Philadelphia Phillies star pitcher Zack Wheeler has felt slighted by National League managers one too many times.
Wheeler told reporters that he declined an invitation to be added to the NL’s roster for the upcoming All-Star Game to be hosted at his home ballpark.
He said that he felt ‘disrespected’ after multiple snubs and refused the invite saying he’s ‘not gonna be the fifth option.’
‘They disrespected me, so I’m just not going to participate in that thing,’ Wheeler said, per NBC Sports Philadelphia.
Wheeler is more than deserving of such an accolade. He boasts a 9-1 record and a 2.28 ERA across 14 starts and 87 innings this season.
He emphasized that he doesn’t have an issue with the game itself, rather the process where MLB selects players.
‘Maybe I didn’t earn it from the get-go, but maybe just second choice,’ Wheeler said.
Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler declined an invite to the All-Star Game after being ‘disrespected’
Wheeler wasn’t named to the initial team or first round of replacements despite his 2.28 ERA
He called the selection a ‘privilege’ but added, ‘Once I feel like they kind of messed that up, I’m out.’
On Tuesday, Wheeler wasn’t included in the initial roster of replacements for the National League and then tied a career-high with 14 strikeouts hours later against the Cincinnati Reds.
Afterwards, he declared his performance a ‘reminder for whoever needs to be reminded.’
Wheeler, a three-time All-Star across his career, missed the first month of the season as he recovered from thoracic outlet surgery – but rebounded to be one of the league’s top pitchers.
‘Guys do take a lot of pride to having the All-Star next to your name,’ Wheeler said.
‘During your career and after your career — and people who build them stuff after your career might look at that, too. For somebody to kind of take that away from me, it doesn’t sit the best.’
While Wheeler will not be playing in the All-Star game on Tuesday, six Phillies teammates – Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Christopher Sanchez, Jhoan Duran, Brandon Marsh and Jesus Luzardo – will represent for the home team.
