
MLB All-Star snub 2025: Juan Soto among top players left off rosters
With that, we take a look at a half-dozen players omitted from the July 6 roster drop, yet may find themselves summoned to the Atlanta suburbs come July 15:
Juan Soto, OF, Mets
Money can't necessarily buy happiness, and now we know it can't ensure All-Star spots, either. Soto, signed to a record $765 million contract in December, got off to a predictably slow start as he reacclimated to the National League and joined a new lineup.
But look at him now: A .396 OBP (second in the NL, fourth in the majors), 21 home runs and a .904 OPS (seventh in the NL). Put those numbers next to another player and you'd say, "Should be an All-Star." Just because they're not quite Sotoesque doesn't mean the man doesn't deserve his fifth Al-Star appearance. And hey, the viewing public does watch this game to, you know, see the stars play.
Michael Busch, 1B, Cubs
Sometimes it really does come down to timing. Had Busch not waited until the Fourth of July to drop a three-homer game on Chicago's archrivals, he might have scored higher in the player or fan voting. Alas, his .939 OPS (fourth NL, seventh in the majors) and 18 home runs will be free to go fishing next week.
The democratization of All-Star voting - thanks largely to online balloting, as opposed to who draws the most fans - is generally a good thing. Yet the Cubs and their 53-36 record - just shy of the Dodgers for best in the NL - are strangely underrepresented with just three selections. Slugging outfielder Seiya Suzuki also has a strong case, but the Cubs will have to make do with the very deserving Pete Crow-Armstrong, Kyle Tucker and Matthew Boyd.
Cristopher Sanchez, LHP, Phillies
This would have been back-to-back All-Star nods for Sanchez, and deservedly so. He ranks seventh in the NL with a 2.68 ERA and has given up just seven home runs, his 0.62 home runs per nine ranking fifth. He's also in the top 10 in strikeouts per nine innings.
While the 6-foot-6 left-hander's strikeout total (108 in 100 innings) pales a bit compared to some electees, the Phillies are 9-2 in the 11 starts in which he's completed at least six innings, and 13-4 in all his outings. Perhaps he'll be the first one to hear his phone ring when Chris Sale (rib fracture) is declared out due to injury.
Trevor Megill, RHP, Brewers
In this day and age of nasty stuff and bullpen hyper-specialization, it's rare when a capital-C closer is viewed as a snub. Yet Megill has been the busiest and perhaps best of them in the NL so far.
He's converted 20 of 23 opportunities, an 87% rate that's second only to the Mets' Edwin Diaz among relievers with at least 13 saves. More notably, the Brewers have been one of the game's best teams and stories all season and have just one All-Star - starter Freddy Peralta - to show for it. A reliever's life is always volatile and there's no guarantee Megill has a season like this going forward. Perhaps he'll get a just reward in coming days.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Rays
This one's fairly shocking, and more the product of positional glut than anything. The timeless Jose Ramirez won fan voting and was joined by player's vote winner Alex Bregman, both deserving recipients. But Caminero has more than exceeded the breakout year expected of him, with 21 home runs and an .809 OPS.
He's probably a little more deserving than Rays teammate Brandon Lowe, who got a reserve nod at second base with 19 homers and an .813 OPS. Caminero's .301 OPS didn't do him any favors, but it's hard to argue with 40 extra-base hits and a .508 slugging percentage before the All-Star break.
Framber Valdez, LHP, Astros
Valdez should get some measure of revenge come the winter, when he may receive the largest free agent contract among pitchers. For now, his resume speaks pretty well on his behalf: 115 strikeouts in 115 innings, a 2.90 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP. But man, the AL pitching field is so loaded, Valdez's ERA is good for just 11th in the league, and eight of the 10 arms before him got selected. Valdez has one of the top overall profiles when you combine innings pitched, strikeout rate and ERA, but this is a tough crowd to stand out in.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news -- fast. Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Rangers add pre-season friendly match to the schedule
The English National League club announced the addition of the match against a Rangers XI to their pre-season schedule. The game at Victoria Park will kick off at 3pm. Rangers are unlikely to send first-team players due to the first leg against Panathinaikos the following Tuesday. Read more: Therefore, only players lower down the pecking order and youngsters will feature at Hartlepool. Tickets and hospitality packages are available to purchase from the Monkey Hangers' website. Hartlepool ended 12th in the National League last season.

The National
3 hours ago
- The National
Rangers to face English side in friendly as details released
The English National League side this evening confirmed the addition of a match against a Gers XI to to their pre-season schedule. Pools will host the game at Victoria Park and it will have a 3pm kick-off. Rangers are unlikely to send many if any first-team squad members given the close proximity to the first leg against Panathinaikos on the following Tuesday. Read more: Only those well down the pecking order are likely to feature alongside the club's youngsters at Hartlepool. Tickets are available to buy via the Monkey Hangers' website and there are also hospitality packages. Hartlepool finished 12th in the National League last season having been relegated from the EFL at the end of the 2022/23 campaign.


Scottish Sun
7 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Arsenal ‘close in on Viktor Gyokeres transfer as Andrea Berta flies to Portugal for face-to-face talks with Sporting'
Star had reportedly been ready to go on strike to push through a move VIKTOR-Y Arsenal 'close in on Viktor Gyokeres transfer as Andrea Berta flies to Portugal for face-to-face talks with Sporting' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) ARSENAL are close to securing the long-awaited signing of Viktor Gyokeres. The Gunners have been desperate for a centre-forward and now appear set to get their man. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Arsenal are close to securing the signing of Viktor Gyokeres Credit: Getty 2 Andrea Berta reportedly flew to Portugal for face-to-face talks with Sporting Credit: Getty Gunners' sporting director Andrea Berta flew to Portugal for talks at the end of last week to push the deal through, according to CNN Portugal. THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY.. The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunFootball.