MLB All-Star Game snubs: 10 players who deserve a spot in Midsummer Classic
Sure, the concept of an All-Star Game snub is relative in this era of expanded rosters and a surefire parade of replacements as players get hurt, pitchers climb the mound too close to the July 16 game and a couple veer toward Cancun.
So yes, almost everyone deserving will eventually get their ticket stamped for North Texas and the climate-controlled hardball luxe of Globe Life Field. But Sunday, when Major League Baseball revealed the reserves and pitchers, plenty of key names were missing.
MLB ALL-STAR GAME STARTERS: Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani lead lineups
Let’s look at a few of the notable omissions from the 2024 MLB All-Star Game rosters:
AMERICAN LEAGUE
Brent Rooker, Oakland Athletics
He was a low-key star of the last Midsummer Classic, driving in a run for the AL and eliciting “Sell the team!” chants from baseball fans on hand. This year, he’s doubled down on that worthiness: 18 home runs, 54 RBI and an .890 OPS, eighth in the AL. Not as buzzworthy as fireballing closer Mason Miller, the A’s lone representative, but certainly more accomplished and a likelier trade target, which would have made for fun pregame chatter.
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
Anthony Santander, Baltimore Orioles
His 23 home runs are most of any AL player not on the squad, and his .804 OPS as an outfielder ranks sixth in that group. Third among outfielders with 57 RBI and ninth overall in the AL.
Ronel Blanco, Houston Astros
Seems like we want to jam more feel-good stories or nifty narratives into this game, eh? Well, Blanco would certainly fit the bill: He threw a no-hitter in just his eighth career start, at the ripe old age of 30. And he was no one-night wonder — Blanco’s 2.53 ERA ranks fourth in the AL and he’s seventh with a 1.01 WHIP. Of greater import, he’s kept the Astros afloat through a grim early start laden with pitching injuries.
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles
They’re just a game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the AL’s best record yet have two fewer All-Stars — fan-elected starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman and starter Corbin Burnes. Not surprisingly, they might lead in snubs, too, with closer Craig Kimbrel and infielder Jordan Westburg joining Santander and Rodriguez as deserving dudes. Let’s hone in on Rodriguez, tied for the AL lead with 11 wins and sixth with 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox
At the end of the day it’s not much difference if a veteran reliever has four or five All-Star selections to his credit. But Jansen, 36, has been excellent: He’s converted 17 of 18 save chances, a 94% conversion rate that’s by far the best among the top 10 in saves. Yet it’s curious that MLB would opt for New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes to fill out the roster. Jansen has a 1.09 WHIP and .198 opponent batting average to Holmes’ 1.31 and .271; the Yankee has converted 19 of 24 save chances.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks
You’d think a last-week push in which he laid waste to Dodger Stadium would’ve lifted the veteran to his first All-Star nod. Alas, his 22 home runs and .853 OPS are the most of any NL player not on the roster; he ranks third and eighth in those categories, respectively.
Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Yeah, the Phillies got four pitchers on the squad. But they absolutely deserved one or maybe two more. Sanchez’s omission is glaring: He ranks sixth in ERA and is one of just a half-dozen NL pitchers to toss a shutout this season. Sanchez has also given up just two home runs in 97 innings.
Trevor Megill, Milwaukee Brewers
A situation where not only is the player deserving, but a team that’s posted the third-best record in the NL deserves more reps than fan-elected starters Christian Yelich and William Contreras. Megill has been nails, saving 18 of 19 games with a 0.99 WHIP.
Masyn Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Always considered a glove-first guy, Winn has been outstanding all around for the Cardinals, with 3.4 Wins Above Replacement ranking eighth among NL position players and behind only CJ Abrams among healthy shortstops. A .294/.343/.416 line pairs nicely with his defensive excellence.
Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals
Tough to ignore Abrams as the Nationals’ lone representative, and tough to clamor for one more bid from a fourth-place team. But Irvin is the club’s greatest success story this year, with a 2.80 ERA ranking fifth in the NL and a 1.00 WHIP trailing only All-Stars Chris Sale, Tyler Glasnow and Zack Wheeler. Has a 1.65 ERA in his last eight starts.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.