When Major League Baseball promised fans a showcase of the sport’s finest, few expected the guest list to look like a TikTok draft. Across clubhouses, eyebrows weren’t just raised—they were scorched. The Philadelphia Phillies and a Boston Red Sox legend aren’t exactly known for subtlety, and this time, they’re right on the money. Instead of celebrating dominance, MLB handed out golden tickets to viral intrigue—and left proven greatness on read.
The selection for the All-Star Game was supposed to be fair, wasn’t it? I mean, yes, most of the players who are in the teams have deserved to be there, and nobody can question it. But when you select a rookie over a veteran who has performed well, questions and backlash are bound to come. And with the recent call by the MLB, they had better expect some harsh words.
Many of the top players, like Juan Soto, have been snubbed, but at least not for a rookie. This time, the MLB decided that they are going to replace Cristopher Sanchez with a rookie, Jacob Misiorowski. This did not sit well with the Phillies players and Red Sox legend Jeff Frye. Frye posted, “Embarrassing! Any Top Prospects in the @MiLB they can make All Stars? Man, the @MLB talent pool is drying up.”
The Phillies clubhouse isn’t just disappointed—they’re downright furious after the All-Star snubs. What began as frustration quietly simmering in the background has now boiled into open defiance. Kyle Schwarber, the lone Phillies All-Star, wished his teammates could share the moment. “We know what we have,” Schwarber said. “I wish my teammates were there.”
Cristopher Sanchez, quietly dominant all season, somehow wasn’t recognized among baseball’s elite. His 2.59 ERA ranks fourth-best in the National League, with 107 2/3 innings pitched. He’s sixth among NL starters in WAR, per FanGraphs, showing elite efficiency. Meanwhile, rookie Misiorowski owns a 2.81 ERA through just five starts and 25.2 innings.
Embarrassing! Any Top Prospects in the @MiLB they can make All Stars? Nate Eovaldi should be but he’s in the wrong league I guess. Man the @MLB talent pool is drying up. I wonder if limiting the MLB Draft has anything to do with that? #shegone https://t.co/5jfatZKPaP
— Fryedaddy/Frito (@shegone03) July 12, 2025
The numbers aren’t close—and neither is the outrage inside the Phillies’ locker room. Trea Turner called Misiorowski’s selection “terrible,” and added, “If he’s not an All-Star, then no one is.” To the Phillies, this isn’t just about snubs—it’s about how MLB values hype over performance. Suárez declined his spot to rest, but the team believes he still deserves the label.
The underlying issue? The All-Star Game no longer rewards the best—it rewards what’s most marketable. Players with eye-popping heat or flashy narratives are leapfrogging those with actual season-long excellence. As Nick Castellanos put it, “It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas,” mocking what the game’s become. Stats should matter, but it seems brand power matters more now.
Sanchez won’t pitch because of his Sunday start, but that shouldn’t erase his All-Star year. Fifteen others were named and then replaced—why not him? The Phillies were expected to fill a charter jet to Atlanta. Instead, they’re watching a broken system reward flash while snubbing the foundation of their success.
Baseball may be a numbers game, but apparently, All-Star nods now come with hashtags. When a rookie with five starts leapfrogs a workhorse like Sánchez, it’s not strategy—it’s theater. If MLB wants fireworks, fine—but don’t light the match with credibility. Until the league values performance over flash, players will keep grinding, and fans will keep wondering: Is this the All-Star Game or a casting call?
Phillies’ Zack Wheeler is going to miss the All-Star Game even after being the best
First, MLB turned a blind eye to Christopher Sanchez, whose left arm has been painting masterpieces all season. Now, the league’s midsummer gala will proceed without Zack Wheeler, because apparently, excellence in Philadelphia is a disqualifier—or a burden. The Phillies can’t catch a break, even when their pitchers are breaking bats and records. Welcome to the All-Star Game, where merit takes a backseat to… whatever this is.
Wheeler won’t pitch in the 2025 All-Star Game, and it’s by choice. The Phillies’ ace is prioritizing rest, eyeing October over one July appearance. Fans are divided—some applaud the decision, others think the game has just lost its sparkle.
Wheeler’s season has been nothing short of surgical, slicing lineups with precision and poise. He holds a 9–3 record, 2.17 ERA, and a league-best .177 batting average against. With 148 strikeouts in 116 innings, he’s dominating with ruthless consistency.
Replacing him is Padres lefty Adrian Morejon, stepping in as Wheeler steps aside. It’s a sudden spotlight for Morejon, while Wheeler faces San Diego on July 12. For the All-Star Game, it’s subtraction by subtraction—the National League just lost its sharpest weapon.
Between Sanchez’s snub and Wheeler’s withdrawal, the Phillies’ rotation deserves a full investigation, not a vacation. This isn’t just oversight; it’s a masterclass in how to fumble star power. MLB wants fireworks, but keeps dousing the matches. The All-Star Game may still shine, but it’s missing a pair of Philly-built spotlights. Turns out, excellence is exhausting—and apparently invisible if you’re wearing red pinstripes.
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