On Sunday, the complete rosters for the 2024 MLB All-Star Game, including reserves and pitchers, were announced. As happens every year, controversy has surrounded the omission of some players, flooding social media with discussions about who’s missing from the big event set to take place in Texas.
American League
Craig Kimbrel:
Nicknamed “Bird,” Kimbrel has been a standout closer since winning the World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018. Despite ranking second in the American League in wins and saves, he was not selected for the All-Star Game. Additionally, he’s fourth in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.
Brent Rooker:
The designated hitter for the Oakland Athletics is in the top 10 for home runs and boasts a slugging percentage of .540 in the American League.
Kenley Jansen:
The closer for the Boston Red Sox has only blown one save this season, hasn’t allowed a home run, and opponents are batting just .198 against him. Furthermore, his ERA is lower than Mason Miller, who was chosen for the All-Star Game, and he has fewer walks allowed than Kirby Yates.
National League
Francisco Lindor:
The shortstop for the New York Mets wasn’t selected due to a slow start this season. However, he’s shown significant improvement recently, ranking in the top 10 for stolen bases and tied for third among shortstops in defensive metrics.
Christian Walker:
As the first baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker has been highly productive in recent seasons. Despite tough competition from Freddie Freeman and Bryce Harper, he ranks ahead of Pete Alonso in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
Brandon Nimmo:
The outfielder for the New York Mets leads the league in runs scored and ranks third in on-base percentage.
The All-Star weekend begins on Saturday, July 13, with the Futures Game and Celebrity Game. The Home Run Derby will take place on Monday, July 15, followed by the All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 16, at 6:00 PM (Mexico City time).
