Who are the Biggest All-Star Snubs in the 2026 Season?

Paul Goldschmidt, ball in hand, playing for the New York Yankees (CCed by Liscense 2.0)

The Major League Baseball All-Star game is one of the biggest events of the regular season. It is not some regular interleague series of a bitter 50-year long rivalry. It’s the best of the best players from the American League and National League playing simply for the love of the game. Up until 2016, the All-Star game dictated home field advantage in that year’s World Series, but now it is more performance based than anything.  64 players make the game in total, with there being 32 players per league. Each team has 20 position players and 12 pitchers. Despite there being 32 players on each team, there are always some notables who just miss the cut and shock their fanbase.  This list showcases the top three 2026 MLB All-Star game snubs from both the American and National leagues.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

3- Josh Jung - 3B, Rangers

Jung leads the AL in doubles with 22 and is hitting a career-high .297 in 83 games. Nearing 100 hits on the season (currently at 96), Josh Jung has been one of the brightest points for Texas Rangers baseball in 2026. Add in the factor of just 5 errors defensively for a .972 fielding percentage, and you have a world class infielder. Overall, Jung has never really been known for his power stroke and his 9 home runs showcases that right now in 2026. Throw in his underwhelming 34 RBIs and you can understand why he missed an All-Star selection. Nonetheless, Jung’s 1.8 WAR is tied for the best on the Rangers, as the team balances .500 ball.

2- Sonny Gray - SP, Red Sox

Sonny Gray has been one of the best pitchers in the American League as we reach the season’s halfway point. Marking his first season in Boston, Gray has been undeniably their ace in what has been frankly an underwhelming season. The 36-year-old has a sub 3.00 ERA at 2.61 throughout 89.2 innings. The veteran has also held opponents to one run or fewer in 10 of his 16 starts this season, and has been a positive vocal point in a sub .500 season for Boston. Despite an overall lack of team success, Gray is 10-1 and Boston has a 12-4 record in the 16 games Gray has started.

1- Paul Goldschmidt - 1B/DH, Yankees

It would have been hard to make Paul Goldschmidt an All-Star considering the first base talents of Nick Kurtz and Ben Rice are dominating the field. Goldschmidt re-signed with the Yankees in free agency to play his age 38 season in an expected bench role, but has ended up being one of the biggest producers for the Yankees as we go into June. At the making of this article, Goldschmidt has a 1.3 WAR and is slashing .266/.325/.505 with an .830 OPS in 63 games. Although late June saw Goldy get into a slump that he is still working through, he has been a vital asset to this Judge-less Yankees team, as he is showing there is a lot left in the tank. Another key to Goldschmidt’s season is the factor of his 41 RBIs in 63 games. Compare that to last season’s 45 RBIs in 146 games and you have a player on pace for roughly double the production as well. 

NATIONAL LEAGUE

3- Braxton Ashcraft - SP, Pirates

Braxton Ashcraft misses out on an All-Star selection despite being one of the most consistent pitchers in the National League this season. While Paul Skenes deals with up-and-down games, Ashcraft has been arguably the most productive pitcher this season for the Pirates. In 18 starts, Ashcraft has notched 122 K’s in 108.1 innings, while only allowing more than two earned runs in 4 of his 18 starts. Braxton’s ERA is marked at 3.24 and overall has an ERA+ of 131, with a pWAR of 2.5 – nearly 1.0 better than teammate Paul Skenes this season.

2- Nolan McLean - SP, Mets

While Juan Soto gets the All-Star nod, Nolan McLean will be watching from his couch. After placing in the top-15 in 2025 Rookie of the Year voting, the right-hander has cemented himself high in what has been a very unstable Mets team in 2026. Despite the Mets’ lows this season, McLean has been a high talking point and even a potential trade candidate. Although his 6-5 record may not be pretty, he has been able to go deep into games for the Mets. In 18 starts, McLean has pitched 101.1 innings, having a 118:37 K:BB ratio. A 3.73 ERA is likely what kept McLean out overall, despite a respectable 1.115 WHIP and an active streak of a sub 1.75 ERA in his last two starts (3.10 ERA in last 5 starts).

1- TJ Rumfield - 1B, Rockies

It’s clear that the Rockies are still in limbo and a bottom feeder team, but that could very well change soon. TJ Rumfield may be a bit old to be considered a rookie at 26, but the former top Yankees prospect has quietly been tearing things up in the NL this season. A 2.3 WAR in 89 games is accompanied by a .297 batting average (94-for-317), and an OPS of .861. Playing first base primarily this season, Rumfield has been near-perfect. In 619.1 innings at first base, he has a .997 fielding percentage, with only 2 errors on his stat sheet. Despite his breakout rookie campaign that has earned him consecutive NL Rookie of the Month honors, Rumfield has just simply slipped through the cracks. With first basemen such as Bryce Harper and Freddie Freeman, it is understandable how and why he was overlooked, but what a shame it really is. Colorado may not be contenders this season, but they have themselves a possible franchise player if his performance keeps up. Also, Rumfield’s rookie status is still intact through 2026, so while he may not be an All-Star, expecting a Rookie of the Year nod is most certainly in the equation.

The 2026 MLB All-Star game will take place on Tuesday, July 14th, at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia at 8:00 p.m. ET. Perhaps some of these names may be injury replacements, but they deserve their flowers none the less.