Of course, the concept of an All-Star Game snub is relative in this era of expanded rosters and a certain parade of replacements as players suffer injuries, pitchers take the mound too close to the July 16 game and some head to Cancún. Let’s grow.
So yes, almost everyone eligible will finally get their tickets stamped to the climate-controlled hardball luxe of North Texas and Globe Life Field. But on Sunday, when Major League Baseball revealed the reserves and pitchers, several key names were missing.
MLB All-Star Game Starters: Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani lead lineup
Let’s take a look at some notable omissions from the 2024 MLB All-Star Game roster:
American League
Brent Rucker, Oakland Athletics
He was a low-key star of the last Midsummer Classic, leading the AL and leading to chants of “Sell the team!” Called for. Baseball fans chanting slogans in hand. This year, he has doubled that ability: 18 home runs, 54 RBI and an .890 OPS, eighth in the AL. The A’s lone representative, not as buzzworthy as fireball closer Mason Miller, but certainly more accomplished and a potential trade target, would make for fun pregame chatter.
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Anthony Sanchez, Baltimore Orioles
His 23 home runs are more than any AL player on the team, and his .804 OPS as an outfielder ranks sixth among that group. Third among outfielders and ninth overall in the AL with 57 RBI.
Ronel Blanco, Houston Astros
It seems like we want to add more feel-good stories or great narratives to this game, doesn’t it? Well, Blanco would certainly fit the bill: He threw a no-hitter in his eighth career start at age 30. And he was no one-night wonder – Blanco’s 2.53 ERA ranks fourth in the AL and he walks seventh. With 1.01 whip. More importantly, he kept the Astros afloat in an early start filled with pitching injuries.
Grayson Rodriguez, Baltimore Orioles
They are only one game behind the Cleveland Guardians for the AL’s best record, yet they have two fewer All-Stars – fan-elected starters Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman and starter Corbin Burns. Not surprisingly, they could also lead the way in snubs, with closer Craig Kimbrel and infielder Jordan Westberg joining Sanchez and Rodriguez as eligible guys. Let’s look at Rodriguez, who is tied for the AL lead with 11 wins and sixth with 9.98 strikeouts per nine innings.
Kenley Jensen, Boston Red Sox
At the end of the day it doesn’t matter if a veteran reliever has four or five All-Star selections. But the 36-year-old Janssen has been excellent: he has converted 17 out of 18 save opportunities, a 94% conversion rate that is the best ever in the top 10 in saves. Still, it’s curious that MLB would choose New York Yankees closer Clay Holmes to fill out the roster. Jensen has an opponent batting average of 1.09 WHIP and .198 compared to Holmes’s 1.31 and .271; The Yankees have converted 19 of 24 save opportunities.
national league
Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks
You’d think last week’s scuffle, which destroyed Dodger Stadium, would have catapulted the veteran to his first All-Star award. Alas, his 22 home runs and .853 OPS are the most of any NL player not included on the roster; He is ranked third and eighth in those categories respectively.
Christopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies
Yes, the Phillies got four pitchers on the team. But they certainly deserved one or maybe two more. Sanchez’s omission is glaring: He ranks sixth in ERA and is one of a half-dozen NL pitchers to throw a shutout this season. Sanchez has 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 has posted the third-best record in the NL deserves more reps than fan-elected starters Christian Yelich and William Contreras. Megill has performed well, saving 18 out of 19 games with a 0.99 WHIP.
Mysin Winn, St. Louis Cardinals
Always considered a glove-first guy, Winn has excelled everywhere for the Cardinals, with a 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 well with his defensive excellence.
Jake Irvin, Washington Nationals
It’s hard to ignore Abrams as the lone representative to Nationals, and it’s hard to push for another bid from the fourth-place team. But Irvin has been the club’s biggest success story this year, ranking fifth in the NL with a 2.80 ERA and 1.00 WHIP, trailing only All-Stars Chris Sale, Tyler Glasnow and Zack Wheeler. His ERA in his last eight starts is 1.65.
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