MLB All-Star Game Biggest Snubs
Photo Credit: Northjersey.com
The final rosters for both the American and National League teams have been announced. 32 players are making their first ever appearance in the Midsummer Classic, with a handful of veteran stars also making the cut. The Phillies led the field with seven selections. Despite the star power making their way to Arlington later this month, there were a few names left behind. Here are some noticeable snubs from the 2024 MLB All-Star game.
Ronel Blanco (2.53 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 88 K), Houston Astros, SP
Admittedly, of the AL starting pitchers that made the Midsummer Classic, Cole Ragans is the only one I would place below Blanco. Blanco, who has been a standout in a subpar Astros pitching staff, was definitely shafted due to missed time, caused by a 10-game suspension given in May. While Ragans is a K-machine (134 Ks), Blanco has the edge in ERA, WHIP, ERA+, and bWAR. Though it’s not typically something considered for all-star selection, Blanco’s role in keeping the injury-plagued Astros in playoff contention cannot be understated, and should’ve earned him his first ever nod.
Hunter Gaddis (1.28 ERA, 0.71 WHIP, 44 K) Cleveland Guardians, RP
Sure, Emmanuel Clase already got in for the Guardians bullpen. But to say that Clay Holmes has been better than Gattis is flat out wrong. Holmes, being a closer, naturally has more name recognition and does have the saves to boot (19), but Gaddis has been the definition of lights-out. He has a ridiculous 308 ERA+, and has allowed six less runs than Holmes despite pitching five more innings. Craig Kimbrel also could have been a better option for the fourth relief spot.
Francisco Lindor (.763 OPS, 15 HR, 8 OAA) New York Mets, SS
Lindor continues to be criminally underrated, getting snubbed from what would have been his fifth-ever all-star game, and his first since 2019. This isn’t to say that Mookie Betts, CJ Abrams, or Elly De La Cruz were undeserving of their spots, but room could’ve been found in the reserves for Lindor. He has provided the Mets with incredible defensive and baserunning value, all while hitting 15 homers and attaining a 117 OPS+. His OPS is higher than Luis Arraez’s, who was one of four first baseman selected to the big game.
Brent Rooker (.278 AVG, .890 OPS, 18 HR) Oakland Athletics, DH
Yordan Alvarez and David Fry both have had great seasons, but room certainly could’ve been found for Rooker, who has been the most consistent hitter on the A’s. His OPS ranks eighth amongst all hitters in the NL, and is tenth in home runs. Fry’s rate stats are higher than Rooker’s, but over the course of roughly 100 less at-bats. Though he plays for the lowly A’s, a player of his caliber should have been given the opportunity to play in Arlington. It would have marked Rooker’s second appearance in the All-Star Game.
Brice Turang (.288 AVG, .758 OPS, 29 SB) Milwaukee Brewers, 2B
Point blank- Brice Turang got robbed. His 3.9 bWAR is ninth among ALL position players in the MLB. He has been great for the Brewers in the field, is second in the league in stolen bases (only behind Elly De La Cruz), and is hitting for the eleventh best batting average in the National League. He has been an all-around, under-the-radar stud for the first place team in the NL Central, playing one of the hardest positions on the field. Hopefully, his name will be called to replace any players that may have to opt out of the All-Star Game.
Christian Walker (.852 OPS, 22 HR, 8 OAA) Arizona Diamondbacks, 1B
One of the most perplexing snubs of this list, Walker missed out on a first-ever All-Star nod. Despite dominating on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball, Walker lost the first baseman reserve spots to Freddie Freeman, Luis Arraez, and shockingly, Pete Alonso. Whereas Freeman has been impressive (.912 OPS), and Luis Arraez at least led the league in hits, Alonso’s stats were dwarfed by Walker’s. Walker has a 142 OPS+ with 22 homers and 64 RBI. Alonso, who also plays much worse defense than the perennial Gold Glove candidate Walker, has a 129 OPS+ with 18 homers and 48 RBI. There quite literally is not a single important stat that Alonso has over Walker. With a much more deserving All-Star in Francisco Lindor, it made no sense for Alonso to represent the Mets this year.