Philadelphia had seen only 59.4% of the regular season when the All-Star Game arrived, which is exactly why the roster debate never really ends there. A few players are hot too late, a few are overlooked in crowded position groups, and a few simply keep stacking quality work after the red carpet has been rolled up. Here is a clubhouse lineup for the players whose 2026 seasons deserved a longer look, with statistics through Monday’s games.
2026 MLB All-Star Snubs: A Clubhouse Lineup
SEO Title: 2026 MLB All-Star Snubs: Moreno, Turang, Tatis and More
SEO Description: A clubhouse lineup of 2026 MLB players who missed the All-Star Game despite standout work at the plate, in the field and on the mound.
Gabriel Moreno has put together the kind of season that makes a catcher indispensable. Arizona’s 26-year-old backstop has already moved beyond his previous high of 111 games, set in 2023, while producing a career-best .846 OPS. Moreno’s contact profile has been particularly sharp: he ranks in at least the 90th percentile in expected wOBA, expected batting average and whiff rate. The defense that earned him a Gold Glove in 2023 remains part of the package, but this has been his strongest all-around year behind the plate. Kansas City’s Carter Jensen, Liam Hicks of the Rays and Marlins, and Cincinnati’s Tyler Stephenson also made strong cases among catchers.
At first base, Jake Bauers has turned a well-traveled career into one of Milwaukee’s most useful stories. Now in his seventh big league season and playing for his fifth organization, the 30-year-old left-handed hitter owns a .892 OPS, placing him among the league’s top 10. He has supplied power, taken his walks and made a striking adjustment against left-handed pitching, improving his OPS in those matchups by nearly 400 points from a year ago. For a Brewers club chasing what could be its strongest postseason position yet, Bauers has been more than a platoon piece. Pete Alonso of the Orioles, San Francisco’s Rafael Devers, Ty France of the Padres, Luis Garcia Jr. of the Yankees and Nationals, Colorado’s TJ Rumfield, St. Louis’ Alec Burleson and Tampa Bay’s Jonathan Aranda were other worthy first-base considerations.
Brice Turang remains one of the quieter stars in a Milwaukee clubhouse full of them. The 26-year-old has never made an All-Star team, though his .265/.363/.443 line closely resembles the offensive work that helped him finish 14th in the National League MVP balloting last season. His glove has climbed another level. Turang stands at plus-12 Outs Above Average at second base, double the plus-six figure from his 2024 Gold Glove campaign. JJ Wetherholt of the Cardinals, Pittsburgh’s Brandon Lowe, Chase Meidroth of the White Sox and Minnesota’s Luke Keaschall also belonged in the second-base conversation.
Elly De La Cruz has made the odd distinction of having his best full season without an All-Star invitation. Cincinnati’s electric shortstop is not on pace to approach the nearly 70 steals he recorded two years ago, but he has become a more complete hitter. He is drawing more walks, cutting down the strikeouts and finding his power more consistently. His average exit velocity, barrel rate and hard-hit rate sit near the very top of the sport, helping carry him to an .874 OPS. Add his range, arm and speed at short, and the profile still looks like an MVP season waiting to fully break open. Arizona’s Geraldo Perdomo, the Angels’ Zach Neto and Houston’s Jeremy Peña were also left off despite strong campaigns.
Alex Bregman brought the usual polished work at third base to the Cubs, posting plus-eight Outs Above Average while hitting more than 20% better than the league average by OPS+. His value has reached beyond the box score, too. The veteran’s early-season guidance to Pete Crow-Armstrong on swing decisions and plate approach helped the young Cubs outfielder unlock an MVP-caliber year. Houston’s Isaac Paredes and Toronto’s Kazuma Okamoto were other notable omissions at the hot corner.
Milwaukee sent only Jacob Misiorowski and William Contreras to Philadelphia despite again pushing for baseball’s best record, so it is no surprise the Brewers fill several of these empty All-Star seats. Jackson Chourio has raised his offensive ceiling with career highs across his slash line: a .292 average, .349 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage, along with 23 home runs. His move to left field has worked cleanly as well, producing plus-five Outs Above Average. Cleveland’s Steven Kwan, Chicago’s Sam Antonacci, Minnesota’s Trevor Larnach, Pittsburgh’s Bryan Reynolds, Texas’ Wyatt Langford and Athletics hitter Tyler Soderstrom also had All-Star-worthy seasons in the outfield.
Michael Harris II may have been the Braves’ most valuable everyday player, even though Atlanta placed three position players and five total representatives on the All-Star roster. Harris, 25, has backed his premium center-field defense with a .490 slugging percentage, his best mark since his 2022 National League Rookie of the Year season. His athleticism plays loudly in the gaps, and the bat has kept pace. San Diego’s Jackson Merrill and Milwaukee’s Garrett Mitchell were other center-field candidates.
Fernando Tatis Jr. is a reminder that two cold months can distort an All-Star ballot. It took the Padres star 56 games to hit his first home run of the season, but he has since settled into a familiar All-Star level: .289/.357/.462 with 22 homers, 29 doubles and 35 steals. His 54.2% hard-hit rate ranks within MLB’s top 3%, evidence that the early homer drought did not tell the entire story. Chicago’s Seiya Suzuki, Kansas City’s Jac Caglianone, Boston’s Wilyer Abreu, New York’s Carson Benge, Cleveland’s Chase DeLauter and Atlanta’s Ronald Acuña Jr. were among the right-field alternatives.
The utility selection is a fifth-season player whose versatility has finally been matched by a major breakthrough in overall production. He has played every infield and outfield position, ranks in the 98th percentile in fielding run value and has more than doubled his combined WAR from his first four seasons, whether measured by Baseball-Reference or FanGraphs. He has also established personal bests with a .769 OPS, 17 home runs, 26 doubles and 11 steals. Minnesota’s Kody Clemens was the leading honorable mention for the super-utility role.
Seattle’s Dominic Canzone has made the designated-hitter spot his own. After thriving in a partial platoon role last season, the left-handed hitter has earned steadier work and handled pitchers from either side, with a .796 OPS against right-handers and an .827 mark against left-handers. He has cleared both 20 homers and 20 doubles, and his .804 OPS is sixth among qualified hitters who have played at least half of their games as a DH. Texas’ Joc Pederson and San Francisco’s Bryce Eldridge also deserved consideration.
The Arms Left Out of Philadelphia
Sonny Gray’s All-Star history has followed a curious four-year rhythm: 2015 with Oakland, 2019 with Cincinnati and 2023 with Minnesota. The cycle looked ready to continue in 2026. Gray has reached 17 wins, putting him in the fight for the major league lead, while his 148 ERA+ is the best among qualified starting pitchers who did not make an All-Star roster. In an era of automated ball-strike challenges, his precision has remained a particularly potent weapon. Philadelphia’s Zack Wheeler, Washington’s Cade Cavalli, Boston’s Payton Tolle, San Diego’s Michael King, the Mets’ Nolan McLean, Angels left-hander Reid Detmers, Atlanta’s Grant Holmes, José Soriano of the Blue Jays and Angels, and Detroit’s Keider Montero were also deserving starters.
The relief pool was deep enough that several excellent seasons were bound to be squeezed out, but Blackburn’s case stands apart. He is the only non-All-Star reliever to log at least 80 innings with an ERA below 2.00. For a pitcher whose career has included injury trouble as a starter, the move to the bullpen has brought a dramatic turnaround. His ability to generate weak contact has played up in shorter stints and heavier relief usage. Toronto’s Tyler Rogers, Yankees left-hander Brent Headrick, San Diego’s Yuki Matsui, Milwaukee’s DL Hall and Abner Uribe, Chicago’s Grant Taylor, Houston’s Steven Okert, Atlanta’s Didier Fuentes and Arizona’s Juan Morillo rounded out a crowded group of overlooked relievers.
