As All-Star Game voting begins, Cubs' Seiya Suzuki is on the outside, looking in

Tied for the MLB lead in runs batted in entering action Wednesday, Chicago Cubs DH Seiya Suzuki is finally living up to the potential Jed Hoyer and the team saw in him when they signed him to a five-year, $85 million deal prior to the 2022 season.

He's improved his numbers annually and, should it hold, his 148 OPS+ would set a new high-water mark for the 30-year-old. Suzuki is on pace for career-bests in virtually every offensive category, which might make one think he's a logical All-Star candidate.

Except he's not.

Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Schwarber represent massive hurdles for Seiya Suzuki's MLB All-Star Game hopes this summer

Suzuki is a long shot, at best, as things currently stand. Why? The two leading contenders for roster spots at the Midsummer Classic are both putting up monster numbers in Shohei Ohtani and Kyle Schwarber and Suzuki's numbers pale in comparison.

Ohtani, the reigning National League MVP, leads the pack with 3.0 bWAR - and is at the top of the class in hits, home runs, stolen bases, batting average, slugging percentage, OPS and OPS+. Not to mention, he also leads Major League Baseball with those 23 home runs, 64 runs scored and .653 slugging percentage.

Meanwhile, the former Cub Schwarber is setting himself for a major payday in free agency this winter with what may amount to his best season to date. The Phillies' slugger is on pace for his third 40-homer season in the last four years, is getting on base at a near-.400 clip and leads this trio of National League designated hitters in that category.

Again, by no means is Suzuki undeserving of his first All-Star Game nod, but the margin for error is slim going up against Schwarber and Ohtani. Barring a major injury, catching Ohtani looks like an impossible task. If he can keep being an integral part of the Cubs' offensive barrage, he might be able to overtake Schwarber, but it won't be easy.

Regardless of how the voting plays out and who ends up representing the Cubs in Atlanta next month, Suzuki's breakout season at the plate has been a huge part of the team's first-half success. Hitting behind the likes of Kyle Tucker, not to mention getting some protection from guys like Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch, has helped him take his game to the next level.

For now, all we can do is vote. The rest is on Seiya.