The Most Notable & Egregious All-Star Snubs
You will be forgiven for questioning why some of these players won't be going to Atlanta next week...
There will be a lot of star power on display at the 2025 MLB All-Star Game in Atlanta next week.
However, there will also be some notable - and very deserving names - missing from all of the festivities.
When the full All-Star rosters were announced on Sunday, a slew of worthy players missed the cut. Granted, this happens every year because that’s just how it is under the current voting system. Fans will often vote based on emotion, not necessarily based on who is the most deserving.
Of course, one of the cool things about this year’s All-Star Game is that we will see a flood of new faces and fresh talent - over 20 players will become All-Stars for the first time. I’m particularly excited to see Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. That guy is just electric and he will headline a lot of elite, young talent at this year’s event.
But, with that said, I won’t be able to help but notice those not at this year’s All-Star Game. Here’s my list of the most notable snubs…
Seiya Suzuki, OF, Cubs
If you ask me, Seiya Suzuki not being in Atlanta is the most glaring mistake made by the voters. We’re days removed from the full rosters being announced, yet I still can’t make sense of how Suzuki is somehow not an All-Star.
And, no, this isn’t my Suzuki bias shining through given that I’ve been a huge fan of the outfielder ever since he arrived in North America.
No, look at the stats and you will quickly come to the conclusion that not only should Suzuki be an All-Star, but he should be a starter too. Through 88 games, he’s hitting .259/.318/.551/.869 with 25 home runs and 77 RBIs.
Suzuki is just the second player in MLB history - Hank Greenberg in 1935 is the other - to have not made the All-Star Game despite entering the break with at least 25 homers, 75 RBIs, and 20 doubles.
I mean, he leads the National League in RBIs (77), and is tied for the overall lead in MLB with Yankees slugger Aaron Judge. Furthermore, Suzuki is on pace for over 40 home runs and over 125 RBIs. Those stats alone will ensure that the masher is in consideration for some end-of-season awards.
With all that said, I probably shouldn’t be surprised that Suzuki isn’t an All-Star. He has been mashing at an elite level all year long, yet I feel he hasn’t been talked about nearly enough. That in itself is criminal.
I am the self-appointed Chairman of the Seiya Suzuki Fan Club, and I think it is long overdue that the slugger stops getting so easily dismissed on the national stage.
Michael Busch, 1B, Cubs
Let’s stay in Chicago for now.
Okay, so the Cubs will be well represented in Atlanta with Matthew Boyd, Kyle Tucker, and Pete Crow-Armstrong all announced as All-Stars already.
However, you can make a really compelling argument that Chicago should have five All-Stars representing the franchise.
Because, not only was Suzuki snubbed for some insane reason, so too was Michael Busch.
The first baseman has quietly become a huge part of this team over the last couple of years, and he’s really elevated his game to a whole other level in 2025. Through 86 games, Busch is hitting .297/.383/.559/.943 with 18 homers, 56 RBIs, a 3.5 WAR, and 166 wRC+. He hit four home runs in two days over the holiday weekend, including three home runs in one game on the Fourth of July.
If you want further evidence of why Busch should be going to Atlanta, he currently ranks fourth in the National League in OPS (.943), and sixth in the Major Leagues. Plus, let’s not forget that he offers Gold Glove caliber defense at first base, too.
Juan Soto, RF, Mets
Juan Soto should be joining teammates Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, and Edwin DÃaz at the All-Star Game. Period.
That isn’t disputable. And the fact that Soto won’t be in Atlanta is all the more egregious when you look at the numbers of the outfielders who have been selected as All-Stars. Just focusing on the reserves - outside of Nationals OF James Woods, who should also be going to Atlanta - Corbin Carroll, Kyle Stowers, and Fernando Tatis Jr. are all behind Soto stats-wise. There is no reason why Soto shouldn’t be on the National League roster.
And, yes, I am aware that the generational hitter got off to a slow start in Queens. But when you remove all the outside noise and the backdrop of the record-breaking $765 million contract he signed in the winter, it wasn’t all that bad of a start. Plus, Soto’s numbers in June alone should have been enough to secure a ticket to The Big Peach. He hit .322/.474/.722/.1.196 with 25 runs scored, three doubles, 11 homers, 20 RBIs, and 25 walks in the month of June. Soto also ranks first in the NL in offensive WAR (4.1), and second in on-base percentage (.399).
I’m sorry, but Soto should be making his fifth All-Star appearance next week.
This is the biggest head-scratcher of them all.
Cristopher Sánchez, LHP, Phillies
With a 7-2 record and a 2.59 ERA, Cristopher Sánchez should be an All-Star. He ranks 10th in WAR (4.2) in all of baseball among all players, and fourth in ERA in the National League.
He’s given up just seven home runs all year, has 116 strikeouts to 29 walks, and can eat innings for fun. In his last five outings, Sánchez has pitched eight innings once, and seven innings on three occasions. He has been money this year, and he should be in Atlanta.
Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
The two-time All-Star has every right to be frustrated at not making his third All-Star Game. The veteran has been money so far in 2025, pitching to a 2.90 ERA with a 10-4 record.
Framber Valdez also has 115 strikeouts in 115 innings, not to mention a career-high 139 ERA+. Those numbers are likely to earn the lefty some Cy Young consideration in the American League. More importantly, Houston has won 11 straight times with Valdez on the mound, underlining his consistent greatness. Valdez is also 9-0 with a 2.07 ERA over those 11 starts.
George Springer, OF, Blue Jays
The Blue Jays have been red-hot as of late, winning nine of their past 10 games to surpass the Yankees at the top of the American League East.
Key to that success?
George Springer deserves a lot of the credit.
The veteran outfielder is defying Father Time by producing a season that should have been good enough to earn a trip to the All-Star Game.
Springer is hitting .280/.375/.509 with 16 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .883 OPS. He ranks sixth in the AL in slugging percentage (.509), fifth in OPS (.883), third in WPA (2.4), and third in cWPA (1.9).
In short, the 35-year-old is having one of the best seasons he’s ever had since joining Toronto, and he’s been a big reason why the Blue Jays have suddenly come alive. If you look at the offensive numbers, Springer should be in Atlanta over Mariners OF Julio RodrÃguez.
Trea Turner, SS, Phillies
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor absolutely deserved to be the starting shortstop for the National League at the 2025 All-Star Game. It has been a long time coming, after all.
However, Trea Turner should also be on the NL roster.
The Phillies shortstop has been quietly productive in 2025, leading the National League in hits (111) and all NL shortstops in fWAR. He’s been stellar defensively, while hitting .294/.344/.439/.783 with 62 runs scored, 18 doubles, two triples, 11 homers, 40 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and 26 walks.
Given the season he’s enjoying, and the numbers he’s been putting up, Turner should be backing up Lindor in Atlanta.
Andy Pages, OF, Dodgers
Hands up if you predicted that Andy Pages would rank second in home runs (17), tied first for RBIs (58), and second in hits (96) on an absolutely stacked Dodgers team?
Nope. Me neither.
But that’s just how good Pages has been as we approach the All-Star break. Despite not being a flashy name on a team full of stars, the outfielder has been one of LA’s most consistent and reliable offensive contributors so far in 2025. He has also improved defensively across the board, too.
Although you want as much star-power at the All-Star Game as possible, under-the-radar players like Pages deserve their flowers as well. His contributions so far in 2025 were more than worthy of a spot in Atlanta.
Jhoan Durán, RHP, Twins
Now that Joe Ryan has been named as an All-Star reserve, Jhoan Durán takes the unwanted honor of being Minnesota’s biggest snub for the All-Star Game.
The flame-throwing reliever is putting together a special season for the Twins, and he earned his 14th save of the year on Wednesday night in a 4-2 win over the Cubs.
Of course, getting to the All-Star Game as a reliever has only gotten harder as the years have gone by. But with that said, Durán has certainly pitched like an All-Star closer so far in 2025. He owns a stellar 1.52 ERA over 42 appearances and 41.1 innings pitched. Furthermore, the righty has yet to allow a home run this year, and his 26.3% strikeout rate is impressive. It is also important to note that Durán has been consistently great on a Twins team that has been hot and cold all season long.
It would have been a lot of fun to watch this version of Durán go up against some of the very best hitters in the game in Atlanta.
Suzuki being left off the ASG roster is the biggest head scratcher I can remember. Even if he doesn't have the biggest name, how can you miss those stats?