This year, the All-Star Game will include 32 first-time participants, with 17 in the National League and 15 in the American League. Major League Baseball abounds in feel-good stories, from the Cleveland Guardians’ five players headed to Texas to the youth movement in Baltimore seeing two players voted starters.
But a handful of players have a viable reason to be upset they didn’t get asked to be in Arlington for the game this year. For some, their team’s mediocre record caused their strong performance to get lost in the shuffle. For others, teammates’ strong numbers may have overshadowed their own good seasons.
Batters
Brice Turang, 2B, Brewers—according to Baseball Reference, Turang (3.9) is the only position player in the top 10 in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in all of Major League Baseball who did not get an invite to the All-Star Game. He leads all of MLB with 1.6 defensive WAR. He also ranks second in the National League in stolen bases. Christian Yelich and William Contreras were both voted National League starters from Milwaukee.Anthony Santander, OF, Orioles—Santander ranks in the top five in the American League in home runs and is in the top 10 in runs batted in. Indeed, if not for his younger teammates Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman getting voted in as starters and overshadowing his strong season, Santander might have been a lock to be in the American League outfield. He is the only player in the top 10 in both home runs and RBI who didn’t get an invite.
Christian Walker, 1B, Diamondbacks—Walker (142) is the only player in the National League’s top 10 in Adjusted OPS+ who didn’t get invited to the All-Star Game. He also ranks in the top 10 in runs created and is in the top five in the National League in both home runs and RBI. Ketel Marte is the only Arizona position player to get an invite this year, and he was voted a starter.
Brent Rooker, OF, A’s—Rooker is on a bad Oakland team, which likely hurt his chances of making the All-Star Game this year. But consider this: he ranks sixth in the American League in Adjusted OPS+ as of Sunday, ahead of all-stars Bobby Witt Jr., Carlos Correa, and Riley Greene (who are also in the top ten). He ranks in the top 10 in the league in home runs and is just outside the top ten in RBI.
Pitchers
George Kirby, SP, Mariners—Kirby’s teammate, Logan Gilbert, will be the lone Seattle representative at the All-Star Game. But Kirby, like Gilbert, ranks in the top five in the American League in WHIP. Entering Sunday, Kirby had 101 strikeouts to only 10 walks in 105.2 innings pitched and boasted a 3.32 ERA.Aaron Nola, SP, Phillies—the Phillies certainly aren’t lacking for all-stars this year, but a case can be made that Nola should be there as well. He’s posted a 10–4 record with a 3.48 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and 107 strikeouts while only walking 25 batters in 113.2 innings pitched to date.
Jack Flaherty, SP, Tigers—for all of the talk about the emergence of Terik Skubal, the renaissance of Flaherty this season has been lovely. He ranks sixth in the American League in WHIP and second in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Justin Steele, SP, Cubs—the Cubs will be represented by Shota Imanaga, but a case can easily be made that Steele has been the better pitcher this season (when healthy). Steele was Chicago’s Opening Day starter, but he left that game with a hamstring injury. He’s had terrible luck; he didn’t pick up a win until throwing his first career complete game this past week. But he has a 142 ERA+ and 2.95 ERA in 13 appearances.
Jesse Chavez, RP, Braves—a journeyman, Chaves has been phenomenal out of the bullpen in Atlanta this season. In 37.2 innings, Chavez has struck out 33 batters to only 10 walks and has a 1.67 ERA. The Braves could have made a case for a few pitchers (Max Fried, Joe Jiménez, Ozzie Albies) but Chavez appears to be the biggest snub in their clubhouse. Atlanta has three players headed to the All-Star Game.
