All-Star snubs are part of the All-Star Game process. The rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game have been announced, but, unfortunately, there is only so much space on each league’s roster, so there are always a few players who deserve selection but do not. They may get in later, but for now, they are on the outside, looking in. Who is the biggest All-Star snub from each league? Let’s find out.
Biggest All-Star Snubs
American League
Willson Contreras– Boston Red Sox
If you look through the American League leaders in hitting categories, Willson Contreras’s name is going to show up consistently in the top five. The Red Sox first baseman is enjoying a nice first season in Boston, hitting .285 with 19 home runs and 56 RBI. He ranks third in the AL in OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging). The two first basemen ahead of him? All-Stars Ben Rice and Nick Kurtz.
Contreras has been one of the few bright spots on a struggling Red Sox team. He remains a consistent hitter and plays well at first base. Of the list of AL All-Star snubs, Contreras definitely stands out.
Honorable All-Star Snubs: Sonny Gray (Pitcher- Red Sox), Jonathan Aranda (First Baseman- Tampa Bay Rays), Logan Gilbert (Pitcher- Seattle Mariners)
National League
JJ Wetherholt– St. Louis Cardinals
JJ Wetherholt, being one of the All-Star snubs, is a great example of how there is only so much space on the roster. For the NL, there are multiple second basemen deserving of the honor (we will get to them in the honorable mentions). However, Wetherholt stands out enough to be on the team.
Let’s start with his offense. Wetherholt ranks in the top 10 among NL second basemen in the following categories: hits (sixth place with 86), home runs (fourth place with 13), RBI (sixth place with 36), and batting average (sixth with .266). Among NL rookies, he ranks second in hits and home runs, and fourth in RBI. He is consistent and a big reason why the Cardinals are exceeding expectations this season.
JJ Wetherholt clubs a first-pitch leadoff home run! 💥 pic.twitter.com/EUJAGhRjqU
— MLB (@MLB) July 5, 2026
Yet, what makes Wetherholt one of the All-Star snubs is how great he has been defensively. As we mentioned a few days ago, Wetherholt was drafted as a shortstop, but switched to second base. Despite it not being his natural position, Wetherholt has been one of the best second basemen in the game this season. Wetherholt leads all NL second basemen in WAR (Wins Above Replacement) at 3.8. His OAA (Outs Above Average) remains very good at 18.
Wetherholt should be the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year. As such, he is clearly one of the All-Star snubs this season.
Honorable All-Star Snubs: Brice Turang (Second Baseman- Milwaukee Brewers), Brandon Lowe (Second Baseman- Pittsburgh Pirates), Michael Harris (Center Fielder- Atlanta Braves)
The Good News
We have our list of All-Star snubs. The good news is that some will likely make the All-Star roster before the game. Some players will choose not to participate. Starting pitchers who pitch on the Sunday before the All-Star Game will be ineligible to pitch. There are multiple ways in which one of these snubs can end up being an All-Star. In fact, we already have one instance of this happening. Shortly after the rosters were announced, Toronto Blue Jays’ Vladimir Guerrero Jr. announced he would not participate. This allowed Nick Kurtz to make the roster. We will likely see this continue between now and July 14th.
Unfortunately, by the time the All-Star Game comes, there will still be a few deserving players on the outside looking in. It is tough to see this happen, but that is just how it works sometimes. However, whether or not a player is named an All-Star does not change the fact that they are having a great season.
Main Photo: Matt Marton- Imagn Images
