The absurdity of Juan Soto missing the National League All-Star team is striking to almost any baseball enthusiast.

Soto has been the New York Mets' best hitter for over a month now, and frankly, the best hitter in the National League. He now owns a .908 season OPS, the eighth-best of any player in baseball and the second-best of any outfielder.

However, due to circumstances beyond his control (like the Miami Marlins needing an All-Star and the hotly competitive NL outfield picture), Soto was left out of his fifth Midsummer Classic, at least on the initial go-around. He could still make the team as a replacement if someone opts out or gets injured.

After his three-hit performance in the Mets' rousing 7-6 comeback win over the Baltimore Orioles on Tuesday, Soto was asked if he would have liked to participate in the All-Star Game.

"What do you think?" Soto said, causing a chuckle from the reporters gathered at his locker (via SNY). "It's a lot of money on the table if I make it."

Soto just signed the richest contract in Major League Baseball history ($765 million), and none of it is tied to being an All-Star. But the winner's share from the game itself wouldn't be anything to sneeze at, and Soto could make even more money if he agreed to be mic'd up.

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The Mets seem to have some sort of bad karma when it comes to All-Star appearances in recent years. Shortstop Francisco Lindor was deserving in both 2023 and 2024, but got snubbed in favor of some oddball first-timers. Now that he's the NL starter, his luck seems to have rubbed off on Soto.

However, even if Soto can't get into the game, he can still make the voters and his peers feel silly for the snub by going on a second-half tear.

More MLB: Phillies predicted to acquire Orioles' $9 million All-Star at trade deadline