Phillies Players Call Out All-Star Selection Snubs
With the recent selection of who would make the 2025 all-star teams, it always comes with some snubs and discussion of who should have made it over others. The Phillies were directly in the controversy with both Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez not making the all-star team despite their impressive seasons. Sanchez has had his best season of his career with a 7-2 record to go along with a 2.59 ERA, and has continued to improve as the season goes on. As for Suarez, since returning from injury, he has been flat-out untouchable on the mound outside of his first start. In the year he comes in with a 1.94 ERA to go along with his 7-3 record, and like Sanchez, continues to get better. The person to get the nod was Brewers’ rookie Jacob Misiorowski, who comes in with a 2.81 ERA and a 4-1 record. The decision raised a few flags for fans, but more specifically for multiple Phillies players.
Those players, being J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner, and Nick Castellanos, came out to publicly defend their teammates and raise a discussion about the selection process. Each player focused their comments towards the selection of Misiorowski, but each highlighted that it is nothing against him personally. Turner started by saying that “It’s not the All-Star Game in the sense that the best players go there; instead, it’s whoever sells the most tickets or has been put on social media the most.” Turner’s comment addresses a key element in the MLB’s new all-star selection, with fan voting being so crucial, specifically on social media. Leaving some smaller market teams stuck due to the popularity of others in bigger markets. As for Realmuto, he said, “Nothing against the Misiorowski kid, but those two are deserving of being on the team in the first place.” Finally, it was Nick Castellanos, who is known for his interesting comments, who ended by saying, “The voting… It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas.”
It later came out that both Suarez and Sanchez were offered spots to pitch in the game under certain stipulations; however, both declined the offer. Both players join Zack Wheeler, who opted out of the All-Star Game, and look to rest up for the rest of the season and push towards completing their championship expectations. Looking deeper, many Phillies players were outraged at the decision due to the fact that Sanchez had a massive clause for making the All-Star Game in his contract. The Phillies, upon hearing the backlash and the support from both players and fans, awarded Sanchez the bonus in his contract. Both players continued to shine after the news against the San Diego Padres in the Phillies’ latest series, where each pitcher gave up one run each in at least six innings' worth of work.
