Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler has been invited to be an addition to the MLB All-Star roster, but has decided not to participate after being snubbed multiple times.
When the original National League All-Star roster was revealed, Wheeler was not included. He was also left out of several replacements announced on Tuesday before receiving an invite on Friday.
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“They disrespected me, so I’m just not going to participate in that thing,” Wheeler told reporters on Saturday. “I’m not going to be the fifth option. Maybe I didn’t earn it at the, from the get-go, but maybe just second choice. Once I feel like they kind of messed that up, I’m out.”
After missing the first portion of the season due to thoracic outlet surgery, Wheeler has once again placed himself among the best pitchers in the NL.
Following a terrific 14-strikeout game against the Cincinatti Reds on Tuesday, he said the performance was a “reminder for whoever needs to be reminded.”
He’s currently 9-1 this season with a 2.28 ERA and 98 strikeouts. As a three-time All-Star, Wheeler told reporters that the honor is something that players take pride in.
“Guys do take a lot of pride to having the All-Star next to your name,” Wheeler said. “During your career and after your career — and people who build them stuff after your career might look at that, too. For somebody to kind of take that away from me, it doesn’t sit the best.”
James Parker is a sports writer for Ball Exclusives, follow him on X @TheJames_Parker
