Major League Baseball’s All-Star Week gives fans and players alike time to take the edge off and enjoy lighthearted ballgame festivities. After four months of winning streaks and preliminary division races, it’s time to close out the first half of the season with a lively stoppage in play. From the Home Run Derby to the Midsummer Classic, MLB’s All-Star break supplies entertainment while accentuating players’ successes.
But not every player gets recognized. Between fan voting, a player ballot and the Commissioner’s Office (all steps in determining All-Stars), the league does an acceptable job of selecting deserving players. That said, every year a handful of guys wrongfully spend their All-Star break at home instead of under the lights.
JJ Wetherholt
A trio of rookies got their first career All-Star nods in 2026, but it should’ve been four. St. Louis Cardinals’ shortstop JJ Wetherholt has lived up to every expectation in his freshman campaign and has the highest fWAR of any position player not invited to Philadelphia.
Wetherholt stood at the doorstep of the majors as St. Louis’ highest overall prospect in 2025. His scouting report claimed he’d excel in bat-to-ball contact, yet it’s been his other tools that’ve gotten Cardinals’ fans inspired for the future.
As of July 8, Wetherholt has numerically been the best defender in baseball. On top of a perfect fielding run value score via Baseball Savant, he has a substantial baserunning run value as well, currently at 93 (50 is league average, 100 is perfect).
Although the 23-year-old will miss the cut in his debut season, if 2026 has any tell into the rest of his career, All-Star selections should be the least of his worries.
Robert Suarez
Robert Suarez has the lowest qualified ERA of any reliever in MLB and is not an All-Star. The Atlanta Braves right-hander has a 0.56 ERA with a 0.84 WHIP in 2026.
Suarez was placed on the injured list on June 26 with right forearm inflammation that’s supposed to sideline him until after the break. Yet, a rather insignificant 15-day injury shouldn’t have been enough to discount a season of this caliber.
Suarez has matured through his early 30s into one of the premier relief pitchers in the game. He was searching for his third consecutive All-Star nod this season. The four other relievers who got in ahead of him have all had great seasons but simply don’t match his run prevention.
Brice Turang
The best hitter on the Milwaukee Brewers isn’t Christian Yelich, William Contreras or Jackson Chourio. It’s the second baseman of Team USA, Brice Turang.
Turang has the highest wRC+ among primary second basemen in the National League and is not included in the 2026 All-Star Game. Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies got the honor, yet Turang has him beat in RBI, OBP, SLG and OPS.
While his average is taking a slight descent, Turang has put more pop into his swing and is on pace to set a career high in slugging percentage. He’s the accelerator in Milwaukee’s top-five offense and has put together a well-enough season to suit up in Philly.
Nick Martinez
Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez have been horses for the American League-leading Tampa Bay Rays. Rasmussen and his 2.78 ERA made the All-Star Game, but Martinez and his 2.61 did not.
Martinez is within the top 1% of MLB pitchers in limiting walks, all while eclipsing 100 innings in early July. He stacks up with all seven selected starting pitchers for the AL, and statistically bests six of them. Only 25-year-old Cam Schlittler holds a lower ERA, leaving no excuse for his absence.
Honorable Mentions
Sonny Gray and Ceddanne Rafaela have been silver linings in the Boston Red Sox’s putrid season, and both share cases to make the game. Gray doesn’t fall far from the same tree as Martinez, with a golden ERA, but is less efficient. Rafaela has hit for a .284 average and has the eighth most fWAR of any AL position players.
New York Yankees reliever Brent Headrick has put together an elite under-the-radar season as well. His 1.54 ERA is the fourth lowest among all qualified relievers in baseball. The aforementioned Suarez and Headrick are the only two pitchers in the top five of reliever ERA not playing in Philadelphia.
Lastly, Xavier Edwards‘ and Bryan Reynolds’ names are worth mentioning. The nature of allowing fan voting to determine each lineup’s starters ends up spotlighting popular names, not the most deserving. Reynolds has a case to be in over the hometown favorite, Philadelphia’s Brandon Marsh. Edwards has 100 hits and stacks up against the handful of platoon infielders for the NL.
No matter who was chosen for the Midsummer Classic, the entire week is meant to celebrate baseball and not criticize its mistreatments. MLB’s All-Star Week officially begins on Friday, but the true fun begins on Monday with the 2026 Home Run Derby. The revelries wrap up with the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 14. The game is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET and will stream on FOX.
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