The 2024 MLB All-Star rosters have been finalized, as the league announced which pitchers and reserves would join the individuals voted in to start in Texas on July 16. Many of the AL’s top players will be present in Arlington for the Midsummer Classic. However, there were strong cases for several notable American League players who didn’t get named to the All-Star Game. Here’s our list of AL All-Star snubs, starting with an ace from Cleveland.
Tanner Bibee
We’ll start our AL All-Star snubs list with Guardians pitcher Tanner Bibee, who’s helped captain a Cleveland rotation that’s struggled with injuries this season.
Cleveland lost Shane Bieber early in 2024, while Gavin Williams missed multiple months with elbow soreness. Bibee, meanwhile, has been a steady hand in the Guardians’ rotation. The 25-year-old struck out 115 batters over the first 98 innings of his sophomore campaign, and he posted a respectable 3.67 ERA across the first half. Bibee’s fWAR is 2.2, the same as 2024 All-Star Logan Gilbert.
No, Bibee hasn’t been as dominant, compared to other All-Star pitchers. However, Bibee’s contributions to a Guardians team sitting atop the AL Central can’t be understated.
Ronel Blanco
Speaking of pitchers who’ve held things down amidst a rash of injuries, the same argument could be made for Astros right-hander Ronel Blanco.
Blanco’s been a revelation for the Astros in 2024, given the 30-year-old started just seven games in the Majors before this season. The Astros hurler owned a 2.53 ERA after his first 96 frames and a 1.01 WHIP. He’s also been consistent across each month, as opposing batters owned a sub-.630 OPS in two of the first three months of the season. And, let’s not forget about Blanco’s no-hitter from earlier this season.
The Astros right-hander entered play on July 7 ninth in the AL in bWAR (2.9), just ahead of Royals starter and 2024 All-Star Cole Ragans.
George Kirby
Right-hander Logan Gilbert will head to Arlington to represent the first-place Seattle Mariners. George Kirby, though, is another arm who deserved consideration.
Kirby’s made a living off of pitch movement. Statcast rates his curveball and slider as above average in terms of movement. And, the Mariners righty knows how to control the zone. Kirby owns a ridiculous 2.4% BB%. And, all that work’s benefited the 26-year-old. Kirby owns an above-average Chase% of 33.6%, a 3.32 ERA, and a 1.00 WHIP, the latter two stats good for the top 15 in the AL.
Interestingly, just one Mariner made the All-Star Game. We’ll have to see whether Kirby, who does have the stats deserving of All-Star consideration, will get in assuming re-alignment of the pitching staff after July 14.
Anthony Santander
Compared to the National League, there are very “snubs” among position players in the AL. Looking at bWAR among position players, the top nine in the Junior Circuit made the roster. And based on Fangraphs’ fWAR, the top ten in the AL made it among position players. However, some position players still have a case, one being Anthony Santander.
From May 1 through July 6, Anthony Santander tied for third-most home runs (18) in the Majors alongside Jose Ramirez. The only two players in MLB with more homers in that stretch were Shohei Ohtani (21) and Aaron Judge (26). The Orioles outfielder had a .243 average in that span and a .835 OPS.
Santander slugged like an All-Star. However, the Junior Circuit is nonetheless filled with talented outfielders, including Judge, Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, and Steven Kwan, among others.
Josh Smith
We’ll finish our AL All-Star snubs list with one of the better stories in 2024, Josh Smith.
The Rangers utilityman received significant playing time in 2024, thanks to injuries sustained by Josh Jung and Corey Seager. Smith, who’s played three positions (2B, 3B, SS) this season, returned in-kind by posting a .837 OPS over his first 83 games, seven home runs, and entered play on July 7 10th in the American League in bWAR (3.2).
Smith might not be a household name. But, he’s played like an All-Star in 2024.