Major League Baseball Makes Unfortunate Zack Wheeler All-Star Game Announcement originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Philadelphia Phillies have far less representation at this year’s MLB All-Star Game than they did last year.
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After a franchise-record seven Phillies (six plus a substitute) made the trip to Arlington last July, only two were slated to suit up in Atlanta on Tuesday: slugger Kyle Schwarber and staff ace Zack Wheeler.
That tiny group just got cut in half.
According to an announcement made by the league, Wheeler has elected not to participate in this year’s festivities. Adrian Morejon of the San Diego Padres will take his place on the National League’s roster.
It’s not exactly a surprise announcement – Wheeler is scheduled to start tomorrow for the Phillies against the San Diego Padres, meaning there was no way he’d be pitching again on Tueaday. Still, it may be a disappointment for some fans who had hoped to see one of the best arms in the game.
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Wheeler is currently in one of the best stretches of his entire career. He posted a 0.58 ERA through 31 innings in June, earning him NL Pitcher of the Month honors. In his last outing, he went the distance, finishing off his fifth career complete game with 12 strikeouts and only one hit allowed.
Jul 6, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler (45) follows through on a pitch during the ninth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesEric Hartline-Imagn Images
There was a possibility that Wheeler would get the nod to start the All-Star game – his 2.17 ERA and 0.84 WHIP are both top-3 marks across all starting pitchers. Yet it will be Paul Skenes, who has Wheeler beat in the former category but not the latter, making his second straight All-Star game start instead.
While this honor eludes Wheeler this year, he is still in position to push for a long-awaited Cy Young Award. Getting the extra few days of rest should help set him up to continue dominating after the break.
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 11, 2025, where it first appeared.