The MLB All-Star Game features much of the game's premier talent, but fans annually feel some frustration about certain players being overlooked. In many cases, they're right.
With so many impressive players around the league and a limited number of roster spots, plus a requirement that every team have at least one all-star, some deserving players miss the cut each year.
This season is no different. There are a few players having terrific seasons who didn't receive a ticket to Seattle during Sunday's roster reveal. Some stand out more than others.
It's important to remember that some of the biggest snubs from the roster reveal can still make the final rosters. A handful players will opt not to play due to injury, which will open up opportunities for last-minute additions.
MORE: Complete MLB All-Star rosters
Here's a closer look at 10 players who should have earned an All-Star selection this season.
American League snubs
Wander Franco, SS, Rays
Franco's exclusion from the roster is tough to comprehend, particularly with the Blue Jays' Whit Merrifield selected. Franco has compiled 4.2 bWAR and is batting .283 with nine home runs, 26 stolen bases and an .802 OPS. He leads the American League in defensive WAR and is just a little more power away from a true five-tool season.
One could argue the Rays were snubbed in more ways than one, as outfielder Josh Lowe also could have made a case for an all-star spot on the strength of his terrific season.
MORE: Why the Rays benched Wander Franco
Matt Chapman, 3B, Blue Jays
Three Blue Jays infielders were selected to the AL roster on Sunday, but Chapman surprisingly wasn't one of them.
The former A's third baseman has cooled down at the plate after a dominant start to the season, but with a .340 OBP, a .799 OPS and some of the best defense in the American League, few would've put up an argument if Chapman made it onto the roster.
MORE: Who is in the Home Run Derby?
Carlos Estevez, RP, Angels
As solid as Emmanuel Clase has been for the Guardians this season, his spot feels like the one that could've gone to Estevez. The Angels' closer is 21 for 21 in save opportunities after nailing down an LA win Sunday, with a 1.85 ERA and an 11.1 strikeout-per-nine rate through 34 innings.
While Estevez's 3.52 FIP indicates he might have gotten a bit lucky at times, he's been a rock-solid presence at the back of the Angels' bullpen after spending the first seven seasons of his career with the Rockies.
George Kirby, SP, Mariners
Kirby is potentially the victim of the rule that requires every team to have an all-star. With Tigers starter Michael Lorenzen on the roster, Kirby missed out after a terrific first half.
The 2019 first-rounder debuted just last season, but he already has emerged as a frontline starter in Seattle with a 3.21 ERA, 3.32 FIP and 1.04 WHIP through 16 starts this year. Kirby's 0.8 walks-per-nine rate leads all qualified pitchers, and he already has crossed the 100-inning mark.
There was a strong group of starters in the AL this season, but Kirby's numbers line up with many of them.
Brayan Bello, SP, Red Sox
The path to an all-star selection as a starting pitcher in the AL was difficult, but this rising Red Sox starter quietly had a real case. Bello has a 3.08 ERA across 13 starts, with a 1.19 WHIP and 149 ERA+.
What likely hurt Bello the most was his innings gap, as he has thrown only 73 to this point. While Bello has started to make up the gap by lasting into the seventh inning in each of his last four starts, he might have had a clearer path in the National League.
Bello has been one of the biggest reasons the Red Sox are hanging around in the postseason conversation, leading the rotation as a 24-year-old with Chris Sale injured and Corey Kluber struggling mightily. That arguably could have been enough to earn a trip to Seattle.
National League snubs
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
It's hard to find a bigger snub than Marte. He's batting.285 with 15 home runs, a .365 OBP and 3.7 bWAR. His .867 OPS is in the top 15 among qualified NL hitters, and his defense has graded out well this season.
Ozzie Albies has had a great season himself for the Braves, but with 2.3 bWAR and an .817 OPS, there isn't much of a case for his selection over Marte.
Fernando Tatis Jr., OF, Padres
Tatis started the season by finishing an 80-game PED suspension, but it's tough to deny how well he has played since he returned to the field in late April.
Even while missing nearly a month, Tatis is at 3.6 bWAR to go with 16 home runs. He's batting .280 with an .867 OPS, but perhaps the most impressive aspect of his season is how well he has played in the outfield. Tatis was forced to take on a new position with Xander Bogaerts taking over at shortstop and has boosted his value by playing it so well. That wasn't enough to send him to Seattle with teammate Juan Soto.
MORE: Tracking Shohei Ohtani's home run pace
Matt McLain, SS, Reds
Dansby Swanson's inclusion over McLain was a surprise, particularly with the Cubs already having two all-stars in Marcus Stroman and Justin Steele. McLain could have been the choice instead.
While he has only played 43 games after starting the season in the minors, all McLain has done for the Reds is hit. The 2021 first-rounder is batting .313 with seven home runs and a .924 OPS. McLain has 25 extra-base hits in those 43 games, including a game in late June with four extra-base hits, and he has been as much of a factor in the Reds' recent surge than any of the team's other young stars.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see McLain join the roster if an opportunity opened up.
Logan Webb, SP, Giants
Webb hasn't been as excellent as he was for the Giants in 2022 or late 2021, but with offense up around the league and no true dominant starters in the NL, he had an all-star case.
Webb has a 3.43 ERA across 17 starts and leads the NL with 110 1/3 innings. Webb also leads all qualified NL pitchers with a 1.7 walks-per-nine rate and carries a 1.12 WHIP.
Webb has a 3.07 ERA since the start of the 2021 season and no all-star selections to show for it.
David Bednar, RP, Pirates
Mitch Keller is the Pirates' all-star representative, a role held by Bednar last season. This year, Bednar has been among the best relievers in baseball. He has a 1.44 ERA and 16 saves over 31 1/3 innings, with an 0.89 WHIP and 1.72 FIP. Bednar has allowed one home run and is striking out 10.6 batters per nine innings.
Considering Keller was the Pirates' only representative and Camilo Doval was the Giants' only representative, it might have made more sense to send Webb and Bednar to the Seattle instead.