a save, he has 14 holds and is in the 96th percentile in whiff rate and strikeout rate. Gaddis' strong season has meant even more to the Guardians this year because of Emmanuel Clase's struggles.

His ERA is fourth among qualified relievers in the American League and his 13.31 K/9 is tied for fifth. It's clear that he has some of the best swing and miss stuff in the Junior Circuit.

The pitching All-Stars are determined via “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the Commissioner’s Office, so Gaddis' fate will be determined by how he's viewed by his peers.

1B Carlos Santana
.262/.368/.403, 7 HR, 29 RBI in 55 games

The 39-year-old Santana has played great so far this year, and could earn a nod in a loaded position. His .403 slugging is fifth among players who have played at least 40 games at first this season, and is in the 92nd percentile in range and the 90th percentile in walk rate.

He was previously an All-Star in 2019.

Santana will have his work cut out for him at the position, however. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has played well in the first year of his $500 million extension (and seems like a natural fit to be the Blue Jays' lone representative), while guys like Spencer Torkelson and Jonathan Aranda are also authoring strong seasons.

RHP Tanner Bibee
3.89 ERA in 69 1/3 innings

It seems odd to say that Bibee would be a "surprising" All-Star since he's the ace of the Guardians staff and is coming off a breakout postseason, but he had anything but an All-Star start to the season.

Bibee entered May with a 4.36 ERA, but has been better across the last month and appears to be trending upward as we enter June.

His best start of the year came on May 22nd when he tossed seven scoreless innings against the Tigers, and was brilliant through six innings against the Yankees his last time out before the start unraveled in the seventh inning.

Bibee's biggest problem this year has been the longball, as he's surrendered 14 home runs this season, which is the fourth highest-mark in MLB.

Like Gaddis, Bibee would need to be voted in via his peers, and he'll have a good All-Star case so long as he's able to keep the ball in the yard.