This Saturday, MLB will announce the rosters for the 2026 All-Star Game in Philadelphia. Voting wrapped up earlier on Thursday, so all we can do now is wait and see who will receive the honor.
The St. Louis Cardinals hope to have some representatives in the Midsummer Classic. All teams are required to have at least one, but multiple Cardinals could be headed to Philadelphia. Which players have a case, and what is the likelihood of them getting the nod?
Which Cardinals Should Be Headed to the All-Star Game?
Definite All-Stars
Jordan Walker
Jordan Walker will, without a doubt, be an All-Star this season. He is batting .288 with 18 home runs and 59 RBI. His breakout season has helped the Cardinals exceed expectations and become a contender in the National League.
Walker entered this season with many ready, if not already, to label him a bust. Yet, the 24-year-old has found his groove in the Major Leagues. If the Cardinals can only have one All-Star, it has to be Walker.
Should Be All-Stars
JJ Wetherholt
JJ Wetherholt should be the favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year, and he should also be an All-Star. He is batting .259 with 12 home runs and 34 RBI. He is consistently ranking in the top five in various categories among NL rookies.
Wetherholt’s greatest asset is his bat. However, what is flying under the radar is how good he has been at second base. Wetherholt was drafted as a shortstop, but with Masyn Winn being on the Cardinals as well, the best chance for Wetherholt to reach the Majors would be to switch to second base. His “Outs Above Average” (how many extra outs a player makes) stands at +16, which is considered elite. The current record for OAA in a single season by an infielder is Javy Baez, who posted a +19 in 2019. Wetherholt may just break that record this season.
Wetherholt should simply not just be an All-Star, but he should also be the Rookie of the Year and receive serious consideration for a Gold Glove.
Riley O’Brien
Riley O’Brien may have been a late bloomer to the Major Leagues, but the 31-year-old is having a great season. Entering play on Thursday, O’Brien is tied for the second-most saves in the Majors with 21, which is tied for the most in the NL. Given the Cardinals’ struggles in the back end of games, O’Brien has provided the needed stability.
O’Brien is on pace to break Ryan Helsley‘s team record of 49 saves in a single season. O’Brien may not be a household name right now, but he is a big part of the Cardinals’ success, and he should be an All-Star.
Could Be All-Stars
When we say “could be All-Stars,” we are acknowledging that All-Star rosters are only so big. Not everyone who should be an All-Star will be named one on Saturday. There are snubs every year. However, these players may still make it to the Midsummer Classic, as some may choose to sit out the game to rest or nurse an injury.
For the Cardinals, there are two players who fall into this category.
Alec Burleson
There are many great first basemen who deserve to be All-Stars. For Alec Burleson, it may be hard for him to sneak into the All-Star Game, but he certainly deserves consideration. The lefty is batting .275 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI. He ranks in the top three in RBI and hits (87) in the NL. He has been clutch with the bat, hitting some big home runs for the Cardinals. He does struggle against left-handed pitching, but he still has a decent case all the same.
Michael McGreevy
Do not let Michael McGreevy’s 3-7 record fool you. The California native has been effective for the Cardinals this season. He has a 3.12 ERA in 17 starts. Furthermore, he consistently pitches deep into games. In June, he pitched six innings in all but one start. He gave up two runs or fewer in all but one start.
While McGreevy has been effective, the list of deserving All-Star pitchers is long. McGreevy will likely have to wait for some pitchers to opt out of the game, but the good news is that we typically see more pitchers opt out than other position players. Time will tell, but McGreevy has a case.
Could a Trend End This Year?
The Cardinals are an organization known for sending multiple players to the All-Star Game. For example, the 100-win team in 2015 sent six players to Cincinnati.
Each season since 2023, the Cardinals have only had one All-Star. This season could be different, and it would be a nice example of how the team has performed so far.
Main Photo: Jeff Curry- Imagn Images
