The initial rosters for the 2025 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the 95th Midsummer Classic, have been released, showcasing a blend of fan, player, and league selections. This year's event is set to take place at Truist Park in Atlanta. While the first draft includes 65 players, including a 'Legend' pick in Clayton Kershaw, the final number of All-Stars could grow to 70-75 as replacements are named for injured players.

The Philadelphia Phillies will be represented by ace Zack Wheeler and slugger Kyle Schwarber. This marks Wheeler's third career All-Star selection and second consecutive nod. He has been a dominant force in 2025, boasting a 9-3 record, 148 strikeouts (tied for second in MLB), a 2.17 ERA (fifth in MLB), and a 0.84 WHIP (second in MLB). His exceptional June included a 0.58 ERA across five starts and 42 strikeouts, culminating in a one-hit complete game victory with 12 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds. Phillies manager Rob Thomson publicly stated his preference for Wheeler to start the National League All-Star Game. Kyle Schwarber earns his second All-Star selection as a Phillie, serving as the backup designated hitter for the NL. He is having one of his best seasons, ranking fifth in MLB with 27 home runs, alongside a .250 batting average, .382 on-base percentage, .540 slugging percentage, and a .924 OPS.

The Houston Astros will send three players to the All-Star Game: right-handed pitcher Hunter Brown, shortstop Jeremy Peña, and left-handed pitcher Josh Hader. Brown and Peña are making their All-Star debuts. Brown, 26, has been exceptional with a 9-3 record, an MLB-best 1.82 ERA, and a .180 opponent batting average. He was named the AL Pitcher of the Month for June. Peña, 27, has been a standout all-around player, hitting .322 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases, leading all AL shortstops in OPS and slugging percentage. Josh Hader, 31, receives his sixth All-Star nod, leading MLB with 25 saves in 25 chances, an Astros record to begin a season. He holds a 5-1 record with a 1.80 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 40 innings, earning AL Reliever of the Month honors for June. The Astros have consistently had at least three All-Stars for the past eight years, with 36 selections since 2017, the most in the American League.

As with any All-Star selection process, there were notable snubs and debates. In the American League, Joe Ryan of the Minnesota Twins (8-4, 2.76 ERA) was a strong candidate, with numbers similar to selected pitchers like Bryan Woo. The Tampa Bay Rays, despite their strong performance, received only two selections: Jonathan Aranda and veteran second baseman Brandon Lowe, whose power numbers (19 homers, 54 RBIs) likely secured his spot over other deserving infielders. On the position side, fans selected Jacob Wilson (Athletics) as the starting shortstop, but Jeremy Peña was arguably more deserving, though he may miss the game due to injury. Brent Rooker (Athletics DH) also made the team, prompting discussions about other overlooked hitters.

In the National League, Juan Soto of the New York Mets was a prominent snub. Despite having a 'lower-end Soto' season, he still leads the league in walks and boasts an On-Base Percentage north of .400, making a strong case for inclusion. Interestingly, MacKenzie Gore and James Wood, involved in the trade that sent Soto from Washington to San Diego, both made the All-Star team, while Soto did not. The Miami Marlins' default selection, Kyle Stowers, potentially took a spot that could have gone to Soto. Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andy Pages had a fantastic first half but was overlooked due to the depth of deserving National League outfielders, including Ronald Acuña Jr., who made the team despite playing only half the games. The NL shortstop position is particularly loaded, with Francisco Lindor and Elly De La Cruz making the cut, but Trea Turner of the Phillies, CJ Abrams, and Geraldo Perdomo were also highly deserving. While Mookie Betts had a subpar first half, his career value is undeniable.