5 biggest MLB All-Star Game snubs after complete rosters released
By Scott Rogust
The complete rosters for the American and National League teams in the 2023 MLB All-Star Game were revealed, and these players were royally snubbed.
On July 11, the 2023 MLB All-Star Game will take place from T-Mobile Park, home of the Seattle Mariners. We are a bit over a week away from the Midsummer Classic, and MLB has asked for fans in the past couple of weeks to vote for their favorite players to become starters for the American and National League teams.
This week, the full starting lineups for the AL and NL teams were revealed. That, as it does every year, created a debate as to who was worthy of getting the start for their respective team. But, the conversations really pick up when the complete rosters are announced.
Sure enough, the full rosters were revealed on ESPN on Sunday, July 2, including pitchers and reserves. With a complete list of players to look at, fans expressed their opinions on who was deserving to make it, and who was snubbed completely.
When it comes to snubs, these five players (in no particular order) stand out.
No. 5 biggest MLB All-Star Game snub: Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres
There were only so many outfield positions to go around, especially in the starting lineup once Ronald Acuña Jr. earned an automatic bid for receiving the most votes out of anyone in the National League. Joining him in the starting lineup was Arizona Diamondbacks rookie Corbin Carroll and Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts. On Sunday, the final three spots were filled by Nick Castellanos, Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and Juan Soto.
One player who did get snubbed was Soto’s teammate on the San Diego Padres, Fernando Tatis Jr.
Tatis had missed out on the start of the 2023 season after serving an 80-game suspension for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy last year. Since returning, Tatis had been performing well in the batter’s box, notably recording a .867 OPS, the sixth-best among all NL outfielders. Tatis had a higher OPS than Gurriel (.810).
Overall, Tatis recorded a .280 batting average, a .341 on-base percentage, a .526 slugging percentage, 16 home runs, 41 RBI, 46 runs scored, and 75 hits through 64 games played.
When it comes to big-name snubs, Tatis certainly qualifies.