The art of a snub. Every single year, it seems the MLB All-Star voting committee leaves out a deserving star for another option. In 2024, guys like Francisco Lindor and Brent Rooker headlined some of the biggest names of deserving All-Stars who were snubbed. But in 2025, it seems the voting committee was very wrong.
This year, many of the league’s high-marketed names missed the biggest event of the summer, including Juan Soto and Mike Trout. This article will highlight six names that were unfairly snubbed from the MLB All-Star Game. In the future, a tricky question looms over the Midsummer Classic. To fill every position and make everyone happy, should the MLB extend the rosters? Or should they do away with every team receiving an “automatic” spot on the roster?
Six Notable Snubs from the 2025 MLB All-Star Game
Juan Soto – RF, New York Mets
For the first time in his historical career, Juan Soto will not be participating in the MLB All-Star Game.
This is shocking, to say the least. Soto has been the best player in all of baseball over the last five weeks. But it’s somehow not enough to send him to Atlanta with three of his teammates.
Soto started very slowly in orange and blue, batting .231 with a .770 OPS and .357 OBP. It looked like a rather disappointing start for a player who’d just signed the biggest contract in MLB history. But June came around, flipping a switch.
Soto produced the best month of June in all of baseball. He batted .322 with a ridiculous .524 OBP and 1.171 OPS. Along with these dominating metrics, the 26-year-old demolished 11 home runs, the most of any player for the month.
Fernando Tatis and Corbin Carroll were named All-Star reserves for the National League team instead of Soto. Both are truly head-scratching selections, as Soto has produced relatively better numbers. It’s disappointing for Mets fans, but something they’ve dealt with through their star players. Just look at Francisco Lindor, who went three seasons without the All-Star nod before being selected as a starter this time around.
Jo Adell – LF, Los Angeles Angels
Jo Adell was once ranked the No. 6 overall prospect in MLB. The 2017 draftee was written off, along with this Angels team. The Angels remain written off, but for Adell? It looks like his journey to stardom has officially begun.
Adell had a similar start to Soto, but it was much more concerning. His .196 batting average through the first several weeks of the season called for his potential DFA’ing. But instantly, his role on the roster remained a lock as the 26-year-old tied Soto with 11 home runs and a .293 batting average.
However, the MLB voting committee had other plans. Julio Rodriguez will be heading to Atlanta as an American League reserve over Adell, even though most of the stats fall behind Adell by a decent amount. Yusei Kikuchi will serve as the Angels’ required All-Star selection, leaving the decision as a rather confusing one.
Maikel Garcia – 3B, Kansas City Royals
Who would’ve thought that Maikel Garcia’s dominant start to the 2025 season would result in a snub from the MLB All-Star Game thanks to his arch-nemesis? Garcia won’t be heading to Atlanta. Instead, it will be Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr.
The two’s beef dates back to the ALDS in 2024, where Chisholm claimed the Royals were “lucky” after they stole Game 2. This comment was carried into the deciding game, where Garcia made a hard slide into Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe. That led to a bench-clearing incident.
Chisholm then called Garcia a “sore loser” following the game. Again, this rivalry was carried into the 2025 season. While attempting to steal third base, Chisholm slid in, and Garcia’s tag knocked off his helmet. Cameras reportedly captured Chisholm saying that if Garcia tagged him like that again, he would “smack the f*** outta him.”
Now this carries into the All-Star selection. Chisholm, who missed an entire month of baseball, makes the All-Star Game while having stats that barely qualify. The 25-year-old has produced at high levels offensively, hitting .303 with eight home runs and 39 RBI. He still has an elite OPS of .826.
For the time being, the score settles as this: Chisholm 1, Garcia 0.
Thought #Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia and closer Carlos Estévez really had a shot at being All-Stars this year, but they were not on the AL All-Star roster announced today.
— Anne Rogers (@anne__rogers) July 6, 2025
George Springer – RF, Toronto Blue Jays
If you told this writer before the 2025 season that George Springer would make a valid debate for being an All-Star snub, he would laugh in your face and call you crazy. Springer has been one of the key reasons why the Blue Jays hold the lead in the American League East. All while remaining healthy for the first time in his Blue Jays career.
Springer has consistently been a game-changer. He’s batting .281 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI, while posting an .886 OPS. The Blue Jays outfielder ranks at the top in almost every single outfield metric, falling only behind Aaron Judge.
Instead of Springer being rewarded with an appearance for the first time since 2022, Brent Rooker and Julio Rodriguez get nods. Both hold less appetizing stats.
Seiya Suzuki – DH, Chicago Cubs
Hank Greenberg, Juan Gonzalez, Seiya Suzuki. What do they all have in common? Leading all of baseball in runs batted in, and still not making the All-Star Game.
Suzuki began his baseball journey in 2012 when he played in Japan’s NPB. He racked up five NPB All-Star nods, six Best Nine Awards, and five Gold Glove Awards in 12 years. In 2021, Suzuki was posted to MLB.
The Cubs pounced on this opportunity, offering the international superstar a five-year, $85 million contract. Since entering the majors, Suzuki has been an RBI machine, totaling 268 RBI in 466 games.
In 2025, the 30-year-old continues to mash. He’s batting .261 with 24 home runs and the previously mentioned league lead of 75 RBI. His .870 OPS ranks him third among National League DHs, falling behind Kyle Schwarber and starter Shohei Ohtani.
Now, Schwarber definitely deserves his selection. He has three more home runs, and a majority of his metrics are better. Still, it’s hard to deny Suzuki his first-ever MLB All-Star selection.
Joe Ryan – SP, Minnesota Twins
Joe Ryan has emerged as a true ace for the Twins in 2025. Instead of getting recognized for this, Ryan is left to watch on his couch as the league’s best travel to Atlanta.
Ryan’s emergence in 2025 isn’t “sudden.” It’s proof of his constant development, as he’s worked to improve all of his pitches. In 2024, the 29-year-old started in 23 games. He held a 7–7 record with a 3.60 ERA over 135 innings pitched.
Ryan missed the end of the 2024 season due to a shoulder injury. This season, he has nearly reached last year’s total in just the first half. He’s started 17 games with an improved 8–4 record over 104 innings pitched.
His efforts have helped the Twins’ pitching staff tremendously. Ryan has also raised his strikeout totals, increasing his K% by one percent. That’s a valuable jump.
Among all starting pitchers in Minnesota Twins history (min 500 innings), Joe Ryan has the highest K/9 ever at 10.08. pic.twitter.com/kQIcPWJObi
— Jeff (@MNTwinsZealot) June 26, 2025
The decision to send Angels starter Yusei Kikuchi to the All-Star Game rather than a guy like Jo Adell has truly cost some deserving American League pitchers. Ryan isn’t the only pitcher who could be considered a “snub.” Framber Valdez will also miss the game, but his Houston Astros teammate, Hunter Brown, will deservingly be there.
Comparing the stats, it’s tough to see why MLB would send out Kikuchi over Ryan. Although the Angels’ ace has had a solid season, Ryan is better in every department. He even walked 20 fewer batters.
Main Photo Credit: © Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
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