Which Pittsburgh Pirates were Snubbed from the All-Star Game?

Possibly Snubbed

Starling Marte

Though Marte was not initially selected for the All-Star team, he has a decent chance to be included anyways as he is currently on the ballot for the final spot on the NL team. As of Wednesday he was in second place to Brandon Belt of the San Francisco Giants in the voting. If you want to see Marte make his first All-Star Game I encourage you to go ahead and vote for him.

Assuming he does not win the vote or gets added as a replacement player, Marte has a definite case to make that he got snubbed this year. Marte’s batting average is higher than every single outfielder that was selected for the NL team and his on-base percentage is higher than both Carlos Gonzalez and Adam Duvall. What likely sunk Marte’s chance of inclusion has once again to do with a lack of power (notice a theme?).

Marte has fewer home runs than any outfield selection and his slugging percentage and OPS is only higher than Odubel Herrera. Despite this, he still has a wOBA higher than Adam Duvall and a wRC+ is higher than all reserves except for Marcell Ozuna.

Likely, All-Star selection rules kept Marte from being selected as Duvall and Herrera were likely only included due to the need to have at least one player on every team, as they are the lone representative from the Reds and Phillies respectively. Though his stats are generally on the low end of the selected All-Stars, his prowess in the outfield is what elevates him to the level of a snub.

Next: Definitely Snubbed