Despite finishing a distant third in their division this year, the Red Sox earned more Sporting News All-Star honors than the Yankees and Rays combined in a survey of AL executives.

In perhaps the most surprising selection of the campaign, Red Sox backstop Christian Vasquez earned the nod from the voters at catcher, while Mookie Betts beat out Aaron Judge and Austin Meadows for the third outfield spot.

SN 2019 MLB AWARDS
Player of the Year | NL Rookie of the Year | AL Rookie of the Year | NL Manager of the Year | AL Manager of the Year | NL Comeback Player of the Year | AL Comeback Player of the Year | Executive of the Year

Mike Trout was a unanimous All-Star choice with a league-high 11 votes. Meanwhile, Matt Olson of the A's and Carlos Santana of the Indians split the vote at first base, each receiving five nods.

Sporting News named its first MLB All-Star team in 1925.

2019 Sporting News AL All-Stars

(Selected by a panel of 11 American League executives.)

Catcher: Christian Vasquez, Red Sox

2019 stats: .276//320/.477; 23 home runs; 72 RBIs; 2.2 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Mitch Garver, Gary Sanchez, Roberto Perez

First base: Matt Olson, A's/Carlos Santana, Indians

Olson 2019 stats: .267/.351/.545; 36 home runs; 91 RBIs; 5.1 bWAR

Santana 2019 stats: .281/.397/.515; 34 home runs; 93 RBIs; 4.5 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Yuli Gurriel

Second base: DJ LeMahieu, Yankees

2019 stats: .327/.375/.518; 26 home runs; 102 RBIs; 6.0 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Jose Altuve

Third base: Alex Bregman, Astros

2019 stats: .296/.423/.592; 41 home runs; 112 RBIs; 8.4 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Matt Chapman, Rafael Devers

Shortstop: Marcus Semien, A's

2019 stats: .285/.369/.522; 33 home runs; 92 RBIs; 8.1 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Xander Bogaerts, Francisco Lindor

Outfield: Mike Trout, Angels

2019 stats: .291/.438/.645; 45 home runs; 104 RBIs; 8.3 bWAR

Outfield: George Springer, Astros

2019 stats: .292/.383/.591; 39 home runs; 96 RBIs; 6.2 bWAR

Outfield: Mookie Betts, Red Sox

2019 stats: .295/.391/.524; 29 home runs; 80 RBIs; 6.8 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Aaron Judge, Austin Meadows, Michael Brantley, Max Kepler

DH: Nelson Cruz, Twins

2019 stats: .311/.392/.639; 41 home runs; 108 RBIs; 4.3 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Yordan Alvarez, Jorge Soler, J.D. Martinez

Starting pitcher: Gerrit Cole, Astros

2019 stats: 2.50 ERA; 326 strikeouts; 0.895 WHIP; 6.9 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Justin Verlander, Lance Lynn

Relief pitcher: Liam Hendriks, A's

2019 stats: 1.80 ERA; 25 saves; 124 strikeouts; 0.965 WHIP; 3.5 bWAR

Others receiving votes: Aroldis Chapman, Taylor Rogers