Mookie Betts Earns All-Star Spot

Mookie Betts is nearing his ninth All-Star selection, with a surprisingly strong case.

Mookie Betts started slowly but has heated up, with homers in three of his last five games.

He spent much of the year with a batting average around .200, missing multiple weeks with a strained oblique.

Betts shines on defense, with a +4 OAA, outperforming CJ Abrams, who has a -9 OAA.

This is only his second season at shortstop, and he's made game-changing plays, like a World Series-winning double play.

Mookie Betts recently hit his 300th career home run, and his offense is rising to meet his defense, with five homers and 10 RBIs over his last 14 games.

Betts said his recent successes are building upon each other, comparing it to Steph Curry's shooting streaks.

With his defense remaining elite and his offense improving, Mookie Betts is earning his All-Star spot on the field, and it won't be a surprise if he starts the Midsummer Classic, on July 11, as reported by Sonja Chen of MLB.com.