2026 MLB All-Star Snubs: Seven Players Who Deserve a Spot in Philadelphia

When compared to the past, the process of putting together rosters for the All-Star Game in Major League Baseball is significantly less difficult. This does not mean that there is no possibility of quality being overlooked.

The exercise that is being held this year, which is in preparation for the event that will take place in Philadelphia on July 14, will be of enormous benefit if, as is fitting, the United States of America rallies in the final round of voting in this, her 250th year of existence.

Consider the fact that in this day and age of voting online, The Fans typically perform quite well. The only difference is that this time around, six Toronto Blue Jays have been selected as “finalists” for the American League. However, based on cold, raw data, there are a few of them who do not deserve to be selected. On the other hand, the Midsummer Classic is all about the zeitgeist of the game at the time it was played. And the devotion that Canadians have for their team is something that should be celebrated, especially because it serves as an example that nearly any team may follow in these uncertain times of crying wolf. A crowd of 44,000 people packed into Rogers Centre night after night.

Nevertheless, regardless of whether a few more Jays join the top vote-getter in the American League, the much-loved Ernie Clement, in Philadelphia, there will undoubtedly be a few All-Stars that you would not have considered. Here are six of them, all of whom are hopeful that the roster will be announced on the evening of Saturday, July 4, and that it will be favorable to them:

Juan Soto, OF, Mets

Remember this man, right? Despite the fact that Soto, who is still only 27 years old, continues to be as bit as generational as we had expected, it is easy to lose him in the cloud of all the suffering in Flushing. Even though he has only played in 66 games due to an injury, Soto has still managed to hit 17 home runs and have a slugging percentage of.298/.408/.563. He also leads all big leaguers with a wRC+ of 166 and the National League with an adjusted OPS of 170.

Also, in case we forget, he did not make the All-Star team the previous year.

Although this may appear to be a Captain Obvious choice, it is also a rallying cry to remember that greatness should not be taken for granted. In the fan voting, Soto is one of the outfield finalists; but, given the ongoing crisis that the Mets are experiencing in 2026, it is difficult to envision that he will be able to outperform respectable representatives from competing teams. It’s possible that the player vote will save him today. However, it would be absurd to expect Soto to keep another All-Star shutout.

Otto Lopez, SS, Marlins

That would be Lopez, who entered July 1 with six more hits than Arraez, a microscopic edge in batting average (.333 to.331), and an identical (.366) on-base percentage (OBP), while also stealing 16 bases. If your children are clamoring for Luis Arraez, simply tell them, “We have Luis Arraez at home!” 3.6 fWAR has him in second place in the National League. Most importantly, the Marlins are currently in the heart of the National League wild card dogfight after a 20-6 June that has placed them in the middle of the pack. They are obviously deserving of more than simply a courtesy representative, which would most likely be Max Meyer, the starting quarterback. Additionally, Xavier Edwards, who plays second base, would be an excellent choice.

Hunter Goodman, C, Rockies

To put it simply, this individual has hit 26 home runs and has an adjusted batting average of 119 at the halfway mark. In the role of catcher. What’s the matter, Coors Field?

Goodman appears to be a sure thing for Philadelphia, but here is where the variability of the roster comes into play. Will Smith of the Dodgers and Drake Baldwin of the Atlanta Braves are the two “finalists” for the position of catcher. Smith is never a poor decision, but he is now on the injured list with a neck ailment and is having a season that is about average for the league at the plate. Despite the fact that Baldwin is enjoying a tremendous season, he has only played in sixty games due to an injury.

In the event that Smith is elected, it is reasonable to assume that Goodman will be included in the roster as a replacement for an injured player. It is important to note, however, that Goodman possesses the appearance of a perennial All-Star, as he was selected for the first time in the previous year, and he is deserving of being considered as such. Goodman is proof positive to the broader baseball world that the Rockies do, in fact, exist. This is a significant contributing factor to the fact that the All-Star Game is held in the first place. Goodman is a fundamental player for an organization that appears to be getting more serious with each passing month.

Luis Garcia Jr., 1B, Nationals

Garcia, who is a second baseman by trade, is currently in a difficult situation mathematically because he is primarily a first baseman and is listed as such on the National League ballot, where he finished tenth at the position. This belies a first half in which he hit six home runs over the course of six games recently, and he has hit a major league-leading thirteen home runs following the 22nd of May. Overall, he has a batting average of.281, an on-base percentage of.850, and 16 home runs.

It was a fantastic year for a vital piece in the unexpected organization that led the major leagues in runs scored. On the other hand, Garcia is a first baseman, and he is frequently overshadowed by Matt Olson and Freddie Freeman, who are both All-Stars and finalists in their respective categories. And it is imperative that they figure out a way to include Bryce Harper on the Philadelphia team, is they not?

In spite of the fact that Garcia is one of the most prolific players in the league, it appears that he will have a difficult time breaking through this situation.

Michael Wacha, SP, Royals

Here’s a stat that actually doesn’t exist, but perhaps it should: In the American League, Wacha is the only starter who has averaged 19 outs per start. Isn’t that strange?

On the other hand, it is a skill that is uncommon and underestimated. In an era when teams aren’t allowing many, or all, of their starters to face a lineup three times through, Wacha is really getting them out three times a game, plus one extra. The result is that he leads the American League in innings pitched, ranks eighth in earned run average (ERA) (3.31), ranks thirteenth in WHIP (1.14), and averages 6.39 innings per start.

What Wacha does for managers is something that they would absolutely appreciate, especially if they are exhausted from juggling openers and followers, as well as reliever shuttles from Class AAA to Class AAA and back again. During the evenings that he pitches, he is able to find just ten extra outs on average.

Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Yankees

It is possible that the inclusion of Goldschmidt will appear to be somewhat annoying on paper. It is important to note that Ben Rice is the primary first baseman for the club, and he has a chance of winning the fan balloting for the position. Two first basemen from the same team?

Yes, those visuals aren’t very appealing at all, but we will have to make some adjustments in order to accommodate the current game at some time. In addition to this, it is necessary to recognize the significance of platoon players, especially those who are on the relatively short end of the equation. Goldschmidt falls 30 plate appearances shy of qualifying for league leaders, although with 14 home runs, 41 RBIs and a .867 OPS in just 233 plate appearances, he’s kept the Yankees alive at times this year. A.371/.456/.730 batting line versus lefties, along with eight home runs in 103 plate appearances, has contributed to the Yankees’ 19-13 record against left-handed pitchers. To be a “commissioner’s special” pick or whatever they call it, Goldschmidt does not have the gravity of a Kershaw, Pujols, or Miggy Cabrera; yet, at his age of 38, he is still on the verge of being inducted into the Hall of Fame and was a former team MVP. It would be awesome to catch him in Philadelphia.

Grant Taylor, RP, White Sox

After this season, the Baseball Writers Association of America will introduce the “reliever of the year” award for both the American League and the National League. This may be a good thing or a bad thing. It is even more difficult to choose whether or not to recognize All-Star relievers for a half-season of work, especially in this day and age when true closers are becoming difficult to find.

Therefore, let’s take a look at Taylor: he is tied for third place in terms of fWAR (2.1) among relievers in the American League, he ranks fourth with 13.38 strikeouts per nine innings, he has a 1.98 fIP, and he has entered nineteen out of twenty-eight games with high or medium leverage. It is not something that will earn him a plaque at the end of the year, but for a club that is just starting out like the White Sox to have a record of 17-10 in games with one run scored, there is a lot that needs to go right. Taylor, who has a total of sixteen appearances in which he pitched for more than one inning, is frequently a part of that.

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