Zack Wheeler will have the last word.
The Phillies ace, angered after being snubbed for a deserved All-Star Game selection in his home ballpark, declined MLB’s last-minute invitation to the Midsummer Classic, saying he felt “disrespected” and didn’t want to be treated like a “fifth option.”
“They disrespected me, so I’m not going to participate,” Wheeler told reporters Saturday, according to The Athletic.
Six other Philadelphia players (Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Jesús Luzardo, Brandon Marsh, Cristopher Sánchez and Jhoan Duran) will appear in the July 14 game at Citizens Bank Park, but Wheeler was initially left off the All-Star roster despite posting a 2.28 ERA (14 starts) since returning from thoracic outlet syndrome.
Wheeler (9-1) struck out 14 batters in his most recent start, allowing one run in seven innings of a win in Cincinnati.
“I felt like that was a reminder for whoever needs to be reminded,” Wheeler said after the win. “It pisses me off. It’s kind of BS. Maybe if I wasn’t necessarily right in [the All-Star mix], I wouldn’t be saying this. But I feel like I’ve earned it.”
Wheeler, 36, is a three-time All-Star.
Each of those selections came after the Mets showed virtually no interest in him after the 2019 season, allowing Philadelphia to steal a right-hander from their rivals who would become one of baseball’s best pitchers.
All these years later, the disrespect continues.
“I 100 percent believe he was snubbed from being an All-Star,” former Phillies star Jimmy Rollins said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. “We’ve seen the guys they want to make stars come up and have five starts and become an All-Star because they have a name for themselves. Zack Wheeler has been doing it for a while and part of being an All-Star is having a reputation of being a great starter, that he is. He’s been Cy Young second place for a number of years. The guy over in Pittsburgh [Paul Skenes] is pretty good so we understand that.
“But for him to not be in the All-Stars, especially in this city, coming back with nine wins in the first half, that’s a pretty tough pill to swallow. And if I’m him I would be pissed.
“But I would want to make sure if I’m him, I’m taking it out on everyone who had a chance to vote me in.”
