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Hot Bats, Hot Takes: Breaking Down the 2025 MLB All-Stars

Hunter Tierney 's profile
Original Story by Your Life Buzz
July 8, 2025
Hot Bats, Hot Takes: Breaking Down the 2025 MLB All-Stars

The MLB All-Star rosters are out, and as expected, they’re already fueling a week’s worth of arguments, debates, and group chat meltdowns. That’s the charm of this time of year — right when the regular season hits its lull, the All-Star Game reminds everyone why we care in the first place.

This year’s game lands in Atlanta at Truist Park, joining the long list of MLB All-Star game locations, with a roster that’s doing a little bit of everything. You’ve got big names doing big things, a solid handful of first-timers earning their shine, and a few surprise inclusions that already have fans double-checking stat lines. And of course, the MLB All-Star snubs. Always the snubs.

How the Sausage Gets Made

Jul 5, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) heads to first on a walk against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fifth inning at T-Mobile Park.
Credit: Credit: John Froschauer-Imagn Images

The All-Star selection process isn’t exactly straightforward — it’s more like trying to fill out a March Madness bracket while also balancing a popularity poll and a fantasy draft. Half the vote goes to the fans, which is great in theory but usually means the most well-known names get the nod, whether they’re having an elite year or not. The other half comes from players and coaches, which tends to balance things out a little more, though not always. Then you’ve got MLB’s own rules layered on top — like making sure every single team has at least one representative, or ensuring there are two catchers, even if that means stretching a little.

By the time the dust settled on this year’s MLB All-Stars, we ended up with 65 players: 32 in the American League, 33 in the National. And just like clockwork, the focus immediately shifted from who made it to who didn’t. Because that’s what happens every year — someone with great numbers gets left off, a guy with middling stats makes it because his team needs a representative, and the whole thing becomes one big conversation starter.

But here’s the thing — these MLB All-Star reserves aren’t final. Not even close. Pitchers are already bowing out to rest their arms, position players will mysteriously come down with a tweaked hamstring or back tightness, and the commissioner’s office will slide in a few replacements to patch the holes. It happens every July.

The Biggest Snubs and the Reactions They Sparked

Every year someone gets left off the dance card. This year, the American League snub list reads like an October rotation. Joe Ryan’s 2.76 ERA and sub‑1.00 WHIP still couldn’t push out the feel‑good Kris Bubic story or the big‑market shine of Jacob deGrom. Framber Valdez has done everything short of adopt an orphaned puppy on the mound — 10 wins, a WHIP south of 1.20, top‑five WAR — and still can’t get a seat on the flight to Georgia.

Offensively, George Springer’s OPS is flirting with career highs, Jonathan Aranda is slugging .520 as a super‑utility unicorn, and 22‑year‑old Junior Caminero has more extra‑base hits than first‑time All‑Star Brandon Lowe but none of them made the cut.

In the National League, Juan Soto headlines the MLB All-Star snub squad. He’s on pace for a 6‑WAR campaign and holds one of the most bizarre All-Star stats you’ll come across: he’s the first player ever with 20 homers, 70 walks and a 150‑plus OPS+ at the break to miss the MLB All‑Star Game.

Seiya Suzuki leads all of MLB All-Stars in RBIs. Michael Busch is quietly putting together a monster season with a .939 OPS that ranks among the top five in the entire league. Trea Turner's pacing the National League in hits while also rocking a 121 OPS+, doing pretty much everything you’d want from a leadoff guy. None of them will be making the trip to this year's MLB All-Star Game location in Atlanta.

Fans want the game to reward performance, not just reputation or market size. And honestly, these debates bring out some of the sport’s most passionate conversations. The rosters might change by game day, but those initial omissions stick in people’s minds.

Clayton Kershaw’s Victory Lap

Jul 2, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22) acknowledges the crowd after striking out Chicago White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra (41) for his 3000th career strike at Dodger Stadium.
Credit: Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Clayton Kershaw being named a Legend Pick for the 2025 MLB All-Star Game was about as predictable as it was well-deserved. The Dodgers ace, now 37, recently became the 20th pitcher in MLB history to reach 3,000 strikeouts — and just the fourth left-hander to do it.

That milestone alone would’ve earned him a nod, but he hasn’t been just a feel-good story. After starting the season on the IL, he came back strong, logging nine starts by the end of June with a 3.43 ERA and holding opponents to a .210 average.

A Youth Movement That’s Hard to Ignore

This year’s MLB All-Star Game isn’t just about the big names — it’s a spotlight on the next wave of talent starting to leave their mark. While the number of first-time selections is down from last year’s 32 to 19, the group we got is still making it clear that the future of baseball isn’t just coming — it’s already here.

Take James Wood, for example. The 6-foot-7 Nationals outfielder just turned 22 and is already turning heads as the youngest player on either roster. Not only did he make the MLB All-Star team, but he’s also signed up for the Home Run Derby, hoping to bring the crown back to D.C. for the first time since Bryce Harper lit up the event back in 2018. His raw power, combined with a growing confidence at the plate, is exactly what this game needs more of.

Then there’s Hunter Brown, who’s been nothing short of dominant for the Astros. He leads the Majors in ERA, and since May 1, no pitcher in the AL has been better. Brown’s mix of control, movement, and strikeout stuff has made him one of the toughest arms in baseball right now.

Matthew Boyd’s inclusion is one of the more heartwarming stories on the roster. The 34-year-old Cubs pitcher has been around the block — bullpen roles, minor-league assignments, injuries — you name it. But this season, he’s finally put it all together, becoming a stabilizing force in the Cubs’ rotation. It’s taken time, but his first All-Star nod is a reminder that persistence in this game still pays off.

And speaking of longshots, Shane Smith might be the most unexpected name on the list. A Rule 5 Draft pick by the White Sox, Smith came into spring training hoping just to make the roster. Instead, he’s become the first rookie pitcher in franchise history to earn an All-Star spot. He throws hard, competes like a vet, and, according to his teammates, might not fully grasp how impressive what he’s doing really is.

Put it all together, and you’ve got a class of first-timers that gives the game a real boost. They’re young, hungry, and ready to show out. And if this group is any indication of what’s coming down the pipeline, baseball fans have a lot to look forward to.

The Superstars Doing Superstar Things

Of course, the kids are only half the show. The other half is where the proven stars take over — the ones who are selling tickets.

Aaron Judge is at it again, and this might be one of his most ridiculous runs yet. The Yankees slugger enters the break with a jaw-dropping 1.202 OPS, which puts him in territory we haven’t seen since peak Bonds. Seriously, only Trout in 2018 has come close to this level of offensive dominance at the break in the last two decades. Pitchers are trying everything — off-speed, high heat, working around him — and he’s still launching balls like it’s batting practice. He’s leading the league in average, OBP, and slugging.

Shohei Ohtani, meanwhile, continues to operate in his own universe. Even after two surgeries — Tommy John in 2023 and shoulder work last fall — he’s managed to return this year as both a dominant hitter and, now, a limited-use pitcher. At the plate, he’s still one of the most dangerous bats in the game, with a .993 OPS, 30 homers, and some of the best slugging numbers in the National League. He won NL Player of the Month in May, and hasn’t cooled off much since. But what’s really raised eyebrows lately is that he’s started pitching again. The Dodgers are being cautious, ramping him back up, but he's already touching triple digits.

And then there’s Cal Raleigh, the Mariners’ slugging catcher who’s been launching balls into orbit all season. With 35 home runs already, he’s blown past the franchise single-season record for catchers before we even hit the All-Star break. He leads all backstops in barrel rate and hard-hit percentage, and he’s doing it while handling one of the most talented pitching staffs in baseball. The nickname “Big Dumper” might be funny, but the numbers are serious.

As good as the young core is, it’s still the established stars who give the game its identity. When you tune in to the Midsummer Classic, these are the players you’re locked in to see. And they’ve more than earned that spotlight.

Tigers On the Prowl and Dodgers In Force

Jun 16, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) throws against the San Diego Padres during the first inning at Dodger Stadium.
Credit: Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Dodgers top the chart with five All‑Stars. If you’re counting, that’s Freeman, Smith, Ohtani, Yamamoto and the living legend himself, Kershaw. Each one of them has made their presence felt in a big way this season.

But the real surprise is Detroit’s trio of elected starters. Gleyber Torres arrived via offseason trade, looked around Comerica Park and remembered he used to be a middle‑of‑the‑order menace. Riley Greene finally stayed healthy long enough to show why prospect hounds would not shut up about him, and Tarik Skubal is trying to become the first back‑to‑back Cy Young winner in Motown since Denny McLain pulled that trick in 1968‑69. Sprinkle in resurgent shortstop Javier Báez and utility dynamo Zach McKinstry, and the Tigers suddenly own a quarter of the AL starting lineup.

One Big, Beautiful Mess — Just the Way We Like It

Here’s the thing about the All-Star Game: it’s never going to please everyone. It’s messy, it’s subjective, and yeah, it’s kind of a logistical circus. But that’s exactly what gives it life.

So no, the All-Star rosters aren’t perfect. But they’re full of guys who’ve earned the spotlight in their own way. And if nothing else, they remind us why we love this sport in the first place.

All stats courtesy of MLB.com.

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