Following up our National League All-Star team, we now present our American League stars. Same deal as the NL, where preseason expectations factor into the nominations. A highly regarded player can still make our cut, but it takes a pretty special first half to do it.

Chances are, high draft choices who haven’t missed significant time with injuries are producing in the neighborhood of what you expected. The difference in a fantasy team’s fortunes come down to guys on this list, who are outperforming their preseason draft stock.

Our All-Stars by position:

C - Dioner Navarro, Tampa Bay Rays
One of the least expected real-life AL all-stars, Navarro has also been a key free agent pick-up for teams struggling to fill voids at catcher. Only Minnesota’s Joe Mauer can trump his .312 average, and his run production (33 RBIs, 25 runs) has been above average for a guy with a DL stint under his belt.
Alternate - A.J. Pierzynski, Chicago White Sox

1B - Aubrey Huff, Baltimore Orioles
Huff went undrafted in mixed leagues, and rightfully so. The 31-year old hadn’t had a worthwhile fantasy season since 2004 when he hit .297 with 29 home runs and 104 RBIs for the then-Devil Rays. Last season, his first in Baltimore, Huff hit just 15 home runs and drove in 72 runs. Huff already has 18 homers and 56 RBIs through 86 games, and he is on pace for a .284-33-104 campaign.
Alternate - Jason Giambi, New York Yankees

2B - Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
Those who threw a seventh or eighth round draft choice Kinsler’s way have been rewarded with arguably the best stat line in fantasy baseball. He leads the AL with a .335 average and 81 runs scored, and he complements those numbers with a rare power-speed combination (14 HRs, 23 SBs). On top of the highest scoring lineup in baseball, there are no signs of Kinsler slowing down in the second half.
Alternate - Dustin Pedroia, Boston Red Sox

3B - Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
The threat of beginning the season in the minors became reality, for all of 11 games, which was enough to scare fantasy owners away in the preseason. Longoria needed a little time to adjust when he did get called up and saw his average dip to .210 as late as May 10. Longoria officially arrived in June when he hit .300 with 8 home runs and 19 RBIs. For the year, he’s batting .281 with 16 homers, 53 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.
Alternate - Joe Crede, Chicago White Sox

SS - Ramon Vazquez, Texas Rangers
Ugly, ugly field for this one, so Vazquez gets the call even though he is not a true shortstop. Playing at each infield position, Vazquez has taken advantage of his place in the Rangers’ lineup by hitting .317 (nearly 60 points higher than his career average) with ample run production. Vazquez is likely to return to a part-time role in the second half, so enjoy the numbers while they’re there.
Alternate - Maicer Izturis, Los Angeles Angels

OF - Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
Hamilton’s epic story continues in Texas, where he was traded for pitcher Edinson Volquez over the winter. He has 22 more RBIs than the next closest player in the American League, with 89 to Justin Morneau’s 67, and he has surprisingly stayed healthy and recorded 358 at-bats. So long as the health is there, Hamilton will be leaps and bounds the top producing outfielder in the AL.

OF - Milton Bradley, Texas Rangers
Bradley’s switch back to the AL extended his career and made him a first-time all-star. By making 54 starts as a designated hitter, Bradley has stayed fresh enough to play in 77 games and put up his highest RBI total (54) since the 2005 season. He also leads the AL in slugging (.596), on-base percentage (441) and OPS (1.037) and stands just 2 homers shy of tying his previous career-high of 19.

OF - Carlos Quentin, Chicago White Sox
Quentin has slowed down considerably, but that was inevitable after tearing through April and May with a .293 average, 14 home runs and 48 RBIs. The change of scenery going from Arizona to Chicago has been an obvious benefit, but the best health of his career has helped Quentin fulfill his massive potential.

Alternates - David Murphy, Texas Rangers; David DeJesus, Kansas City Royals; Johnny Damon, New York Yankees

SP - Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
We’re all familiar with Lee’s story by now; struggling to the point of a demotion in 2007, now back and dominating AL hitters in ‘08. Lee credits fastball location with his resurgence, as he’s used pinpoint control to post an 11-2 record, 2.34 ERA and 1.04 WHIP (including just 19 walks) in 118.2 innings.

SP - Justin Duchscherer, Oakland Athletics
A major question mark heading into this season, Duchscherer has made a brilliant transition from the bullpen to the A’s rotation. With just five career starts under his belt and coming off hip surgery in May of last year, Duchscherer has gone 10-5 with an AL-best 1.78 ERA and 0.86 WHIP in 101.0 innings.

SP - Ervin Santana, Los Angeles Angels
Santana’s talent was undeniable entering this season, but most fantasy owners were questioning his head game after observing his well-chronicled difficulties away from home. Santana has answered the call thus far with a 7-1 road record (compared to 3-2 at home) and his first career all-star nod. He sports a 3.53 ERA and 1.13 WHIP and ranks among the top five in the AL with 10 wins, 112 strikeouts and 122.1 innings pitched.

SP - Joe Saunders, Los Angeles Angels
As impressive as teammates Santana and John Lackey have been, Saunders has been the true overachiever for the Angels. He entered the 2008 season with a 15-8 record, but wasn’t even guaranteed a spot in the team’s rotation. After injuries to Lackey and Kelvim Escobar, both he and Santana got their chances and made the most of them. Saunders, too, was an AL all-star having posted a 12-5 record and a 3.07 ERA.

SP - Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox
Another reclamation project taken on by White Sox general manager Kenny Williams, Floyd has flourished in his second season in Chicago. He struggled to a 5.27 ERA in ‘07 and was even worse in limited action with the Phillies the previous three seasons. Things have finally clicked for the 25-year old as he’s used better command and efficiency to post a 10-4 record, 3.22 ERA and .207 opponents batting average in 109.0 innings.

Alternates - John Lackey, Los Angeles Angels; Mike Mussina, New York Yankees; Zack Greinke, Kansas City Royals; Jon Lester, Boston Red Sox; Armando Galarraga, Detroit Tigers

MR - J.P. Howell, Tampa Bay Rays
Howell was a fringe major leaguer as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen where he has become one of the Rays’ most valued players. Howell entered the 2008 season with a 5-14 career record, 6.34 ERA and zero relief appearances. Currently, he’s got a 2.73 ERA and 2 saves in the third-most relief innings (56.0) in baseball.
Alternate - Octavio Dotel, Chicago White Sox

CL - George Sherrill, Baltimore Orioles
Little more than a throw-in for the Orioles when they dealt left-hander Erik Bedard to Seattle, Sherrill has converted 27-of-32 save opportunities in his first season in Baltimore. The road has gotten a little rockier after a quick start, but even if he weren’t to save a game the rest of the season, 27 saves would be well worth the 20th round draft choice needed to acquire him.
Alternate - Joakim Soria, Kansas City Royals

Dustin Hockensmith is editor of ImaginaryDiamond.com. He can be contactd at dhockensmith[at]fantasysports101.net.