New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto may be the most surprising omission from this year’s All-Star Game — and the way it unfolded was especially notable.
Soto was left off the National League roster when reserves were revealed on Sunday. He didn’t secure one of the three starting outfield spots, which went to Kyle Tucker, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ronald Acuña Jr., and he also missed out in the player vote.
Adding to the intrigue, Soto’s former teammate Fernando Tatis Jr. was selected, along with Arizona’s Corbin Carroll and Nationals rookie James Wood — the same player Soto was once traded for.
Statistically, Soto has clearly outshined both Tatis and Carroll this season. He leads the trio in key offensive categories, including WAR, OPS, and home runs — making his exclusion from the All-Star roster even more puzzling.
Soto still has a chance to make the trip to Atlanta if any of the six National League outfielders withdraw, but his initial exclusion is undeniably surprising. What’s even more curious is that much of the snub came from his fellow players. It raises questions about whether lingering perceptions from his slow start — along with some negative publicity — played a role in how he was viewed.
Ironically, Soto was just named National League Player of the Month for June and has racked up 21 home runs in 89 games. While it’s likely he’ll rack up several All-Star selections during his Mets tenure, this year might not be one of them.
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