Five National League Players That Were Snubbed from the 2023 MLB All-Star Game

We’ve already went over our list of American League snubs for the 2023 MLB All-Star Game. Now, it’s time to look at the National League. Here’s our picks for the five players that we believe have legitimate arguments to go to Seattle.

Related: Five American League Players That Were Snubbed from the 2023 MLB All-Star Game

Jeimer Candelario

Nationals third baseman Jeimer Candelario has put up impressive numbers in D.C. this season. Through his first 79 games of the 2023 campaign, the 29-year-old hit .264/.339/.475 with 11 home runs. 39 RBI, and 39 extra base hits, the latter of which put him in a tie with 2023 All-Star Nick Castellanos for tenth in the Majors. Candelario’s 2.6 bWAR is ahead of Nolan Arenado (1.4) and Austin Riley (1.9), both of whom did make the NL All-Star roster.

A strong argument could also be made for fellow National Lane Thomas, but Candelario is the more glaring omission given the less-than-stellar campaigns that Arenado and Riley have put up.

Brandon Nimmo

The Mets will send Pete Alonso to the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game, but what about Brandon Nimmo? Nimmo is on pace for a career season, as he’s posted a .279/.372/.458 slash line and hit 12 home runs in 82 games for the Mets. Additionally, Nimmo’s .830 OPS and 2.3 bWAR figures are ahead of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in both categories.

While Alonso has continued to crush home runs in 2023, it’s not hyperbole to state that Nimmo has been the Mets’ most valuable hitter this season.

Fernando Tatis Jr.

Among position players, seven of the top ten in total bWAR made the All-Star Game. Two of the three that didn’t were San Diego Padres, and one was Fernando Tatis Jr. Since his return to the Majors, the 24-year-old has been a force to be reckoned with. Tatis Jr. hit .280 with 16 home runs, 41 RBI, and an impressive .867 OPS through his first 64 games. Just three players in the league, Tatis Jr. Ronald Acuna Jr. and Corbin Carroll, have at least 16 bombs and 14 stolen bases this season.

Some, including Tatis Jr’s teammate Manny Machado, took exception to his omission from the NL roster. Just from looking at the numbers, it’s not hard to understand why.

Michael Wacha

Tatis Jr. isn’t the only Padre to be included on this list. Right-hander Michael Wacha has been arguably the Padres’ best starter — and one of the best in the game this season. Over his first 18 starts of the season, Wacha went 8-3 with a gorgeous 2.84 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a 73:25 K:BB ratio through 85.2 IP. The right-hander’s ERA is good for fifth in the NL, and he has been excellent at beating both left and right-handed hitters.

Granted, the NL All-Star pitching staff is loaded. Still, Wacha’s impressive season does deserve some recognition.

Logan Webb

We cap off our list with Logan Webb. The Giants ace has been an innings muncher this season, as only Nathan Eovaldi (112.1) and Zac Gallen (111.1) have accrued more IP than Webb (110.1) this season. The 26-year-old has been as steady as they come, as no pitcher in the NL has a better BB/9 (1.7), and no one in the Majors possesses a higher GB% rate (61.7%) than Webb

There’s a strong argument to be made that both Wacha or Webb deserved the nod over Josiah Gray, the lone representative for the Nationals. But as of right now, neither are slated to go to Seattle.