Getty Image / steph chambers
For 91 years, the MLB All-Star Game has gathered baseball fans around the radio or television to see the game’s best players play against each other. But, for Baltimore Orioles fans, they don’t think they’re going to see enough of their own players in the game.
The All-Star reserves were announced on Sunday evening, and the best team in the American League will only have three players going!
Starting pitcher Corbin Burnes was announced as a reserve, joining AL starters in catcher Adley Rutschman and shortstop Gunnar Henderson for the Orioles to give them three representatives.
A lot of teams would be happy with three All-Star selections. Even the .500 Mets, very much in playoff contention, only got one player selected in Pete Alonso.
But, Orioles fans feel like they were screwed here!
Oof
No Westburg, No Santander, No Kimbrel, No Rodriguez … snub city in the AS game.— Orioles Statistics (@OriolesStatist1) July 7, 2024
Looking at the stats, they’ve got a case for a few of those guys mentioned.
Former top prospect Jordan Westburg has been one of the best 3rd basemen in the majors this year. In 82 games, he’s slashing .282/.329/.509, with 14 homers and 49 RBI’s, good for an OPS+ of 140. A guy with those numbers is, without a doubt, an All-Star.
Anthony Santander has a similar argument, slashing .233/.300/.494 with 22 homers and 46 RBI’s for a 126 OPS+. That’s more of a borderline case than Westburg’s, but that’s a guy that would make it a lot of times and I can see why Orioles fans would think he got snubbed.
Grayson Rodriguez has 10 wins, just one behind the AL lead, and has a 3.45 ERA, so I can see a case for him even if he probably shouldn’t be a lock.
Likely Hall-of-Famer Craig Kimbrel has pitched great this year as well, as he has a 2.16 ERA and a very impressive 175 ERA+ with 23 saves. He too didn’t make the All-Star Game.
The snubs bother the fans and I’m sure the players as well, but they have a lot to be happy about otherwise. They sit at 57-33, have the most wins in the American League, and are serious World Series contenders. They still have arguably the game’s best farm system, too, and it looks like the Orioles will be very good for a very long time.
The 2024 MLB All-Star Game is July 16, hosted by the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.