MLB invited Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler to be a replacement player at the All-Star Game in Philadelphia, but the right-hander declined.
Wheeler said he turned down the invite because he didn't want to be treated like a "fifth option," according to Cole Weintraub of NBC Sports Philadelphia.
"I'm not gonna be disrespected," the 36-year-old said, per Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Wheeler recently slammed MLB's All-Star Game selection process, saying that he believed he was left off the roster due to his pitching schedule for the Phillies.
"It pisses me off, and it's kind of BS," Wheeler said Tuesday.
An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, Wheeler owns a 9-1 record with a 2.28 ERA and 10.1 K/9 in 14 starts in 2026. The veteran got off to a late start this campaign after recovering from surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome.
"I don't need a pity party," Wheeler said, according to The Athletic's Charlotte Varnes. "I don't need somebody saying, 'He's had major surgery. Look at him now.' I don't need that. It was my plan to come back as who I was or even better."
The Phillies are already being represented at the All-Star Game by Brandon Marsh, Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jesús Luzardo, Cristopher Sánchez, and Jhoan Duran.
