Every summer, the MLB All-Star Game promises to showcase the very best talent baseball has to offer: a celebration of the game’s elite. Yet, year after year, the event sparks familiar controversy. Notable stars are left out while lesser-performing players are inducted, often due to a long-standing rule requiring at least one representative from each team. It’s not a new issue. Back in 2001, Mike Mussina, then with the Yankees, was snubbed despite a stellar first half. A 10–5 record with a 3.50 ERA!

His omission was so glaring that American League manager Joe Torre later admitted it was a mistake. Fast forward to 2025, and déjà vu hits once again. This time, names like Juan Soto and Seiya Suzuki, with both having All-Star-caliber seasons, find themselves on the outside looking in. As expected, the debate is boiling. With deserving talent missing out and frustration growing among players and fans alike, one Mets star has now publicly ripped into the current All-Star selection process.

So the question looms: should the system be overhauled?

“The process is broken. I don’t think every team should get a person. It’s supposed to be All-Stars. It’s not supposed to be, ‘Who is the best player on every team?’ It’s supposed to be, ‘Who are the best players in the major leagues?’” Mets’ slugger Brandon Nimmo went no-holds-barred, ridiculing the current selection process.

Well, the rule that every team must have at least one representative in the All-Star Game has been around since the early 1970s. But if you remember, over time, it’s stirred up plenty of controversy, especially as more deserving players have been left out because of it. For instance, this year, Nimmo and Soto didn’t make the cut, even though both are having solid seasons.

For the unversed, Nimmo is hitting .260 with 18 home runs and a .789 OPS, all while playing a strong left field. In contrast, Soto’s numbers are just as impressive. He’s batting .265 with 22 home runs and a .900 OPS.

Soto was still selected in the 2024 MLB All-Star Game when he was with the Yankees. But for Nimmo, it’s a tough pill to swallow. He’s been a steady presence for the Mets over the past decade, playing all 10 of his MLB seasons in Queens. In 1,001 career games, he owns a .261 average and 128 home runs. Yet, despite that consistency, he’s still never been selected for an All-Star Game!

However, on a positive note, the Mets will still have a strong contingent. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, and David Peterson are all headed to the All-Star Game!

Juan Soto’s snub from the All-Star Game created quite a furore

It’s not just about Nimmo, who is vocal about the 2025 MLB All-Star selection. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza also came down heavy over Soto’s snub. “Incredible. I don’t get it, you know? He’s our MVP,” Mendoza said of Soto. “He’s an MVP for us, he’s an All-Star for us. So I’m just hoping that in the next day or two, we get a call and he gets an invite.”

So yeah, Soto had a slow start this year. But since last month, he has picked up the speed and can be compared with any of the players heading to Atlanta this year. For instance, Fernando Tatis Jr was selected for the MLB All-Star this year with 16 HRs, 42 RBI, and hitting .266. Impressive numbers and deserving of the All-Star nod. But then why not Soto?

Soto currently has 22 HRs, 52 RBIs, and is hitting .265, but was still snubbed. That’s enough to question the selection process. “The consistency he’s shown up with, the at-bats he’s taken, is more than an All-Star. He’s one of the best in the game and a big part of our lineup,” said the Mets’ Clay Holmes.

Just check Soto’s last ten games, and you’ll see he is more than what his current figure is showing. Notably, he is batting .324 with 11 hits, 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and 8 runs scored in 10 games. So, Nimmo raised the right point here about selecting the best in the business for the Midsummer Classic, rather than simply ensuring every team is represented.

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Fans would always strive to witness the best of the best in the league. Something the MLB All-Star is all about.