Phillies enraged by Misiorowski's All-Star nod: 'F-----g terrible'

When Milwaukee Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski was named to the National League All-Star squad after just five big-league starts, it raised plenty of eyebrows around baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies, in particular, were enraged by the news.

After Misiorowski was chosen over Philadelphia starters Ranger Suárez and Cristopher Sánchez - both of whom are enjoying spectacular seasons - multiple Phillies players ripped the league for snubbing their teammates in favor of what they see as a marketing ploy.

"What a joke," shortstop Trea Turner told Matt Gelb of The Athletic. "That's f-----g terrible. I mean, that's terrible, dude."

"I mean, it's not the All-Star Game in the sense that the best players go there, or people who have had the best season. It's whoever sells the most tickets or has been put on social media the most," Turner continued. "That's essentially what it's turned into."

Outfielder Nick Castellanos went a step further, saying that MLB is turning the All-Star Game "into the Savannah Bananas."

Misiorowski, the Brewers' top prospect, turned into an overnight sensation after being called up in early June. He opened his big-league career with 11 consecutive hitless innings over two starts, narrowly missing the MLB record. He's come back to earth a bit since, but still owns a 2.81 ERA and 0.90 WHIP with 33 strikeouts in just 25 2/3 innings.

The 23-year-old went viral almost immediately, thanks in large part to a lethal fastball that averages nearly 100 mph, and a slider with enough movement to break hitters' ankles.

Still, that's not nearly enough to win over the Phillies, who are sending just two representatives - DH Kyle Schwarber and right-hander Zack Wheeler - to Atlanta. Both Sánchez and Suárez have been dominant starters behind Wheeler, helping to lead what's been the majors' best rotation.

Sánchez, an All-Star in 2024, owns the NL's fourth-lowest ERA (2.59), while his 9.7 K/9 rate is a career high. Suárez, meanwhile, has fashioned a 1.94 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over his 13 starts.

Sánchez is scheduled to start Philadelphia's first-half finale on Sunday, and would therefore be unable to pitch in Tuesday's All-Star Game. MLB apparently offered the 28-year-old, a replacement spot if he agreed to pitch in the game, but he declined because of injury concerns, sources told Gelb.

However, Sánchez's agent, Gene Mato, told Gelb that his client would be "willing to pitch (Tuesday) no matter what."

Sánchez's contract contains a $50,000 bonus if he was named to an All-Star team. While he's not officially an All-Star, he said Saturday that the Phillies chose to pay him the bonus anyway, according to Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Suárez also said earlier this week that he turned down a similar conditional offer from the league in order to rest for the second half, according to Gelb. He missed the first month of 2025 because of a back injury.

The supposed conditions from MLB are what's left the Phillies seething on behalf of both pitchers. Schwarber, now a three-time All-Star, thinks they should be granted All-Star status "if you're going to ask him that."

The Brewers, to little surprise, have a slightly different view of the situation.

"I understand why some people feel the way they feel, just because it's a small sample," slugger Christian Yelich told Adam McCalvy of MLB.com. "But at the end of the day ... people want to be entertained. It's a showcase of some of the best and most exciting players in the game. Miz is definitely that, right?"