Braxton Ashcraft sends blunt message on Pirates All Star snubs

Braxton Ashcraft understands why the Pittsburgh Pirates’ resurgent offense didn't produce another All-Star, but it doesn't mean he agrees with it.

Speaking with FanSided’s Adam Weinrib at MLB All-Star media day Monday, Ashcraft made a compelling case that several of his teammates deserved to join him and Paul Skenes at the festivities in Philadelphia.

“It stinks,” Ashcraft said. “We’ve kind of been at the mercy of the fact that everyone’s been doing it.”

That is both the strength of the Pirates’ lineup and, apparently, the reason its most productive hitters were overlooked. Pittsburgh has received contributions throughout its batting order rather than relying on one player to carry the offense.

Ashcraft specifically mentioned Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds and Ryan O’Hearn as deserving candidates.

“It’s hard to say that a second baseman with 21 home runs is not deserving to be an All-Star, or Bryan Reynolds doing what he’s done this year, playing every game,” Ashcraft said. “Ryan O’Hearn as well, putting up the numbers he has even with missing two or three weeks.”

Braxton Ashcraft challenges Pirates front office to believe and invest at the trade deadline

Ashcraft acknowledged that plenty of deserving players around the league were left off the NL All-Star roster. Still, the absence of any Pirates position player feels particularly glaring considering how dramatically Pittsburgh’s offense has improved.

The Pirates have spent years failing to meet expectations, both inside and outside their clubhouse. One productive half-season was never going to erase that reputation completely. Ashcraft believes Pittsburgh must continue forcing the rest of baseball to notice.

“Finishing this year out and being in the position that we’re in, scoring the runs we are with the ability that we have on the pitching side, it warrants a lot more respect going into next year for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the players we have,” Ashcraft said. “And I don’t necessarily know if it’s respect as much as it is attention.”

Ashcraft also made it clear the Pirates don't believe they have peaked. They entered the All-Star break leading the league in runs per game and playing some of their best baseball, but he insisted the group is capable of more.

That should be the front office’s message at the trade deadline, too. Asked what he wants Pittsburgh to do before the deadline, Ashcraft avoided demanding one particular addition. Instead, he called on the organization to continue improving the roster without losing sight of the future.

“Keep continuing to build around the team that we have and do things that make our team better,” Ashcraft said.

The Pirates have spent the first half proving they deserve greater attention. Now it's up to the front office to show it believes in them as much as Ashcraft does.

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