The MLB All-Star Game has long been seen as the midseason jewel. It is a celebration of the game’s best talent. It’s where elite performances are crowned and given the national spotlight. But in 2025, the spotlight feels a little too bright and maybe a little too staged! What was once a merit-based honor, many might agree, has started to look like a marketing strategy. Fans, players, insiders—everyone seems to be asking one thing: Is this about baseball only and truly?

When the Snub hits harder than the fastball

When the 2025 All-Star rosters dropped, several deserving names didn’t make the cut. Michael Busch, Trevor Megill, Cristopher Sánchez, and Ranger Suárez are among them. But the loudest gasp of shock wasn’t over a rookie story, but over Juan Soto. Yes, the most expensive player in MLB—the $760 million New York Mets star. He has not been once, but in continuity with the All-Star games for four years now, and was snubbed this season! Fans didn’t sit silently, of course, but Soto showed mature calm, saying, “Forget about that… I’m going to try harder and see what I can do.” But as fans cooled down, thinking maybe a bad start to the season ruined his chances, another shocker came knocking on the doors.

Turns out that Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was selected as a replacement pitcher for the National League All-Star team. That might sound exciting; he’s a rookie, right? But hear this—he has made just five MLB starts at the time of his selection. The innings pitched—23.2 innings. He is legit, the first player in MLB history to make the All-Star roster with fewer than 10 starts. Last year, Paul Skenes broke the record with 11 starts. That now almost feels quaint, doesn’t it?

And while Misiorowski’s talent is undeniable, as his fastball even touches 103 mph, and he has struck out 33 batters and has a 2.81 ERA, many feel that nod came too soon. Philadelphia Phillies players, in particular, are vocal about their disapproval, given that several of their pitchers who deserve to be there are not. Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez were snubbed despite having elite numbers.

Sánchez is among the leaders in both ERA and WAR in the National League, and so is Suárez. Both are workhorses for two of baseball’s best teams, but didn’t make the cut. Red Sox legend Jeff Frye echoed the sentiment, posting, “Embarrassing! Any top prospects in the @MiLB who can make All-Stars?” Philadelphia Phillies Trea Turner didn’t hold back either, calling it “—— terrible.” Outfielder Nick Castellanos said, “It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas.” 

But if there is someone who put Misiorowski’s situation into the best perspective, it’s Mets analyst Ron Darling. He mentioned, “Let’s separate the kid from the choice… But it can also be kind of a joke to the game and the integrity of the game that he has only pitched five times.” And here is the kicker: if you feel that the All-Star games or maybe MLB as a whole is shifting gears, it certainly is. What screams change more than Darling, a former baseball player, saying he watches the Home Run Derby instead of the All-Star games?

MLB’s shift in priorities! 

Earlier, being named an All-Star used to be the result of a player’s sustained dominance. It’s a midseason validation of sorts for all the hard work, elite performance, and consistency. But now it’s almost like a brand builder’s dream. If you see Misiorowski, he is everything a highlight reel needs—tall, electric fastball swagger that sold tickets. The same way Skenes did last season, and now he and his girlfriend Olivia Dunne are one of the most talked-about couples in baseball. Still, is that what All-Star nods are—tickets to popularity?

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto said, “That’s just how MLB does it now. Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But those two (Sánchez and Suárez) are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There’s no doubt.” But the drama didn’t stop at the snub. According to The Athletic, MLB allegedly offered both Sánchez and Suárez an All-Star slot, but there was a catch. It was only if they agreed to pitch an inning, even though they were scheduled to start games just before the break. Suárez declined in order to rest, and Sánchez’s camp mentioned he was actually willing to pitch, but he still ended up getting snubbed.

The result is complete chaos and confusion about what’s really happening and what has changed.

What’s changed in MLB, and what do they stand to lose?

Now, on paper, the All-Star selection process hasn’t drastically changed. Fans still vote for starters, while players and the commissioner’s office fill out the remaining 23 spots. The breakdown includes eight pitchers from the player ballot, nine position backups, and six picks from the commissioner. It is a system simply designed to balance popularity and performance. Isn’t it? And for years, it has worked. But now there is a clear shift, and it’s a shift in philosophy rather than an error in process. The audience seems to be changing to a younger audience, driven by viral highlights and maybe the social media buzz. This is talent for sure, but under a modern spotlight.

But what about substance and consistency? When one leaves out pitchers like Sánchez (2.59 ERA, 116 strikeouts) or Suárez (1.94 ERA, 1.05 WHIP) for a pitcher with five starts, you are not choosing dominance; it’s more projection.

The All-Star game was a sacred celebration of excellence. It brought together the game’s best, rewarded the grinders, and gave fans a mid-season thrill. But now, it feels more like a casting call than a crown. A lot is changing in MLB, from the entire philosophy to how the game is watched to the new additions of robo-umps and so much more.

Whether change is good or not, it depends, but yes, in the All-Star case, integrity cannot take a back seat. Because in that case, they risk losing credibility. And that, once gone, is hard to earn back.