Major League Baseball finalized the 2024 MLB All-Star Game rosters on July 7, as the pitchers and reserves were announced for the Midsummer Classic. But while many of the game’s stars were included, notable ones were left out. So, which players could be considered All-Star snubs? Here’s our list of the five most notable NL All-Star snubs, starting with a hurler from Cincy.
Hunter Greene
The National League will bring several dominant strikeout pitchers to Texas, including Zack Wheeler, rookie Paul Skenes, and Tyler Glasnow, who led the Senior Circuit in strikeouts (143) on July 7. However, it’s hard not to argue strikeout pitcher Hunter Greene belongs on the roster, as well.
Greene entered July 7, the day rosters were finalized, first in the National League in bWAR (3.2) among pitchers. Fangraphs’ WAR metric is less bullish on Greene (2.4) but still ranked him among the top 20 pitchers in the league. The 2024 campaign has arguably been Greene’s best as a Major League pitcher, as he owns a career-best FIP (3.68) marker and 116 strikeouts over 104.1 IP.
Had Greene been named to the All-Star Game, it would have been his first nomination. Next up on our NL All-Star snub list is arguably the most notable snub.
Francisco Lindor
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor could be considered the most notable snub among both leagues. A year after Lindor posted a 30-30 campaign, the 30-year-old racked up 40 extra-base hits (15 HR) and 16 stolen bases over his first 85 games. Not to mention, he was fifth among all shortstops in runs scored (58) as of July 7. Lindor is ranked eighth in the Majors in bWAR (2.6) and fifth in bWAR (3.3).
The one notable knock on Lindor’s season was his slow start. Over 29 games in March and April, Lindor batted just .197/.280/.359. Although, he did have five home runs and nine extra-base hits in that span. Lindor joked his slow start could have been why he wasn’t named to the Midsummer Classic.
Only one Met, Pete Alonso, made the 2024 MLB All-Star Game. However, neither Lindor nor Brandon Nimmo will.
Trevor Megill
Just two players from Milwaukee, William Contreras and Christian Yelich, made the NL All-Star Game roster. The Brewers are a first-place team thanks to several key contributors aside from Contreras and Yelich, and Trevor Megill is one such name.
Milwaukee’s closer, Devin Williams, went down during the spring with a back injury that’s kept him out for all of this season. Megill arose to take over the closer’s role in April and the 30-year-old excelled for the Brewers, striking out 32 over 28.1 IP and owning a spectacular 1.59 ERA over his first 30 games. He also notched 18 saves as of July 7, ninth-most in the Majors.
Megill isn’t the only notable NL reliever who has a legitimate case. Raisel Iglesias has been excellent for the Braves as their closer, as he’s picked up 21 saves this season.
Brice Turang
Speaking of the Brewers, second-year infielder Brice Turang emerged as one of the game’s best middle infielders this season.
A year after Turang posted a .585 OPS over 135 games, Turang’s OPS jumped to .757 in 2024. The 24-year-old hit .288/.348/.409 this season, set a career-high in extra-base hits (24), and is second in the Majors in stolen bases (28). He’s also been among the best defenders in the game. Turang owns the best defensive bWAR (1.6) in the game and the OAA (+2) metric shines positively on him, as well.
Ketel Marte and Luis Arraez were named the NL’s two second basemen.
Christian Walker
We’ll finish our NL All-Star snubs list with a big bat from Arizona. Yet again, Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker continues to quietly put up results.
Over his first 89 games, Walker hit .268/.341/.516 with 22 home runs, and 40 extra-base hits, and has helped keep the Diamondbacks in the playoff race amidst injuries and a slumping Corbin Carroll. Walker entered play on July 7 tied for seventh in the Majors in home runs.
By all accounts, Walker had a season befitting of an All-Star. However, one major problem for Walker was the depth at first among NL first basemen. Bryce Harper was voted in as the league’s All-Star, while Freddie Freeman and Pete Alonso were named reserves.