We’re halfway through the MLB season and very close to the All-Star week. The home run derby is an exciting part of All-Star Week, but when it comes to the All-Star Game, the Mid-Summer Classic is one of the best events of the summer. An event that showcases elite talent from both the American and National leagues in a single game.
In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, what better place to host the midsummer classic than Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Notable players included are Juan Soto, who made the All-Star Game for the 5th time and the 1st in a Mets uniform. Mike Trout, who has faced numerous injury challenges, has made his 12th All-Star Game. Of course, players like Shohei Ohtani and Vlad Guerrero Jr. made the All-Star teams, but some players were snubbed from playing in the midsummer classic in Philadelphia.
In all-star voting, fans control the starting lineups, but the entire roster is determined by a three-pronged system involving fans, players, and the commissioner’s office. While most of the players who were voted in rightfully deserved to be selected for the All-Star Game, there were certainly some who were snubbed. Let’s take a look at some of the players who deserve some love and recognition for how well they’ve played, and the case for why they should’ve made it to Philadelphia.
American League Snubs
Boston Red Sox SP Sonny Gray
Pitching at an elite, CY Young-Caliber level for the Boston Red Sox, Sonny Gray is the definition of an all-star snub.
Gray has posted a 10-1 record with a 2.61 ERA, 82 strikeouts, and a 1.10 WHIP over 89.2 innings. He’s held opponents to one fewer earned run in 10 of his 16 starts and owns the second-lowest ERA in the American League. His 10 wins are the most so far this season by any pitcher in the American League, and when he’s pitching, the Red Sox are 12-4.
Gray has carried the Red Sox rotation, stepping up when needed most after Garrett Crochet was sent to the injured list. As the trade deadline approaches, Gray could be on the move, depending on how the Red Sox fare record-wise down the stretch. Had he been an all-star, his trade value would have gone up.
CWS SS Colson Montgomery
Establishing himself as baseball’s premier power-hitting shortstop, Colson Montgomery has sparked debate over how he was snubbed from the midsummer classic.
Montgomery leads all major league shortstops in home runs (surpassing 20) and slugging percentage, placing his power production among the top bats in the American League. His home run totals put him on a historic trajectory for a young shortstop, placing him in the upper echelon of the league’s sluggers. Analysts and fans noted that his league-leading power metrics make him a highly deserving candidate.
CWS SP Davis Martin
Davis Martin has had a phenomenal breakout season for the Chicago White Sox.
Martin has posted a 9-3 record with a 3.08 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP across 96.1 innings. His 3.2 WAR ranks near the top of the American League. At Rate Field, he’s been unstoppable on the mound as he’s posted a 5-0 record and a microscopic 0.88 ERA.
The White Sox have been one of the biggest surprises this season as they’re a true team on the rise, with Davis Martin being a big contributor to their success. After losing a combined 324 games over the previous three years, the White Sox entered the 2026 season looking to improve on a brutal 60-102 record. Instead of another last-place finish, the White Sox are currently tied for 1st place in the AL Central with a 47-45 record, and David Martin has been big on their success.
National League Snubs
Philly SP Zach Wheeler
Since joining the Phillies in the 2019 off-season, Zach Wheeler has been one of the most dominant pitchers in the league.
Wheeler has boasted a 2.28 ERA, a 9-1 record, and a spectacular 14-strikeout performance against the Cincinnati Reds in Early July. His success has been even more remarkable considering he returned to the mound this season following major thoracic outlet surgery in the fall
ATL OF Michael Harris II
Michael Harris II has played at an elite level for the Braves this season and is regarded as the biggest snub of this All-Star break.
His elite production at the plate has been great as his .301/.334/.507 slash line represents his best offensive output since his 2022 Rookie of the Year campaign. He currently ranks fifth in batting average and eighth in OPS among qualified NL outfielders. Despite missing some time earlier in the year due to an injury, he has already crushed 16 home runs and driven in over 50 runs.
His 2.3 fWAR ranks highly in the National League, with only Bryan Reynolds (2.4) owning a higher WAR among outfielders who didn’t initially make the All-Star team. He has significantly improved his hitting profile, showing better contact quality, higher barrel rates, and a career-best strikeout rate.
MIL 2B Bryce Turang
Brice Turang has statistically outperformed fan-voted starters and reserves at second base. Through the first half of the season, he’s ranked in the top 3 among all NL second basemen in fWAR (3.2) and wRC+, and has posted a .268/.334/.486 slash line with 12 home runs, 51 RBI, and an .820 OPS.
Turang has significantly outperformed Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies, who won the fan vote to start at second base, in categories such as OBP, SLG, and OPS.
