Major League Baseball unveiled the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game on July 2, setting the stage for the Midsummer Classic at Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15. As expected, fan favorites Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers led the voting in their respective leagues, securing automatic starting spots. However, alongside these marquee names, the announcement sparked debate over several notable snubs and surprising selections that have stirred conversations among fans and analysts alike.
The American League starting lineup features some familiar stars and exciting newcomers. Judge, who leads the majors with a .358 batting average and ranks second in home runs with 30, anchors the outfield alongside Tigers teammates Riley Greene and Javier Báez. Catcher Cal Raleigh earned his first All-Star start, becoming the first Seattle Mariners player to do so since Nelson Cruz in 2015, thanks to his league-leading 33 home runs and 71 RBIs in just 84 games. Rookie shortstop Jacob Wilson of the Oakland Athletics made history as the first rookie shortstop ever to win the fan vote, edging out established stars like Bobby Witt Jr. Meanwhile, José Ramírez and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. continue to cement their reputations with their fourth and fourth All-Star starts, respectively.
On the National League side, the Dodgers dominate with three starters: Ohtani, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman. Ohtani, tied with Judge for the second-most home runs (30), has also added pitching to his All-Star credentials this season, making him a rare two-way threat. The Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong and Kyle Tucker, both first-time starters, join veterans Ronald Acuña Jr. and Manny Machado, who earned his fourth All-Star start. Francisco Lindor, now with the Mets, earned his first career All-Star start, highlighting his resurgence after a trade that revitalized his career.
Despite the star power, several snubs have raised eyebrows. Notably absent from the starting lineups are Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. and St. Louis Cardinals’ Nolan Gorman, both of whom have posted solid numbers but were edged out by fan favorites and rookies. Witt Jr., a perennial fan favorite, lost the shortstop vote to Jacob Wilson, a surprise upset that some attribute to Wilson’s strong early-season surge and the Athletics’ fanbase enthusiasm. The Cardinals’ lack of starters is also a concern, with no players named to the National League starting nine, reflecting a broader trend of diminished fan engagement and team struggles this season.
Another contentious omission is Baltimore Orioles slugger Ryan O’Hearn, who secured the DH spot but was overlooked in other positions despite a breakout season. Meanwhile, some analysts argue that Detroit Tigers’ Gleyber Torres and Riley Greene, both starters, might have benefited from the team’s recent surge in popularity rather than purely on individual merit, though their stats do justify their selections.
Managerial decisions on pitchers and reserves, to be announced on July 6, will add further intrigue. Managers Aaron Boone (AL) and Dave Roberts (NL) will name starting pitchers closer to the game, balancing fan selections with strategic considerations. The final rosters will ensure every MLB team has at least one representative, a rule that sometimes complicates selections and fuels debates over snubs and surprises.
The 2025 MLB All-Star starters list blends established superstars with exciting newcomers, reflecting both fan passion and emerging talent. While Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani headline the event as expected, the lineup’s surprises and snubs underscore the evolving dynamics of fan voting and player performance. As the full rosters and pitchers are revealed, fans will be eager to see how the final teams shape up for what promises to be a thrilling Midsummer Classic.
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