The MLB All-Star game used to feel like an exclusive dinner party where only the baseball royalty got an invitation. But right now, things are different. It’s starting to feel more open house! And this change has turned the eyes of even the legends of the sport. And it all started on Friday, when the baseball-verse did a double-take when Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was named to the National League All-Star team.
Shocking? Yes! But don’t mistake it with him not being talented, because he absolutely is. But it’s shocking because he has made only five Major League starts. That’s right. Five in total. And now, he is heading to Atlanta to share the stage with some of the game’s best.
Sure, Misiorowski has been electric. He has a 2.81 ERA and 33 strikeouts in just under 26 innings. And his fastball touches 103 mph. Plus, he has even outdueled Clayton Kershaw in his last outing. But for many, this feels a bit…early. And Ron Darling, who is also a former Mets MLB pitcher, didn’t hold back from voicing his opinion.
“Let’s separate the kid from the choice. He had nothing to do with it. So, to have any vitriol against Misiorowski is ill-placed and silly. It’s not his fault they decided to do it. But it can also be kind of a joke to the game and the integrity of the game.” – Ron Darling. pic.twitter.com/NdDByHfHI3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 12, 2025
During the third inning of Saturday’s Mets-Royals game, Ron Darling said, “Listen, let’s separate the kid from the choice. Because he had nothing to do with it. So, to have any vitriol against Misiorowski is ill-placed and silly. It’s not his fault they decided to do it. But it can also be kind of a joke to the game and the integrity of the game that he has only pitched five times.” Now, to be fair, Darling was not taking a swing at the rookie himself, and he made sure that was clear. But he couldn’t ignore what the decision says about the league and its handling of its all-star selections. Now, in context, even Juan Soto didn’t make it this time, and that puts things into perspective.
Darling added, “There are so many deserving pitchers out there that look askance at this choice. It’s a bad choice for baseball.” And it makes sense. Misiorowski now holds the record for the fewest starts before an All-Star selection. He has even broken Paul Skenes’ mark of 11 from last year. It sure is a big moment for the 23-year-old, who has been honestly tearing up the league ever since he made his much-anticipated debut on June 12. And if you think that Darling’s critique ended with just that, you’d be wrong.
He went on to say that the All-Star Game doesn’t hit the same anymore. Plus, he admitted that he watches the Home Run Derby instead of the game itself. So the big question is, is the All-Star game all about the buzz and not the brilliance? If you ask Darling and fans, the answer seems obvious. Also, Darling was not the only one who thought the selection was a joke!
Phillies fume over Milwaukee Brewers’ Misiorowski’s All-Star selection
Jacob Misiorowski’s five MLB starts not only sent shockwaves through veterans but also sent ripples through clubhouses around the league. But it hit differently in Philly, because two of their top arms, Cristopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez, were left off the roster despite having seasons most pitchers can only dream about having. Trea Turner told The Athletic, “What a joke. That’s f—— terrible. I mean, that’s terrible, dude.”
Turner was not alone; even outfielder Nick Castellanos compared the state of the All-Star Game to a travelling circus, saying, “It’s turning into the Savannah Bananas.” And sure, the numbers speak for the Phillies players. Sanchez has a 2.59 ERA and 116 strikeouts over 107⅔ ⅔ innings, and he ranks fourth in the National League in both ERA and WAR. As for Suarez, he stands at a 1.94 ERA over 83 2/3 innings.
J.T. Realmuto also had his message clear, though he was a little diplomatic. “That’s just how MLB does it now. Nothing against the Misiorowski kid. But those two (Sánchez and Suárez) are deserving of being on the team in the first place. There’s no doubt.” Now, according to The Athletic, Suarez was offered all-star recognition if he agreed to pitch. But he declined and chose to rest for the second half.
Sanchez, too, was asked to make himself available, but due to his next start, he declined. This, his agent later disputed, saying Sanchez was ready. So while Misiorowski’s fastball might touch 103 mph, in Philadelphia, all they saw was a missed opportunity, or two.
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