Zobrist could be a real star

The Rays had a position player who wasn't even on the All-Star ballot make the Midsummer Classic last season, as Evan Longoria made it to Yankee Stadium by acclimation based on his torrid first half.

Has Ben Zobrist done enough to make it two in a row for the Rays? Those who watch him play most often believe so.

"Up to this point," Longoria said, "looking at his numbers and his numbers in comparison to the number of at-bats he has and in comparison to the rest of the league, his numbers are All-Star numbers."

There's no doubt his statistics have to at least put him in the conversation. In reaching the plate-appearance threshold to qualify for MLB's statistical leaderboards Thursday, Zobrist instantly became the American League leader in slugging percentage (.665 entering the weekend) and on-base plus slugging (1.080).

He trailed only Albert Pujols - generally considered the best hitter in the game - among all big-leaguers in those categories.

"That's pretty good company right there," 2008 Rays All-Star Dioner Navarro said. "I wouldn't mind if I'm behind Pujols in anything."

Add in his 14 homers, team-leading four triples, 41 RBIs and .415 on-base percentage in at least 50 fewer at-bats than any Rays regular, and Zobrist certainly has a legitimate argument to be included.

"Absolutely, he does," said Rays manager Joe Maddon, who will lead the AL team in this year's game at St. Louis. "You look at the number of at-bats, the home runs, the production, the slugging percentage - it tells you what he's been to our offense.

"And furthermore, his defense - his defense has been good at all the different positions. I don't even know what you'd consider him right now position-wise, but definitely a guy that could be very valuable in an All-Star setting, no question. But beyond that, based on his performance, he's earned the right to be considered."

Maddon pointed out that Zobrist's remarkable versatility in the field could end up working against him when it comes to All-Star selection. Though having a super-utility player on the roster would seem a logical move in a game that these days is supposed to be played to win, Zobrist could lose out to a specific need for an outfielder, shortstop or second baseman simply because he hasn't been a regular at any of those positions. Just all of them.

He has started at six different position this season, but he owes his recent run of everyday playing time taken mostly from one spot - second base - to the season-ending knee injury suffered by Akinori Iwamura late last month.

That opening provided an opportunity, but that was no guarantee of production. Plenty of players who excel in part-time roles - keep in mind Zobrist's three pinch-hit homers early this season - find themselves exposed at the plate when inserted into the lineup every day or close to it. For Zobrist, it has been the opposite. Since May 13, he has hit .343 with 23 extra-base hits, 25 walks and 28 RBIs.

As the numbers have piled up, so has discussion about his worthiness as an All-Star candidate. Not the self-promoting type, the possibility has crossed his mind.

"Yeah, I've thought about it, but that's out of my hands," Zobrist said. "All I can do is just what I've been doing every day. That would be an honor, definitely, but at the same time, there's so many great players in this league, I don't know where I fit in that yet."

It's evolving quickly, there's no doubt about that.

"Right now, what he's doing, obviously he's changed the perception about him here and throughout the industry," Maddon said.

And come July 5, when the All-Star rosters are unveiled, Zobrist might just find himself in the company of the game's elite in more than just numbers.