Major League Baseball announced its All-Star Game representatives, as the best in the league will face off in Atlanta next week. However, as always, not everyone who is deserving of an appearance will play in the game.
Both leagues feature players who were not named to their respective All-Star teams despite producing at a high level during the first half of the year. That is in part due to MLB requiring every team to have a representative, which pushes some players on the best teams off the roster.
While these players still have a chance to be named as injury replacements, here’s a look at the initial 2025 All-Star Game snubs.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
American League snubs
George Springer, OF, Blue Jays
After a down year in 2024, Springer has bounced back to form this year and has been arguably the Blue Jays’ best hitter. The 35-year-old outfielder has 16 home runs, just three shy of his total last year, and is on pace to surpass 30 home runs for the third time in his career.
The veteran is a big reason why the Blue Jays are in first place in the AL East past the halfway point of the season, but with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. already a starter, Springer got snubbed out of his fifth-career All-Star nod.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
Caminero’s first full season has gone extremely well, leading all AL third basemen with 21 homers while producing an .813 OPS. While his defense is still a work in progress, Caminero is the best hitter on a quality Rays team that has played well in the first half.
For now, Caminero loses out to Alex Bregman, who made the All-Star team as a reserve but is currently injured. With Bregman likely to miss the game, Caminero still has a chance to end up in Atlanta.
Framber Valdez, SP, Astros
One of the most consistent pitchers in the league, Valdez is producing another outstanding season with a 2.90 ERA in 18 games. The Astros lefty is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, and is doing his best to show he is worth a big contract.
Valdez’s success seems to have been overshadowed by Hunter Brown, though, as Brown made his first All-Star Game this year after a stellar first half. Add in Josh Hader making his sixth All-Star Game, and Valdez was unable to overcome his own teammates for his third career selection.
Joe Ryan, SP, Twins
Ryan is quietly putting up his best career season with a 2.75 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 17 games to lead the Twins pitching staff. The 29-year-old has been incredibly consistent since his debut in 2021, but is now producing at a higher level worthy of an All-Star Game.
However, with Bryan Buxton making the team as a Twins’ representative and the AL full of dominant starters, Ryan got squeezed out of a possible spot.
Jhoan Duran, RP, Twins
Another Twins snub, Duran has produced a stifling 1.56 ERA this year as one of the league’s best relievers. However, Minnesota’s struggles means Duran has just 13 saves, which likely cost him a spot on the roster.
Duran missed out to Aroldis Chapman, Andres Munoz and Josh Hader, who are all deserving of spots as well. With a limited number of spots going to relievers, Duran is the one who gets the short end of the stick.
National League snubs
Trea Turner, SS, Phillies
The group of N.L. shortstops is very deep, which means many deserving players won’t get to go to Atlanta, including C.J. Abrams and Geraldo Perdomo. However, the biggest snub is Trea Turner, who is the only NL player with over 100 hits so far this year.
Turner also has 11 home runs and 22 stolen bases for the Phillies, producing at a level worth his contract. This year, he was unable to earn a nod over Francisco Lindor and Elly De La Cruz, who are the NL’s only representatives at shortstop.
Juan Soto, OF, Mets
While Soto started slow for the Mets, he’s been on fire since the start of June and has raised his OPS to above .900. While New York slowed down as a team, the outfielder has certainly begun to live up to his lengthy contract.
Still, the first two months might have cost Soto an All-Star appearance in his first season as a Met. He will certainly get plenty more opportunities over the next 14 years, but Soto has played more than well enough to make the team this year.
Sonny Gray, SP, Cardinals
The surprise Cardinals are in playoff contention due to pitching and defense, and it’s Gray leading the way with a 3.51 ERA in 17 games. At 35 years old, Gray i still performing at a high level as an ace for a team fighting for a wild-card spot.
Gray had made three All-Star games in his career, one each with the Athletics, Reds and Twins, and this year he had a case to make his fourth with a fourth different team.
Christopher Sanchez, SP, Phillies
Sanchez is in the midst of a breakout season, producing a 2.68 ERA with a 7-2 record over 17 games so far this year. He is a big reason why the Phillies are in first place, helping form a dynamic top of the rotation alongside Zach Wheeler.
Still, Wheeler’s spot in the All-Star Game was bad news for Sanchez, taking both a Phillies’ spot and a rotation spot. While Wheeler makes his third All-Star nod, Sanchez will wait for his second.
Robert Suarez, RP, Padres
Suarez is part of a dynamic Padres bullpen that also includes Adrian Morejon and Jason Adam, and the veteran righty currently leads the NL in saves with 24. Additionally, he trails Josh Hader by one save for the most in the league so far.
However, it was Adam who made the team over Suarez, as his 1.65 ERA outshines Suarez’s 3.93 ERA.
