The Rockies are playing in Los Angeles against the Dodgers, but there may be a little bit of a Hollywood-style storyline brewing in Colorado.

After Memorial Day, MLB pundits often turn their attention to which players may be heading toward the All-Star Game. With this year’s Midsummer Classic set for July 14 in Philadelphia, Colorado’s representative may have a redemption tale that could make for a fine made-for-TV movie.

Mickey Moniak was picked first overall by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 2016 MLB draft and eventually made his MLB debut with the Phillies during a 2020 campaign that was shortened by government restrictions. However, just two years and 93 at-bats later, he was traded by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Angels along with a minor leaguer for pitcher Noah Syndergaard.

After two-plus seasons with the Angels, the franchise decided to release him just before the start of the 2025 season. Colorado was waiting to pick him up, signing him as a free agent just two days after his time with the Angels ended.

While general manager Bill Schmidt’s time with the Rockies was filled with plenty of misses and missteps, signing Moniak was among his best moves.

Now in his second season in Colorado, the 28-year-old Moniak has not only become one of the Rockies’ best players, but also one of their clubhouse leaders as well.

After suffering an ankle injury in Pittsburgh on May 13, Moniak struggled at the plate, going 2 for 23 in the days that followed before being placed on the 10-day injured list May 22.

Those numbers may put a bit of a downward spin on Moniak’s season so far, but statistics show how big of an impact he has had in Denver this season.

His OPS+ of 149 represents one of just four Rockies above 100, which is considered MLB average. It leads second-place Troy Johnston’s 125 by a sizable margin. His 12 home runs and 28 RBIs lead the club, as do his 91 total bases.

Moniak right now makes the most sense to be the Colorado representative in the All-Star Game in Philadelphia. If it happens, it will be a story that is too good to pass up. The player who was seen by so many as a key piece of the Phillies’ future returns to the City of Brotherly Love to play in his first All-Star Game? Disney would love it.

And while Moniak’s All-Star story would well be an incredible tale if it all comes together, there are other storylines shaping up for the National League that could steal some of the spotlight in Philadelphia.

Among them is the hometown hero, Kyle Schwarber, who leads all of baseball with 21 home runs. Signed this offseason to a five-year, $130 million deal, Schwarber is arguably the most feared bat in MLB.

If you’re looking for some National League consistency, you could add Shohei Ohtani into the mix for what he has done this season at the plate and on the mound. Ohtani is the constant spotlight stealer with his generational talent. The Midsummer Classic will be just another stop on his way to potentially his fifth Most Valuable Player award.

However, if you look at the potential NL All-Star roster, you will notice the next generation of MLB superstars are making their own mark on the game.

Arizona’s Corbin Carroll is 25 and leading the NL in OPS (.974) and OPS+ (172). His eight triples are again the best in the league, coming after three seasons where he has paced the NL in three-baggers.

Another 25-year-old, CJ Abrams, leads the NL in RBIs with 46 and is showing the Washington Nationals fared just fine when they traded away Juan Soto and Josh Bell to San Diego in 2022.

Also at shortstop, 24-year-old Elly De La Cruz is off to a career-best start at the plate (136 OPS+) and has the athletic ability to make incredible plays on a nightly basis in Cincinnati. I still don’t think I’ve seen a better play than De La Cruz fielding a hopper off the bat of Kyle Karros and throwing him out at first base when the Rockies were in the Queen City in late April.

Cincinnati also has 23-year-old right-hander Chase Burns, with his 1.83 ERA through 10 starts and 59 innings. Another 23-year-old pitcher in the NL Central, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes, does not currently have sparkling numbers. But it would be a surprise if he’s not on the NL squad.

Six weeks separate us from this year’s All-Star Game. The storylines are shaping up, including Moniak’s potential triumphant return.