Every season there are people who believe there were some obvious snubs for the MLB All-Star Game. This year, it's hard to argue against. There are so many players that had amazing first halves of this season and did not get in. Before I break down exactly who I believe firmly got snubbed this year, it's important to understand the process of how these rosters are constructed.
The first thing that happens is that the starters are announced. These 18 starting position players, nine from each league, are decided solely by fan voting. Just right there, we are all opened up to mistakes. Most of the time the fans get it right, but not always. The players themselves vote for the next nine position players for each league, who make up the reserves. The players then vote for five starting pitchers and three relievers. All of that voting is tabulated to create the the final All-Star roster.
Here is the breakdown of who made it from each league.
The 2022 American League and National League All-Star rosters are here! ⚾️
Who ya got? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/gcUBP31Md1
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) July 10, 2022
Every single player that was named an All-Star is having a good season. One of the things that makes arguing someone was snubbed is answering who should be taken out. That's once again not easy this year, but I will do it.
2022 MLB All-Star Game Biggest Snubs
AMERICAN LEAGUE
1. Ty France – Seattle Mariners 1B
I believe the easiest choice for this list is Mariners first baseman Ty France. The 27-year-old infielder is slashing .305 with a .379 on-base percentage to go with 10 home runs, 15 doubles, and 45 RBI. He missed a couple weeks due to a wrist injury but returned and did not skip a beat.
Now, in order for France to make the team, another first baseman would need to be taken off of it. I am not about to suggest Twins 1B Luis Arraez should be replaced. He is hitting .348 over almost 300 at bats. But the All-Star Game starter, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is not having a good a year as France.
Yes, his power numbers are there with 19 home runs. But he is far worse in almost every other metric. I get it, he's a rising superstar and France plays in the Pacific Northwest. Fans voted Guerrero Jr. the starter. But I am here to say that this year, they got it wrong. I'm not the only one who thinks so, either.
Ty France was robbed.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 10, 2022
2. Dylan Cease – Chicago White Sox SP
This next player is sadly a massive snub due to circumstance. It's not anything he did. Dylan Cease is second in the American League with 133 strikeouts behind only Rays SP Shane McClanahan (141). He is 7-4 with a sparkling 2.45 ERA spanning 17 starts. Some critics of this opinion will point to the fact that he leads the league with 43 walks. But I believe that is yet another notch in his belt.
Despite leading the league in walks, he still has a 1.24 WHIP. He has only allowed 70 hits in 92 innings pitched, among the best in baseball. When he does give the free pass, he obviously makes sure it hasn't hurt him, as seen in that shiny ERA I talked about. The only reason he hasn't won more games is because for two months, the White Sox had a bottom-five offense in baseball.
The reason he is a victim of circumstance is that every major league team must have an All-Star. The A's only player on the All-Star team is starting pitcher Paul Blackburn. He's having a fine season, but it is not close to the year Cease is having.
3. Corey Seager – Texas Rangers SS
Rangers shortstop Corey Seager is having a great first season in Texas. He's on pace to hit 37 home runs, drive in 90 and score 88. Those are certainly All-Star level numbers. He is however hitting just .245, which is a big knock against him. However, if circumstances can take away a roster spot (a la Cease), it should go the other way also.
White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson has only played in 57 of his team's 84 games. He's basically missed a third of his team's season so far. Meanwhile, Seager has played almost every game. That should matter. Plus, Seager might be the hottest hitter in baseball right now.
Corey Seager is RED HOT!@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/tOemyKt1HL
— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) July 10, 2022
NATIONAL LEAGUE
1. Carlos Rodon – San Francisco Giants SP
The Giants starting pitcher Carlos Rodon is having a fantastic first season by the bay. The former White Sox pitcher has a 2.70 ERA and 1.06 WHIP, with 124 strikeouts in just 100 innings pitched. San Francisco does not provide much offense for the strikeout artist, yet he has eight wins with one more start before the All-Star break.
There is an obvious choice who he should replace too.
Cincinnati Reds starter Luis Castillo is having a very good year. However, he has also missed much of the season. He began the year on the 15-day IL and missed more than the first month of the season. He has a 2.92 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 74 punch outs in 71 innings. So, statistically speaking Rodon easily has him beat.
But once again, every team needs a representative and Castillo was Cincinnati's. There was a better fix though. Reds relief pitcher Alexis Diaz is having a phenomenal year out of the pen. He could have been named to the team, allowing Rodon a rightful spot on the All-Star roster.
He ended up taking the high road though, and reinforced my argument above.
Carlos Rodón said an All-Star snub hurts more for guys who haven’t received the honor in the past. He seemed more bothered that his former White Sox teammate, Dylan Cease, was left off. “He put together a first half better than a lot of guys on that list.”
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) July 10, 2022
2. Freddie Freeman – Los Angeles Dodgers 1B
Freddie Freeman can easily say that he belongs on the All-Star team just about every year of his career. He's great defensively and once again has put on a show offensively. Despite only hitting 11 home runs, Freeman is slashing .304 with 54 RBI and is tied for fourth in the majors with 27 doubles.
Likely the biggest reason he did not make it is the position he plays. Paul Goldschmidt as the starter is untouchable. Pete Alonso got the player vote as the reserve first baseman. So, maybe it's a preference thing, but I believe firmly that Freeman is a much better player and is having a better year than Alonso.
3. Austin Riley – Atlanta Braves 3B
Austin Riley is finally putting all of his skills on showcase this season. With the All-Star break approaching, he has 23 home runs, 56 RBI with a solid .282 average. That's a far cry from his normal .220 range. Yet, he was left off the roster.
Instead, two of his teammates both qualified as catchers. Both Travis D'Arnaud and William Contreras made the All-Star team. Contreras' brother, Willson, was already named the starter. But what's interesting is that because Bryce Harper cannot play, William Contreras was named the DH in his place.
If I am listing someone to earn a DH nod in place of Harper, it's not even close. Riley is one trillion times more deserving that Contreras. This one just leaves me more confused than anything.
Follow Us
Subscribe