2024 MLB All-Star snubs

Every year, when the reserves and pitchers for the MLB All-Star Game are announced, some players have put up worthy performances but did not earn All-Star honors, and 2024 is no exception.

To be a snub, a player must have another he can replace on his league’s team while keeping the rule that every team must have at least one representative.

American League

Snub: Jordan Westburg, third baseman, Baltimore Orioles

Whom he would replace: Marcus Semien, second baseman, Texas Rangers

There are few great everyday second basemen in the American League, as Semien ranks fourth in the American League and 12th in the majors among second basemen with a.674 OPS.

Westburg, on the other hand, has taken a big leap in production from his rookie season, increasing his OPS from .715 in 2023 to .835 in 2024.

A big reason for Westburg’s improvement is that he has gotten the barrel of the bat to the ball more often, and it’s helped him become a great complement to shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

Snub: Erick Fedde, starting pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Whom he would replace: Cole Ragans, starting pitcher, Kansas City Royals

For all the talk surrounding fellow White Sox starting pitcher and All-Star Garrett Crochet, Fedde has been more valuable to Southside with 4.0 WAR compared to Crochet’s 3.9 WAR.

Compared to Crochet’s major league-leading 146 strikeouts, Fedde relies on ground balls to get outs.

Fedde could become an undervalued trade target from the White Sox with all the attention that Crochet and outfielder Luis Robert Jr. are getting.

Snub: Kenley Jansen, relief pitcher, Boston Red Sox

Whom he would replace: Clay Holmes, relief pitcher, New York Yankees

Holmes has looked vulnerable lately, giving up earned runs in five of his last seven appearances with two blown saves and two losses.

Jansen, however, has given up earned runs in only five of his 31 appearances and has yet to give up a home run in 2024.

Jansen’s cutter has arguably been a more effective primary pitch than Holmes’ sinker, as hitters have batted 13.7 percentage points more against Holmes’ sinker.

National League

Snub: Brandon Nimmo, outfielder, New York Mets

Whom he would replace: Jackson Merrill, outfielder, San Diego Padres

Nimmo, who has yet to be selected to an All-Star Game despite a .826 OPS in his nine-year career, has become a different player over the past two years.

Nimmo, who was moved out of the leadoff spot in May, has been striking out more in an attempt to hit the ball for more power, and it is working.

Nimmo is on pace to pass his career highs of 68 RBI and nine stolen bases, as he has 53 and eight, respectively, in 2024, as well as 13 home runs.

What sets Nimmo and Merrill apart is plate discipline, as Nimmo chases less and walks more than Merrill.

Snub: Christian Walker, first baseman, Arizona Diamondbacks

Whom he would replace: Pete Alonso, first baseman, New York Mets

There’s not much to dive into comparing these two, as Walker trumps Alonso in many major offensive categories including OPS and home runs.

Walker, a two-time Gold Glove winner, has more WAR than Alonso offensively with 2.8 to 1.0 and defensively with 0.2 to -0.9.

Walker has yet to be selected to an All-Star game despite a .801 OPS in his eight seasons with the Diamondbacks.

Snub: Brice Turang, second baseman, Milwaukee Brewers

Whom he would replace: Luis Arráez, first baseman, San Diego Padres

On a team with All-Star starters Christian Yelich and William Contreras, Turang has been one of the more unheralded players in baseball.

While Arráez, who has batted .330 since 2022, is the definition of a contact hitter in baseball today, Turang ranks 24th in 2024 with a .288 average while showing more versatility.

Turang ranks eighth in the majors with 4.0 WAR, is second with 29 stolen bases and leads all major league second basemen with 1.6 DWAR.

All stats are as of before the games on July 8, 2024.

Owen Klein is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email ojk5092@psu.edu.