Major League Baseball announced All-Star Game rosters on Saturday, and, as is the case every year, some deserving players were snubbed.
There is much debate over whether fans should have a vote on which players make the Midsummer Classic, but that does not change the fact that they are currently involved in the process. Just because a player is not on the roster right now does not mean they won’t get selected. Many players will end up dropping out, but here are the three biggest snubs from this year’s original selection of All-Stars.
Willson Contreras
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was selected as the starting first baseman for the American League, but has already announced that he will not play. This could open the door for Contreras to get in, but he should already have been selected.
Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice were the other first basemen selected. Contreras has a better fWAR, batting average and on-base percentage than Rice and Guerrero. He also has a better batting average than Kurtz. Contreras has 19 home runs, one shy of Kurtz and five shy of Rice.
Of the three first basemen selected for the All-Star Game, Guerrero has the least case to be an All-Star. Contreras has carried the Red Sox’s offense this year and has a good chance to make the game as a replacement.
Brice Turang
Ozzie Albies is the National League starter at second base, and Luis Arraez was selected as a reserve. Arraez has had a much better year on defense and is still an elite hitter. Albies is also having a great year, after struggling last year, but Turang has arguably been the best second baseman in all of baseball.
He has a better fWAR than both and has played platinum glove level defense. Turang has a .813 OPS, which is well above Albies’, but 12 points shy of Arraez. He has 12 home runs and 51 RBIs on the season as well.
Playing in Milwaukee, Turang likely fell victim to the fact that fan voting plays a big role. Two players from bigger markets got in over him.
Davis Martin
Martin has been a great story for the Chicago White Sox. The team is shattering expectations, and Martin is a huge reason why. He has posted a 3.08 ERA in 17 starts and is having, by far, the best year of his career.
Martin has more strikeouts than Michael Wacha, who was named an All-Star, in 12 fewer innings. He also has a better ERA. Martin is a strong candidate to be selected to the All-Star roster as more players drop out. He has the ninth-best ERA in the American League, and his career year so far should be enough to get him into the Midsummer Classic.
Photo: Milwaukee Brewers’ Brice Turang is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Monday, June 29, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
