3 Yankees players who could be first-time All-Stars in 2023

Jonathan Loaisiga, RP

And, speaking of, the Yankees' "closer of the future" Jonathan Loaisiga could easily get to the All-Star mountaintop, too ... especially if he takes the ninth-inning reins and grabs hold, as most predicted he would following the 2021 season.

Reliever volatlity hit Loaisiga hard last year, with a bit of the injury bug mixed in. He had some shoulder stiffness to work out, and seemingly didn't shake off ... well, something until August, September and the playoffs.

Loaisiga never replicated his 2021 numbers -- 199 ERA+, 2.17 ERA, 2.58 FIP, 1.019 WHIP -- but posted a 1.86 ERA in August and a 1.72 mark in Sept./Oct. in the regular season. The Nicaraguan Nightmare was arguably on the ascent to the closer's role in 2021, and was another snubbed setup man for that year's All-Star festivities in Colorado. If he can iron out whatever was limiting him throughout last season and creating more traffic on the bases, he could be the favorite to bump Clay Holmes back to setup man status.

That'd make him a likely All-Star, considering every time the Yankees have a stud closer, that guy seems to garner some midseason accolades.